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Design:The Iconic Home Designs That Define Our Global Cities
CityLab
Design

Hanoi Shophouses Reveal City’s Communist and Capitalist History

Vietnam’s traditional “tube-houses” combine living and retail space, though new developments are replacing many. 

The shophouses’ design mismatches reflect expansion during different eras.

The shophouses’ design mismatches reflect expansion during different eras.

Photographer: Moment via Getty Images

(This article is part of our ongoing series exploring the iconic home designs that shaped global cities. Read more from the series and sign up to get the next story sent directly to your inbox.) 

Hanoi’s shophouses, narrow, terraced structures lining alleyway-like streets bustling with vendors and motorbikes, have survived foreign occupation of the country, wars and revolution. Now they are under pressure from a modernizing economy.