Open a place.
Discover a new detail.
A collection of heritage sites through real photographs. Choose a place that sparks your curiosity and take a closer look on your screen.
Hanoi’s heritage, one photograph at a time.
Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy
Tiled roofs, brick courtyards and gateways in sequence: a corner of Hanoi for those who love a closer look.
Take a closer look
Look at the balance of the main gate. What gives this space its sense of solemnity?
Hoa Lo Prison Relic
Begin at the “Maison Centrale” gate, then discover the stories of the people behind its walls.
Take a closer look
Read the name above the gate, then open the story to discover where the name Hoa Lo comes from.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Doan Mon Gate offers a starting point for exploring the layers of time in Thang Long – Hanoi.
Take a closer look
Compare the stone walls with the upper pavilion: which materials and colours can you identify?
Hoan Kiem Lake
Turtle Tower stands out against the lake’s green water, offering a familiar and evocative view of Hanoi.
Take a closer look
Choose a detail in the photo that makes you think of Hanoi, then describe it in one sentence.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi
Twin bell towers and pointed arches offer a way to read Hanoi through the forms of its buildings.
Take a closer look
Find three repeating details on the facade. Can you see the central axis of symmetry?
Pause your scrolling.
Try finding three traces.
In the Old Quarter photo, find a tiled roof, an old window and a detail of life today. What brings the past and present together?
Open an architecture story ↗Photo sources & licences
Photos are resized for faster loading and may be cropped to fit the layout. Capture dates follow the source; upload dates are not used as capture dates.
- A corner of Hanoi’s Old Quarter — Alexkom000 · Captured: Taken on 3 November 2024, 10:29:51 · CC BY 4.0
- Temple of Literature gate — Daderot · CC0 1.0
- Hoa Lo Prison Relic — Gary Todd · CC0 1.0
- Doan Mon Gate, Thang Long Imperial Citadel — Jakub Hałun · Captured: 23 January 2024, 10:36:11 · CC BY 4.0
- Turtle Tower in Hoan Kiem Lake — Jakub Hałun · Captured: 4 February 2024, 13:18:00 · CC BY 4.0
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi — LMP 2001 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- A corner of Hanoi’s Old Quarter — Alexkom000 · Captured: Taken on 3 November 2024, 10:29:37 · CC BY 4.0