A visitor to the exhibition on the main building of the museum, which was built 90 years ago by the French. (Photo: VNA) It features documents and images of a 90-year-old building whichwas the first Louis Finot Museum of the French School of Extreme Orient in 1932and then used as a part of the Vietnam National Museum of History.
The exhibition is divided into three parts: history and the establishment ofthe building, important periods to transfer the building into the VietnamNational Museum of History and the Vietnam National Museum of History – a newstage.
The event introduces the construction process of the building, itsarchitecture, and its function at the beginning period under the French regime(1932-1957).
The building was built as an important museum in Indochina in the early 20thcentury. On January 20, 1900, the French School of Extreme Orient wasestablished, which needed a museum to preserve and exhibit architecturalobjects.
In January 1926, construction began on a total area of 1,835sq.m in the sameplace as the French School's office behind the Opera House.
The completed Louis Finot Museum has a great hall in an octagon shape, whichwas modelled on popular Eastern wooden architecture. Various decorationpatterns outside the building were also taken from the Eastern architecturalstyle.
The museum was transferred to the Vietnamese government in 1945 when it wasused as the National Museum. In 1998, the museum was renovated when the outdoorgarden was mobilised for exhibiting artefacts.
Throughout 90 years, the building has become a heritage site and has been usedas the initial function.
The exhibition on the historical building will run till March 2023./.
VNA
