Capital exhibition evokes nostalgia for Hanoi’s olden days

An exhibition entitled “Sword Lake, East-West Intersection” is now underway at Hoan Kiem Lake (also known as Sword Lake) in downtown Hanoi, featuring pictures and documents on Vietnam’s capital from the early 19th to mid-20th centuries.

The exhibition features 22 landscape drawings and over 100 pictures and documents from the National Archives Centre 1 on the lives of downtown Hanoians from the 19^th to 20^th centuries.

Hoan Kien Lake was considered the junction of Eastern and Western cultures by the French back in the old days. The lake divided Hanoi into two parts. To the south featured Western architecture while the north preserved the old Eastern-style buildings.

During the French’s first appearance in Hanoi in the 19^th century, and with the introduction of Western lifestyles, the lives of Hanoians underwent interesting changes.

The Sword Lake, East-West Intersection exhibition is open until October 31. It is part of the activities to celebrate the 69^th anniversary of the capital city's liberation day (October 10, 1954 - 2023)./.

VNA