From City Hall to the new Danang Museum

42 Bach Dang is a historical address of Da Nang city. This place used to be the Da Nang City Hall during the struggle for power, and later became the headquarters of the People's Council and People's Committee of Da Nang city. The red flag with yellow star flew on the roof of this building on August 26, 1945 when the entire government was handed over to the people. Over the past 120 years, this building has witnessed many historical events and the transformation of the city on the Han River. Now, with the investment of the city, this iconic building continues to turn a new page with the mission of becoming a place to preserve the city's memories.

The old city hall was renovated and upgraded by the city into the new Da Nang Museum. Photo: XD

Witness of history

According to many recorded documents, Da Nang City Hall was built by the French colonial government in 1898 and completed in 1900. This building was designed and constructed by the French in the neoclassical style with a simple symmetrical form.

According to Director of Da Nang Museum Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this urban area located on the Han River was named Tourane by the French and planned according to the functions and models of the West. At that time, Quai Courbet Street (now Bach Dang Street) was first formed with the presence of a series of public works such as: City Hall, Court, Steel House, Central Vietnam Customs and Public Administration Department, Da Nang Chamber of Commerce... In which, the City Hall with its frontage facing the Han River was the most important work in terms of political institutions at that time. This was the workplace of the City Governor and was once a symbol of the power of the "concession - Tourane" government.

Not only is it symbolic, the City Hall is also a witness to the heroic historical times of the army and people of Da Nang. According to documents kept at the Da Nang Museum, in February 1937, thousands of Da Nang people gathered at the City Hall to meet Godart - the envoy of the French Government to demand civil rights and democracy. It was also here that, in the historic autumn of 1945, the people of Da Nang rose up to seize power.

On the morning of August 26, 1945, at the City Hall, comrade Le Van Hien, on behalf of the Chairman of the Provisional Revolutionary People's Committee of the city, announced the abolition of the Japanese puppet government led by Mayor Nguyen Khoa Phong. This was a milestone affirming the return of the "concession - Tourane" land to the independent Vietnamese Fatherland. When the French invaded Vietnam for the second time, the 96th Regiment fought back the enemy here. During the resistance war against the US, at noon on March 29, 1975, the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam flew on the roof of the City Hall, marking the victory of the army and people of Da Nang in the resistance war against the US to save the country. On the same day, at 6:30 p.m., comrades Vo Chi Cong, Ho Nghinh and comrades in the Quang Da Liberation Campaign Command took over the headquarters of the Saigon government.

During the construction and development phase, this building continued to be used as the headquarters of the People's Committee of Quang Nam - Da Nang province. In 1994, the building was renovated and upgraded but still retained the aesthetic values of the inherent French architecture. At the time of administrative division in 1997, the building was still chosen as the headquarters of the People's Committee of Da Nang city. By June 2014, the government apparatus moved to the City Administration Center, the building became the headquarters of the City People's Council. Thus, despite many historical changes, this address was chosen as the headquarters of the government apparatus. This affirms the stature and special value of a symbolic building for the people of the city. In 1992, the Department of Culture - Information of Quang Nam - Da Nang (old) included the City Hall in the list of relics registered for protection.

Continue writing new history

At the end of 2016, the City Department of Culture and Sports proposed to move the Da Nang Museum (inside Dien Hai Citadel) to its headquarters at 42 Bach Dang after the City People's Council moved elsewhere and was approved by the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee. In mid-2020, the City People's Committee approved the investment project to build and renovate the facility at 42 Bach Dang to become the Da Nang Museum with a budget of nearly 505 billion VND.

Mr. Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien said that the museum at the new location connects with the square around Dien Hai Citadel, the General Science Library and the landscape on the west bank of the Han River, creating a unique cultural architectural complex. After completing the project, the Da Nang Museum will also expand the scale of the exhibition, ensuring the material conditions as a place to collect, preserve and promote the historical and cultural values of the city and the Central - Central Highlands region. From there, it will contribute to education and serve the needs of learning, research, sightseeing, learning and enjoying culture of the majority of people as well as tourists.

According to People's Artist Huynh Hung, former Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, in recent years, the city's leaders have paid great attention and invested heavily in culture, evidenced by the investment of more than 500 billion VND to renovate the 42 Bach Dang facility into the new Da Nang Museum. The investment and upgrading of this facility into a museum is very appropriate, because the building itself is a valuable historical artifact of Da Nang.

Up to now, the architectural style of this building has not become outdated. Therefore, moving the Da Nang Museum to this location does not affect its operations but also creates an opportunity to promote its role in introducing historical artifacts and documents to the public. On the other hand, moving the Da Nang Museum to 42 Bach Dang is also an important factor for the city to implement phase 2 of the project to renovate, restore and embellish Dien Hai Citadel. Thereby, contributing to raising the level of a special national relic, becoming a highlight in the cultural and historical space of the city.

Old City Hall. (Photo courtesy)

After more than 3 years of implementation, the shape of the new Da Nang Museum is gradually emerging with ancient and modern architecture, showing the transition between the old and the new. In particular, the frontage of Bach Dang Street with the architectural highlight of blocks 42 and 44 Bach Dang has become a favorite check-in spot for locals and tourists for many months now.

Mr. Phan Thanh Tung, Executive Director of the project to renovate and upgrade the 42 Bach Dang facility to become the Da Nang Museum, said that thanks to the attention and facilitation of the city's leaders, the main items of the project have been basically completed. Currently, the construction unit has completed about 96% of the construction progress, only waiting for the interior display to be painted for the last time, meeting the aesthetic requirements.

On August 24, the city held a bidding for the construction and installation items, with results expected to be available by mid-September 2023. When the winning bidder implements the interior display, the unit will simultaneously carry out the aesthetic renovation of the building in a rolling manner to meet the schedule for the inauguration of the Da Nang Museum, contributing to enhancing the experience of visiting and learning about history for residents and tourists.

KHO NGUYEN

Source