For months, Phung Tien Vinh, 66, has found his home at 22 Nguyen Truong To Street, Ba Dinh Ward, under siege from morning to night, especially during the lead-up to Tet. On 6/2, he had to abandon his plans to go out, seeing the sidewalk packed with people in ao dai, setting up tripods for filming and photography. He locked his main door, squeezing through a narrow side alley to avoid the crowd. His family of five, living in a 40 m2 room on the first floor, cannot use their front door and keeps windows closed to prevent strangers from looking in.

The two-story French villa, over a century old, where Vinh lives, has become an unexpected attraction. Its moss-covered facade and time-worn wooden doors became a "hot" social media backdrop in 2025. The homeowner estimates about 200 visitors daily, a number that doubles on weekends. However, only 10% knock to ask permission.

The house at 22 Nguyen Truong To Street, Ba Dinh Ward, home to Phung Tien Vinh's family and four other households, has become a popular photo spot for young Hanoians, on the afternoon of 4/2. *Photo: M.N*

This unexpected popularity has severely disrupted the lives of the residents. Vinh once opened his doors for visitors to change clothes or use the restroom but stopped due to littering and mess. Some photographers lean on the slightly ajar main door, almost falling inside. Others set up props, turning the family's 4 m wide facade into a storage area.

"Noise and laughter echo from early morning until late evening. My friends visiting have to leave early because they cannot stand the commotion," Vinh recounted. When he reminds them, many young people react aggressively, claiming their presence on the street is their right. Beyond noise, visitors also open and close the two outer windows as "props." Most frustratingly, they move the family's motorbikes to create a better photo background.

Phung Tien Vinh stands in front of his house, observing the crowd blocking the entrance and exit on Nguyen Truong To Street, Ba Dinh Ward, on the afternoon of 4/2. *Photo: M.N*

Seeing the house become a "hot" spot, many neighbors advised Vinh to charge a fee or post "no entry" signs. However, he refused, unwilling to turn his home into a business or inconvenience the community. "I only hope people will be mindful, avoid making noise, encroaching on the sidewalk, or damaging property, which affects our living space," the homeowner stated.

Hoang Long, a neighbor across the street, likens the area to a "public studio." Crowds often spill onto the street, causing local traffic jams and affecting the entire neighborhood. "If we are bothered by one, Vinh's family is bothered by ten," Long remarked.

Thanh Thuy, 20, from Thanh Xuan Ward, once waited two hours to take photos there. She admitted that many young people lack consideration when invading private space. "If you want to take photos for a long time and comfortably, people should choose a film studio instead of disturbing private homes," Thuy said.

Faced with the crowds disrupting his family's life, Vinh plans to repaint the wooden doors a brighter color after Tet to diminish their antique appearance, hoping to reduce the number of visitors.

Video captures a large number of young people taking photos in front of the house at 22 Nguyen Truong To Street, Ba Dinh Ward, in late 1/2026. *Source: @peterduongvn*

Quynh Nguyen