A series of cultural activities in Hanoi's Old Quarter celebrate October 10th

October 10, 1954 was an important milestone in the history of construction and development of the Capital and the country, opening a new period in the thousand-year history of Thang Long-Dong Do -Hanoi .

Veterans scan QR codes to access the online exhibition with the theme "Hey compatriots of the Capital!" (Photo: VNA)

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024), the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter in collaboration with units and individuals organized many diverse cultural activities and events. The online exhibition with the theme "Hey Capital People!" will last until October 31, introducing to the public archival documents and illustrations of the struggle against the French by the Hanoi army and people from the late 19th century to 1954, many of which are published for the first time. The online 3D exhibition allows viewers to experience the space of Hanoi during the resistance war against the French anytime, anywhere. The photo exhibition “Hanoi in Me” brings together 70 color and black and white photos taken in the 60s of the last century by 18 artists and journalists known to the public such as: Trinh Hai, Hoang Kim Dang, Tran Hong, Hoang Nhu Thinh, Khac Huong, Pham Cong Thang, Tran Hai, Dang Khoa... The person with the most photos displayed (15 photos) is photographer and journalist Trinh Hai, founding member of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, who turned 92 this year.

vna_potal_70_nam_ngay_giai_phong_thu_do_trien_lam_anh_“ha_noi_trong_toi”_lan_thu_19_7611264.jpg — Photo exhibition “Hanoi in me” by the Hanoi Senior Citizens Photography Club at the Temple of Literature. (Photo: Nguyen Cuc/VNA)

The exhibition will last until October 29 at the pedestrian space around Hoan Kiem Lake (on the sidewalk of Le Thai To Street, opposite King Le Temple). The exhibition "Memories of Hanoi 70 years" recreating the space of old Hanoi in the Hanoi Old Quarter during the period of the National Resistance War of Hanoi's army and people until the day of taking over the capital (1947-1954) will take place at Phung Hung mural space, Hang Ma ward from October 2 to October 13. Also at Phung Hung mural space, the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter will coordinate with artists and researchers to decorate and arrange models of the old quarter, welcome gates, flags, banners, slogans and organize a photo exhibition with the theme "Hoan Kiem District - Historical Images," introducing documentary photos of Hoan Kiem District during the period from the August Revolution in 1945 to the day of taking over the capital on October 10, 1954. The event was attended by historian Duong Trung Quoc as an advisor. At the Heritage House 87 Ma May Street, the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board organized many parallel activities: Exhibition with the theme "Stories of Hang Street" from October 4 to December 31; a tour with the theme "Stories of Hang Street" recreating the daily life of a middle-class Hanoian family working in Oriental medicine, the event took place at 7:30 p.m. on October 9. The 22 Hang Buom Cultural and Art Center displayed 70 quintessence of bonsai art by the Hanoi Old Quarter Bonsai Club and provided technical guidance and knowledge about the hobby of bonsai of Hanoians past and present, from October 2 to October 12. The Old Quarter Heritage Information Center (Quan De Temple) at 28 Hang Buom Street will display bonsai art from the Hanoi Old Quarter Bonsai Club from October 5 to October 12. The photo exhibition “Hanoi - The Day of Takeover in 1954” and the screening of the documentary “Memories of Hanoi” will take place at the Ho Guom Cultural Information Center, 2 Le Thai To, from October 9 to October 20. The Heritage Villa at 46 Hang Bai (49 Tran Hung Dao) will be the venue for the photo exhibition “Hanoi - A Time to Remember” with 86 black and white photos published for the first time by two authors Le Bich and Andy Soloman (British reporters). Viewers will clearly feel the transformation of Hanoi during the renovation period, a time to remember and cherish.

Exhibition of two photographers Le Bich and Andy Soloman.

Ahead of the exhibition, Mr. Andy Soloman shared: “I have loved Hanoi and its people since I first arrived here in 1992. Wherever I went, I was greeted with great kindness and hospitality, and looking back at my photos from that time, I see them as an important record of life in the city. I hope that Hanoians who visit the exhibition will love them as much as I did, and that they will evoke strong memories and emotions. I also really want to find some of the people in the photos because it would be wonderful to meet them, hear their stories and photograph them again.” For photographer Le Bich, Hanoi has changed a lot, but he does not allow himself to forget the old beauty, the quintessence of Hanoi. “Over time, I have been taking photos of the beauty, quintessence and identity of Hanoi. I hope that it will be a low note in the song about Hanoi, a beam of afternoon sunlight brightening the ancient beauty of the time-worn temple gates, a yellow chrysanthemum in the flower garden by the lake in autumn... so that we love Hanoi more, appreciate what we have today more,” said photographer Le Bich. The exhibition opens at 9:00 a.m. on October 10 and lasts until October 31. In addition, a traditional music performance by the Dong Kinh Co Nhac group will take place from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on October 19 at the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center, 50 Dao Duy Tu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.