Ancient house type 1, Mr. Hà Văn Lâm's house, Sơn Tây Ward, Hà Nội City

The ancient house of Mr. Hà Hữu Thể (Hà Văn Lâm) is located in Sui hamlet, Đường Lâm residential group, Sơn Tây Ward, Hà Nội City, and is one of the typical ancient houses belonging to the Đường Lâm ancient village relic complex. Built around 1900, the house is a vivid testament to traditional architectural art and the cultural life of farming families in the Northern Delta in the early 20th century.

The house is quite large with a structure of 7 bays and 2 side wings, demonstrating the grandeur and relatively well-off economic conditions of the former owner. The building was constructed in the traditional Northern housing architecture, with a solid wooden frame, ancient tiled roof, and harmoniously connected, airy spaces among the bays. The architectural lines, though simple, are refined; from the load-bearing structure to the organization of living and worship spaces, all demonstrate the skill of traditional artisans. Over more than a century of existence, the house has retained many original architectural elements, contributing to reflecting the appearance of housing of relatively well-off rural families in the former North.

Not only valuable in architecture, the ancient house of Hà Hữu Thể also preserves the beautiful features of cultural life and family traditions of a traditional Vietnamese family. Especially during death anniversaries and festivals, when children and grandchildren gather, it expresses the moral principle of remembering the source when drinking water and the bond between generations.

With its outstanding historical, architectural, and cultural values, Mr. Hà Hữu Thể's ancient house was recognized and ranked as a city-level relic by the People's Committee of Hà Tây Province (now Hà Nội City) under Decision No. 1223/QĐ-UBND dated May 13, 2008. This recognition affirms the significance of the house in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Đường Lâm ancient village.

Today, the ancient house of Hà Hữu Thể is not only a place preserving the memories and lifestyle of a family over many generations but also a destination that helps visitors learn more deeply about traditional housing architecture, customs and practices, and the cultural and religious interchange in Đường Lâm. The house is an important part of the heritage picture of Sơn Tây land, contributing to affirming the enduring vitality of Vietnamese traditional culture and the significance of preserving heritage in contemporary life.