Ma May Ancient House is one of 14 ancient houses in Hanoi that are being preserved and used as a tourist and exhibition site. It was built around the end of the 19th century, with a total area of 157.6m2 with a length of 28m, a front width of 5m and a back width of 6m.
The house changed hands several times. In 1945, a Chinese herbal medicine merchant bought the house.
Five families lived here from 1954 to 1999. At the end of 1998, the house was renovated under the cooperation between Hanoi and Toulouse (France), and completed in 1999.
Ms. Le Thi Xuan, a tourist from Vung Tau who had the opportunity to visit the ancient house on the occasion of the 10/10 anniversary, shared: “I am very impressed with the architecture here. Everything is mainly made of wood, the antique objects are carefully preserved. Hanoi always has an ancient, rustic look but the scenery is very brilliant and poetic.”
The ancient house is mainly made of wood, including a system of wooden columns, wooden rafters and wooden beams. All the architectural details inside the ancient house of Ma May are built symmetrically, the main door in the middle and two large windows on the side are used for trading. The wide windows facing the street are made of wooden planks and can be removed. The doors to the shop are panel doors with latches.
This ancient house is a tube house, a special type of architecture with a long and narrow tube shape. The house is divided into three rooms, the first room is usually open for business and receiving guests.
The courtyard in the middle has a skylight that brings light and fresh air. The back room is the storage area and kitchen. Going up to the second floor is the worship room, bedroom and small garden.
Identifying the role and importance of traditional architecture and heritage values in tourism and socio-economic development in the capital, Hoan Kiem District has been implementing activities and projects to both preserve and promote heritage values and contribute to the development of culture, economy, tourism, and enhance the community cultural spaces of ancient houses and Hanoi's Old Quarter.
The Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter regularly organizes cultural and artistic programs and activities at relics, focusing on introducing the lifestyle of ancient Hanoians, restoring the goldsmith festival, organizing regular traditional music performances, and displaying traditional craft villages associated with specialized craft streets in the Old Quarter.
Within the framework of the program to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital, the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter organizes thematic exhibition and tour "Stories of Hang Street" from October 4 to December 31 at the heritage house at 87 Ma May.
The program was arranged by the scene director and artist Nguyen Manh Duc, recreating the space and cultural lifestyle of an ancient Hanoi family practicing Oriental medicine in the 1930s.
Through real scenes, characters and traditional singing and dancing performances, combined with sound, lighting and supporting technical means, the artists of the Youth Theatre will bring the audience back to life in the last century.
