HÀ NỘI — The Đồng Lạc Communal House was recognised on Wednesday by the Hà Nội’s Tourism Department as a new tourist destination in the Old Quarter.

Located at 38 Hàng Đào Street, the communal house worships the ancestors of the brassiere trading in the 16th century. After many ups and downs through its history, the house was damaged seriously. In 2000, the vestige was renovated with the financial and technical assistance of Toulouse city in France.

In 2004, the communal house was recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national vestige.

Aiming to introduce to tourists to Vietnamese traditional handicraft, a cultural space has been set up within the two-storey building, displaying refined products such as lacquer, giấy dó (poonah), lãnh Mỹ A (Mỹ A black silk), and embroidery. In addition, all the staff working at the venue have been trained as tourist guides for the venue.

From January, the Hanoia Culture Space will launch monthly cultural series with an aim to revive traditional values of the local culture.

The kick-off, held on January 13, will be a roundtable discussion with painter and antique collector Nguyễn Mạnh Đức, who will talk about the Lunar New Year altar of Vietnamese people and prayers made during the traditional festival.

Other events will be held on the second Friday of every month. — VNS