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What seems like an architectural odditiy, skinny, Tetris-like buildings as actually quite common in bustling Vietnamese neighborhoods, especially in big cities like Hanoi and Saigon. The narrow facade contrasts to the a roomy extension behind it, while towering up of three to five stories. Foriegners refer to these structures as “tube houses”.

Photo: Manan Vatsyayana

According to the photographer, tube houses, or “nha ong” in Vietnamese, dominates the Hanoian cityscape. Everywhere you go, you can still see these houses on every streets. The main reason why tube houses are so popular is that the land area is limited, and people came up with this unique idea to use the available space.

Photo: Manan Vatsyayana

Even though Vietnam has a number of villas and garden houses that were built during French colonial period, but there is only a few of these kind of residential homes remain in Hanoi.

Vatsyayana said even though many of these tube houses are only 4 metres wide, but are “three times that in depth.” Photo: Manan Vatsyayana

One tube house can be the home for 3 – 4 people. However, two or three generations can still grow up within this narrow space. Photo: Manan Vatsyayana

One of the problems of tube houses in Hanoi is the risk of fire, since the limited space and small entrance makes it difficult to access. Photo: Manan Vatsyayana

Photo: Manan Vatsyayana

The first tube house appeared in Hanoi in 19th century, and this architectural design were thought to evolve from the limited available space in the capital. The “adjoining houses” has become an iconic symbol of Hanoi.

Photo: Manan Vatsyayana

The colorful houses are interesting highlights of Hanoi that attract many tourists. It's functional spacing and striking facades well represent the captial city. It offers a blend of both tradition and modernity.

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