Why Vietnamese Houses are Long and Narrow (2024)

FAQs

Why Vietnamese Houses are Long and Narrow? ›

Getting back to the time of French colonialism in Vietnam, it is rumored that housing taxes were calculated based on the facade's area. Then narrowing the facade turned out to be a good solution to cutting down on the taxes, and that explains this kind of traditional architecture.

Vietnam is known for their extremely narrow and tall houses, this happened due to a former property tax based on house frontage (similar law did existed in Netherlands in 16th-18th centuries). People build houses as narrow they could, deep and tall.

Secondly, many houses and buildings in Vietnam seem seem to be very tall and narrow. The reason for this is the way people are/were taxed on property - by the width of the front of the building.

Traditional houses in Vietnam were characterized by wooden structures topped by steep roofs. The roofs would be covered with fish-scale tiles and curve outwards, while beams and rafters held up the main building. In some places, stilt houses were built and the houses usually had an odd number of rooms.

The streets of Hanoi, Vietnam, are lined with narrow "tube houses" known as nhà ống. The average width of the house is around three to four meters (10 to 13 feet).

The average Vietnamese man is 162.1 cm tall and the average woman 152.2 cm, far shorter than their Asian peers like Chinese, Singaporeans, Japanese, and South Koreans. The averages are 170.7 cm and 157.4 for South Korean, 169 cm and 158 cm for Chinese and 172 cm and 158 cm for Japanese.

In Vietnam, a 50m2 downtown house costs at least around $500,000, sometimes even higher. However, the average income of Vietnamese is just over $3,000 a year. Thus, it will take us more than 160 years-worth of income to purchase a house.

The obesity risk in Vietnam could be low due to factors such as the local cuisine which are mostly organic with a low percentage of oil. The food is not much processed and mostly fresh, and the variety of ingredients used crates balanced meals.

Keret House is a structure and art installation in Warsaw, Poland. It was designed by the architect Jakub Szczęsny through the architecture firm Centrala, and has been described as the narrowest house in the world, measuring 92 centimetres (3.02 ft) at its thinnest point and 152 centimetres (4.99 ft) at its widest.

A combination between Vietnam's population growth, urbanization rate, rising middle class, and strong economy means that real estate prices will surely rise in value over time. Unfortunately, you can't truly own land in Vietnam – either as a local or foreigner.

Why are buildings so narrow in Vietnam? ›

Narrow homes have become a defining feature of Vietnam's urban landscape thanks to a mix of high population density and expensive land prices. Over the years, people have reduced the width of their houses to take up less street front, choosing to build inwards and upwards instead.

Unfortunately, foreigners cannot own land in Vietnam. However, you can still purchase other landed properties. It's possible to seek financing outside the country, but the process will take a longer time compared to local services. Not every company provides foreign financial support, either.

Foreigners can own up to 30% of the units in condo buildings but no more than 10% of the properties in a landed property. You are entitled to a leasehold of 50 years on the land of your property; however, it is renewable. Foreigners who marry a Vietnamese can get freehold ownership.

Why yellow? Locally it symbolises royalty, luck, pride and prosperity; significant architectural monuments are therefore painted in various shades. Another reason is a little more practical: yellow absorbs less heat and is thus better suited to the humid, tropical weather of Vietnam.

A Vietnamese stilt home is an abode, usually made of wood and thatched roofing, raised up on stilts several metres above the ground. These houses were originally made to withstand flooding, as the wet season affects every part of Vietnam and can be especially vicious in the countryside.

A farmhouse-style house can be easily recognized through the color, light, rustic look of the furniture, and often has a long, wide hallway and eaves in front of the house. Currently, in Vietnam, the farmhouse style is chosen by many people to decorate the house and interior.

The Netherlands

Dutch people are the tallest people in the world. They have an average height of 175.62 cm (5 feet 7.96 inches). The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander is 183 cm tall and Queen Maxim is 178 cm tall.

Vietnamese people have an average of 159.01cm (5 feet 2.60 inches.) Vietnamese men are an average 164.44cm (5 feet 4.74 inches) tall.

How much is a one bedroom in Vietnam? ›

To make it into the group of the top 1 per cent in terms of wealth in Vietnam, according to Knight Frank, Vietnamese people need to own $160,000. This figure is $2.9 million in Singapore; $540,000 in Malaysia; and $60,000 in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Among children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) in Vietnam in 2020 was 19.0% which was higher than most low and middle income countries in South-eastern Asia, including Cambodia 13.4%; Laos 16.6%; Myanmar 14.1%; the Philippines 14.5%; and Indonesia 18.0%, and higher ...

Common taboos in Vietnam

Avoid hugging, holding hands, and especially kissing in public. Even touching a member of the opposite sex is looked down upon. Modesty: It is important to keep your body covered. Avoid overly short shorts and revealing shirts.

The Hollensbury Spite House is a spite house located at 523 Queen Street in Alexandria, Virginia. The narrow building measures 7-feet 6-inches (2.3 m) wide and is often called the skinniest house in the United States.

Spite houses are fascinating buildings, erected, not primarily for occupation, but to confound neighbors or to annoy locals. And they include America's smallest house, The Spite House in Queen Street, Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

Known to locals as the Pie House, the two-bedroom home measures just 3 feet wide on one of its sides, and at first glance, it'll make you scratch your head in amazement.

The average apartment in Ho Chi Minh City cost US$2,730/m2 in Q1/2022, and apartment prices in Ha Noi have increased continuously since Q1/2019. In Q2/2022, the average apartment price in Ha Noi was VND 45 million/m2.

Absolutely. In fact, Vietnam is easily one of the most affordable countries in the world. Expats in Vietnam can expect to earn a staggering salary – averaging US$78,000/£55,000 – especially if they are employed in a high-growth industry or multinational company. Furthermore, the cost of living in Vietnam is very low.

Why did so many Chinese move to Vietnam? ›

Chinese trade and immigration began to increase towards the earlier half of the 18th century as population and economic pressures encouraged more Chinese men to seek trade opportunities in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

UN-Habitat has estimated that approximately 9 million people are living in informal slum areas in Vietnam.

Since 1975, when the "American War" came to an end, Vietnam's population has increased by more than 60 percent. This impoverished land, which is only about the size of New Mexico, now has more than 72 million people, making it the 12th most populous country on earth.

There is no time limit for how long U.S. citizens may stay overseas. The validity of your Vietnamese visa, which allows you to legally stay in Vietnam, is determined by the Vietnamese government. Lawful Permanent Residents risk losing their status if they are outside the United States for over one year.

In general, Vietnam is a safe country. Violent crimes and terrorist threats are rather rare. However, foreigners are often the victim of pick pocketing and other petty crimes.

While Vietnam does not have a retirement visa, there are several options for individuals who want to retire in Vietnam. Americans can apply for a visa to Vietnam through any Vietnamese embassy and will be approved for either six months or one year but can only stay in the country for three months at a time.

Financial obligations when buying real estate in Vietnam

One of the most significant risks associated with a property purchase in Vietnam is the financial obligations. These financial obligations can be related to certain fees, land use rights, and change of legislation.

Two groups of foreign buyers can buy and own properties in Vietnam. First are legal entities, such as foreign investment funds and banks, branches and representative offices of overseas companies established in Vietnam. The second group includes foreigners or overseas nationals with an appropriate entry visa.

Overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese in the US can have Dual Citizenship. However, this person must register dual citizenship following the procedure of Vietnamese Law.

In Vietnamese folk belief, people usually use red, pink, green or yellow as a lucky color. They are the symbol of good luck, happiness, power, wealth, prosperity and celebration!

What is Vietnam's lucky Colour? ›

As same as in China or some other countries, red color is considered a lucky color in Vietnam. Vietnamese people also celebrate the Chinese New Year and the red color is mainly used in this holiday.

Some elements considered to be characteristic of Vietnamese culture include ancestor veneration, respect for community and family, and living in harmony with nature.

City homes are often made with brick, wood and/or tile. A traditional northern Vietnamese house is built with mud or brick walls, a thatched or tile roof, and earthen or concrete floors. Large houses are set around a courtyards and are open-fronted with a sloping red-tile roof supported by heavy wooden pillars.

A large social disadvantage of stilt housing is the difficulties faced by people with mobility issues. The stairs leading up to the main floor may often be inaccessible to people with disabilities such as people who are in a wheelchair.

And the most prominent and expensive area is District 1, the CBD. While wealthy families often live in other districts, District 1 is still unequivocally the hub for all premium international business amenities, including top hotels, landmark office buildings, and luxury retail.

In the northern city of Hanoi, you can find many teachers. There are also American expats who fought in the war sprinkled all over the country. There are an estimated 100,000 expats living overseas in Vietnam.

A Vietnamese stilt home is an abode, usually made of wood and thatched roofing, raised up on stilts several metres above the ground. These houses were originally made to withstand flooding, as the wet season affects every part of Vietnam and can be especially vicious in the countryside.

Vietnamese people have an average of 159.01cm (5 feet 2.60 inches.) Vietnamese men are an average 164.44cm (5 feet 4.74 inches) tall.

Vietnam is well-known for offering a high standard of living at a low price. According to 2022 data, the cost of living in Vietnam is around 42.8% lower than in the United Kingdom and 63.5% lower than in the United States.

The drop in mortality rates and the increase of life expectancy rate in Vietnam may be due in part to the fact that the country is transitioning from an impoverished nation to a lower middle-income nation.

Why are buildings in Vietnam so narrow? ›

Narrow homes have become a defining feature of Vietnam's urban landscape thanks to a mix of high population density and expensive land prices. Over the years, people have reduced the width of their houses to take up less street front, choosing to build inwards and upwards instead.

Symbolism. Yellow symbolize royalty and superiority in Vietnam. Especially in imperialism period, slightly dark yellow is only allowed for the king's clothes and belongings. What's more is that in Vietnamese common belief, the house is not just a shelter, but also an indicator for their success.

Since January 1, 2021, the retirement age of employees under ordinary working conditions are 60 years 3 months for male employees and 55 years 4 months for female employees; and the age increases by 3 months for male employees each successive year until he reaches 62 in 2028 and increases by 4 months for female ...

But the Stanford finding is not seemingly applicable in Vietnam's case because another global study unveiled last month showed that Vietnam has the lowest rate of adult obesity with only 1 percent of the total population.

In particular, there has been a steady increase in Vietnamese high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs). The benchmark for HNIs is accumulating a net worth of over USD 1 million.

What to expect of work life in Vietnam. The average annual salary for expats is around $90,000. In comparison, the average annual salary for Vietnamese nationals is about $2,100. A relatively low cost of living means most expats can live comfortably, even in major cities where rents tend to be higher.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes strokes and ischemic heart disease, is responsible for 31% of deaths in Vietnam. Cancers of the lung and liver follow closely behind. Strokes cause the most deaths in the Vietnamese population with 200,000 new cases each year; half of them are fatal.

Although there may be many factors contributing to these high death rates due to chronic diseases, risky health behaviors, such as smoking, and the state of the healthcare system can be considered two main contributors to the leading causes of death in Vietnam.

What is the common cause of death in Vietnam? ›

The top cause of death and disability in 2019 is Stroke, of type Non-communicable diseases, which has increased by 13.2 percent since 2009. The axis shows the percent change from -38 percent to 57 percent.