Villa of Vi Văn Định

Linda Mazur describes it like so:

"Among the many grand villas in Hà Nội, 59 Nguyễn Du is a superb example of the International Modern style. It combines all the classic elements such as clean shapes, glass inserts on the stairwell column and curving concrete overhangs. The mansion has the air of a graceful courtesan with its sweeping flight of stairs leading to the second floor, and a sensuous, cylindrical stairwell with fancy cutout windows. Once the home of a powerful mandarin, it stands assertively on prime real estate at the corner of Nguyễn Du and Trần Bình Trọng Streets overlooking Thiên Quang Lake.

In the 1940s over 70 family members and friends attended parties in the grand ballroom on the first floor lit by elegant, Gallé cameo lamps imported from France. The windows in the doors were placed very low to allow guests, seated on low chairs or cushions, to gaze at the view outside. A large table, which could seat more than 20, was the family gathering place for dinner. Next to the ballroom was a smokers' lounge where the men relaxed after dinner and discussed important issues in French, Chinese and Vietnamese.

The wine cellar was conveniently located under the stairs leading to the front door, where the French wines were allowed to age gracefully. The room to the right of the stairs was the gardener's residence and the garage at the back is now an office.

The top floor, where there were many small bedrooms, had running water and state of the art flush toilets. Air vents near the roof allowed hot air to escape. Electrical heating kept out the damp in the winter. This meant they could safely install wood floors.

In this area, houses were supplied with every modern convenience. Floor to ceiling silk curtains stopped the winds blowing cold air off Thiền Quang Lake during the winter months. At the back of the house were the kitchens and substantial servants' quarters housing cooks, chauffeurs, and maids. The eldest sons of the mandarins and businessmen had huge kitchens because they were responsible for gathering the family together on the occasion of death anniversaries, weddings and New Year's celebrations. The garden boasted a pond with gold fish, many fruit trees and flowers carefully cultivated to bloom year round."

Vi Văn Định's house at 59 Nguyễn Du was built during his governance of Hà Đông, around the period of 1937 to 1941. Unfortunately the exact year and the architect is unknown.

During the Resistance War in Hà Nội in 1946, Định donated his house to the cause, and it became the office of the weekly magazine, Học Tập, under the Communist Party.

After the French forces returned to occupy Hà Nội in 1946, Vi Văn Định and his family had to flee, and the house likely remained in the hands of the Communist Party.

Later, it was repurposed as a Party guest house for visiting foreign dignitaries and tourists. By 1963, the house had lost its luxurious furnishings and was being used for educational purposes, such as journalism courses.

• Mazur: Hidden Houses of Hà Nội and the Stories They Tell, 2016