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I took the long flight from Zurich via Milan, Tokyo and Ho Chi Minh City, I’m coming to Hanoi, Vietnam to visit my friend Ha Nguyen, who was studying at ETH Zurich with me. She is now a partner of arb east, the office has a partnership with arb architects in Switzerland.

This is Ha’s Office, located in the north part of Hanoi, just next to the West lake. The office building was designed by arb east.

In the office, currently 7-8 architects and 5 interns are working with her. They are really nice guys!

Downtown of Hanoi. It’s quite amazing that so much motor bikes are existing in the city. I could say 60-70% of the traffics is motorbike, 25% cars, and quite few buses.

This culture of motor bike makes interesting phenomena. There was an stage event in the middle of the street, people coming by motor bike stop in the middle of the street and suddenly big event space appear. Of course it disturbs other traffics, but nobody cares. You don’t have to prepare any chairs for the events.

a big market place in Hanoi.

There are a lot of people inside. You can find nice products. But… most of them are women. The market is the place for women, that I could understand.

Pedestrian streets are basically occupied by people who sit and talk, play games, eat lunch, etc.

The electric lines are nicely organized. I don’t know how to maintain them…

People are playing game at a touristic place. They are good at occupying every public spaces.

Tan My Design shop, located in the center of Hanoi, designed by arb east. The buiding has a narrow facade, and deep space behind. Actually the buiding on the right is the same building as well, but they had to keep existing facade because it’s conserved. It’s really well done!