Strolling in downtown Hanoi, people can easily find many vestiges of the French colonial era. Prominent among them are spacious private villas in Phan Dinh Phung, Tran Hung Dao and Ly Thuong Kiet streets, the Opera House, Metropole Hotel, the Government Guest House, the State Bank, St Joseph Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the Long Bien Bridge.

It’s impossible to not mention the main building of the Vietnam National Museum of History, which used to be the Louis Finot Museum of the French School of the Far East (or EFEO in French acronym). The museum building is commonly called "Nhà Bác Cổ" (Archaeological House) by Hanoians.

The Vietnamese name Bác Cổ has been used for some nearby landmarks like Bác Cổ Slope, Bác Cổ Wharf and Bác Cổ Park.

The building is known as one of the best examples of Indo-Chinese architecture in Vietnam during the colonial past, which combines eastern and western styles.

Unique architecture

At the beginning of the 20th century, when Hanoi became the administrative capital of the North, though there were some museums in the city, the French still chose the area to build a large-scale museum.

In February 1925, Governor-General of French Indochina Martial Henri Merlin approved the museum design by architect Charles Batteur – a permanent member of the EFEO.

The construction of the museum started in January 1926, in a total area of over 1,800sq.m at the same place of the old EFEO museum, behind the Opera House, by the Hong (Red) River. Due to an economic crisis, it took six years to complete.

On March 17, 1932, the inauguration ceremony of the museum was organised with the attendance of General-Governor of French Indochina Pierre Pasquier.

The museum was named after Louis Finot, the first director of the EFEO. Besides exhibiting objects, the museum also hosted themed workshops.

Architect Bui Minh Son said that the building followed the then Europe-Asia fusion style.

“Based on the location, scale and characteristics of the construction, architects Hebrard and Batteur drew an impressive layout and blocs with high symbolic features,” he noted.

The great hall was in octagon form, which took the model from popular Asian wooden octagon houses. Oriental features were applied in the roof, decoration details, canopies, and pillars creating a harmonious outline.

Storing history

When Vietnam gained independence from France in August 1945, the Louis Finot Museum was renamed as the National Museum under the Oriental Archaeology Institute. It again took the new name the Vietnam National Museum of History on September 3, 1958.

The Vietnam National Museum of History stands as the top historical museums in the country with the most objects, including 110,000 documents and antiques dated back from the prehistoric time to 1945.

There are extremely rare collections in comparison to those of similar level museums in the country and in the Southeast Asian region.

The museum hosts 20 national treasures, many of which date back thousands of years ago such as the Ngoc Lu bronze drum, the Hoang Ha bronze drum, the Dao Thinh bronze jar, the Viet Khe boat-shaped tomb, and the Van Ban Pagoda bell.

“The objects are historical evidence of the existence and development of a people and a country with all the attendant culture essence,” said Nguyen Thi Thu Hoan, deputy director of the museum.

“Throughout history, the building has still been used for its main function. During our renovation and professional work, our staff has cared much in preserving the intangible values of the building. This is not only dealing with the values of antiques displayed here, but it is a part of the museum’s value in the future.”

Hoan said the museum had also been included in different Hanoi tours arranged by travel agencies.

“In 2021 we launched a French architecture tour around Hanoi to include the building’s architecture and exhibits inside,” she said.

Visitors appreciate the building and its exhibiting objects in their own ways.

“This is my second time in Vietnam, but the first time in Hanoi. I stay locally, and I am just exploring the neighbourhood,” said Yiwei Gu, a tourist from New York.

“I think it’s great. I’m very impressed by the surroundings, a lot of greenery, a lot of old trees and particularly the exhibition objects inside."

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, a nursery teacher, said she thought the building should be preserved and appreciated.

“It brings along a feeling of nostalgia to people and makes people respect history more,” she said. “Though this building is fairly old, when I stepped inside I felt so cosy.” 

Source: Vietnam News