VietNamNet Bridge – The announcement of a referendum on widening Hàng Đậu Street issued in 1925 is on display at an exhibition in Hanoi.

Fascinating: French Ambassador Betrand Lortholary (centre) visits the exhibition. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoai Thuong

The document is one among 130 important texts and pictures stored by National Archives Centre No 1 which are on show at an exhibition entitled ‘Nostalgic Walk in the Heart of Ha Noi’.

The notice explained that Hàng Đậu Street would be expanded to 20m in width. Maps and information on the road were available for public viewing at the City Mayor’s Building, where residents were able to express their opinions between May 2-22, 1925.

Historian Duong Trung Quoc, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Historical Sciences, said this announcement showcased the process of French people building up the urban area in Hanoi. It also proved the democracy and Western-style urban management applied in Hanoi at that time.

“Observing the maps at the exhibition, we can see the way French people urbanised the land of Hanoi,” said Quoc.

“They preserved traditions and added new elements of modern urban areas such as drainage and Western-style buildings.”

The exhibition features a collection of documents, photos, maps and drawings depicting the daily, cultural and religious life of Hanoians; the Old Quarter, the ancient citadel of Hanoi, Quoc Tu Giam - the first university in Vietnam, the Sword Lake and beautiful European and Asian-style buildings.

The exhibition aims to provide visitors with an archival treasure trove of research and information on Hanoi, thus inspiring love and pride among Hanoians and encouraging them to preserve and uphold the capital city’s traditional cultural values, according to Dang Thanh Tung, director of the State Records Management and Archives Department.

Ancient structures: A photo of Ô Quan Chưởng Gate in the 19th century displayed at the exhibition.

“The new thing in this exhibition is the expression. Installation art and exhibition design bring visitors a feeling that they can come back to the past and stand beside old architecture of Hanoi.”

“It’s not only a space to display old documents,” said Tung. “It’s a place where old days of Hanoi are revived.”

People pass a replica of Ô Quan Chưởng Gate to enter the exhibition. Then they can see the landscape and daily activities of Hanoi’s people in the 19th-20th centuries reflected in the exhibits of old documents.

Attending the exhibition, visitors can see how Hanoi has changed. Many buildings such as the Ha Noi Post Office, Ô Quan Chưởng Gate and Ha Noi Opera House have maintained the same appearance but they are now surrounded by many other constructions.

Meanwhile, some architecture and surrounding spaces have changed, for example, Hoa Phong Tower of Báo Ân Pagoda beside Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. Now, the pagoda is destroyed. There is nothing left but Hoa Phong Tower located on the pavement next to Sword Lake.

The exhibition will run until December 31 at the National Archives Centre No 1, 18 Vu Pham Ham Street, Hanoi. 

Source: VNS