IDENTIFICATION OF FRENCH-STYLE HOUSING ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES IN NAM DINH CITY

Abstract

Abstract: Nam Dinh city is one of the typical urban areas
of the Northern Delta region, once serving as an industrial and
cultural hub under French colonial rule. The article identifies
four French architectural styles that have been introduced and
transformed in Nam Dinh city: Classic, Art Deco, Indochine, and
French-Chinese. Through field surveys and analysis of façades,
doors, windows, and decorative elements, the study reveals
the flexible adaptation of French styles to local conditions,
harmoniously blending with traditional Vietnamese architecture.
Additionally, the article compares these buildings with
contemporary examples in Hanoi to highlight similarities and
differences in colonial architectural expression across regions,
thereby contributing to clarifying the historical and aesthetic
values of French architecture in Nam Dinh city and providing a
scientific basis for heritage conservation in the modern context