Nearly 30 photographs are currently being shown at the exhibition “Hanoi - The Early Stages of A Western City in Southeast Asia” at the villa at 49 Tran Hung Dao street.
These are among the first color photographs of Hanoi, revealing the city in a process of transformation.
The exhibition is co-hosted by Hoan Kiem District People's Committee and Paris Région Expertise, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-France Strategic Partnership.
The photo of Long Bien Bridge shows how busy water transportation was at the time. Goods were stored by the river banks. The bridge was the longest in Asia at the beginning of the 20th century.
Paul Bert street in the period between 1914 and 1915, now Trang Tien street. Paul Bert was a French zoologist, biologist, and politician. The now Ly Thai To Park in Hanoi was once named after him.
Ngoc Son Temple and iconic Hoan Kiem Lake. Electricity cables can be seen on the right side of the photo. In 1901, a steam electricity factory was built by the lake aiming to provide energy for the whole city, especially for lighting.
This photo captures Hanoi Flag Tower, built in 1812, and flamboyant trees on Puginier Avenue (now Dien Bien Phu street). The sidewalks were not completed yet, looking like dirt roads.
This photo immortalizes the flamboyant trees, rickshaws, and water carriers in front of the Japanese Yamada convenience store on Bat Su street. The Yamada was then moved to Jules Ferry street (now Hang Trong street). A public water tap can be seen on the sidewalk.
Votive offerings are sold in front of a temple on Hang Non street. Blue signs with white letters stating the name of the street can be seen on the wall of the houses, one in the middle of the photo and another on the right.
This photo captures a paper toy store on Hang Gai street. The sidewalks are separated from the vehicle lanes. In 1890, the French colonial regime assigned the Hanoi Department of Infrastructure to project a new neighborhood for Westerners and reform the central streets.
This photo captures rickshaws on Hang Quat street. Advertising posters can be seen on the wall on the right of the photo. There is a poster with “Le Nil,” a type of cigarette rolling paper, printed on it. At the beginning of the 20th century, many products imported from Europe could be found in Hanoi.
A woman dressed in Western style poses in front of a French villa, now the two-side building on Tran Hung Dao and Hang Bai streets. The historic building has recently been repainted after one year of renovation.
