The online exhibition, named “Ho Guom, Giao Lo Dong Tay” (Sword Lake, East-West Intersection), will take place from October 8 at the website of the National Archives Centre 1 under the State Records Management and Archives Department of Vietnam at archives.org.vn and its Facebook page at facebook.com/luutruquocgia1 as part of activities to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the capital city’s liberation (October 10, 1954 – October 10, 2021).
Familiar images of the daily life of Hanoi people in general and people in the area around Hoan Kiem Lake in particular, works built by the French, and many historical and cultural landscapes and monuments will be displayed, through three themes: The process of changing the appearance of Sword Lake; Preserving historical and cultural space of Sword Lake; and Sword Lake – Service and cultural centre.
More than 100 documents, images and drawings introduced at this exhibition are just a small part of the many documents about Hanoi that were currently preserved at National Archives Centre 1.
The exhibition is expected to bring to the public good memories of Hoan Kiem Lake and old Hanoi.
Hoan Kiem Lake, a vestige of an ancient Nhi Ha River, is a famous scenic site of the capital surrounded by Hang Khay Street, Le Thai To Street and Dinh Tien Hoang Street.
With a prime location, Hoan Kiem Lake was chosen by the French to become the centre of the renovation of Hanoi city as soon as they arrived in this land.
Under the planning of the French, Hoan Kiem Lake is like an intersection – the venue connecting the Eastern – Western architectural and cultural features.
Along with the old habits and the traditional living habits of Hanoi people, the new look of a Western urban area has made the lifestyle of the people more modern. That resonance has created a very unique mark for Hoan Kiem Lake and the Hanoi’s Old Quarter today.
