Exhibition of documents and images about the history, culture, land and people of Thang Long - Hanoi

With 180 versions of documents, materials, images, maps, and technical drawings selected for display, the exhibition “Old Citadel, Old Street” will bring a new perspective on the history, culture, land, and people of Thang Long - Hanoi from the 19th century to the mid-20th century in the space of old Hanoi with neighborhoods, roads, historical and cultural relics, and many works bearing the French mark. The exhibition is organized according to two main themes: Citadel by the Street and Stories of Western and Vietnamese Streets.

“Old Citadel, Old Street” will partly recreate the changes of Hanoi over the past century with the image of Hanoi Citadel built in the early Vauban style of Nguyen Dynasty still intact in the West of the Old Quarter, the image of Hanoi's wards and towns that have not yet changed towards modern urbanization, to a Hanoi that is gradually changing, built and planned in the Western style with crisscrossing streets in a checkerboard pattern.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked important changes in Hanoi in its transformation from an old Asian-style urban area to a modern city with Western-style imprints.

Since the end of the 19th century, the French began to plan and build Hanoi on the basis of the old Thang Long capital, with the center being Hanoi Citadel. In addition to some structures that were retained such as: Ky Dai, Doan Mon, dragon steps in front of Kinh Thien Palace, Hau Lau, and Cua Bac - evidence of a glorious historical period, Hanoi Citadel has changed to a new look with an Asian - European style.

The city was expanded with many new neighborhoods, political and administrative centers were built. Hanoi gradually put on a new coat, but in harmony with the Western-style architectural space, there are still traces of the "old citadel - old town".

The exhibition opens at 9:00 a.m. on October 6 at the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center - Hanoi.

In addition, from October 5 to 31, at the Hoan Kiem Lake Cultural Information Center (No. 2 Le Thai To - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi), the National Archives Center I in collaboration with the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board organized the Exhibition "Hoan Kiem Lake, the East-West Crossroads".

Through “Ho Guom Lake, the East-West Crossroads”, the Organizing Committee wants to introduce to the public the changing appearance of an ancient Hanoi in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century in the exchange between the ancient and the modern, between the East and the West. At that time, Ho Guom was chosen by the French as the center of the planning process. From Ho Guom Lake, the city was expanded, gradually spreading to the surrounding areas; streets were renovated, relics were selected for preservation, many new cultural works and administrative offices were built. Hanoi has changed its new appearance to be more modern but still no less ancient.

More than 100 documents, materials, images, design drawings, and planning maps introduced at this exhibition are part of many documents and materials about ancient Hanoi currently preserved at the National Archives Center I. The exhibition is organized with 3 main themes: The process of changing the appearance of Hoan Kiem Lake, Preserving the historical and cultural space of Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoan Kiem Lake - Service and cultural entertainment center.

Through the exhibition, many beautiful memories of Hanoi are expressed through the lens of those who were born and raised here, bringing the public many fresh emotions during these autumn days in Hanoi.

Previously, on October 8, 2021, the National Archives Center I introduced to the public the online exhibition of archival documents "Ho Guom Lake, the East-West Crossroads" and the initial wish of the Organizing Committee was to display the exhibition directly on the walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and many other objective reasons, this wish has not yet been realized.