Vietnam Army History Museum

Located on Điện Biên Phủ Street, it was opened on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Army (22nd December 1959). It used to be the barracks of the French, which was upgraded to the current building of 2,000 m2 of exhibition space. Nearly 3,000 objects displayed here show visitors the establishment and development of the Việt Nam people’s armed forces. Besides a small section on the tradition of fighting foreign invaders of the Vietnamese feudal dynasties, the museum’s contents focus on the historical events relating to the history of Viet Nam People’s Army.

Vietnam Military History Museum

The collection includes the rudimentary weapons used by groups of national salvation soldiers set up during the pre-insurrection period, especially the Việt Nam Propagation and Liberation Brigade (founded on 22nd December 1944 which date is considered the date of establishment of the Việt Nam People’s Army). The first victories of this army made an important contribution to the establishment of the Việt Bắc Liberated Zone, the first model of a free Viet Nam.

The growth of the National Defense Army during the post August Revolution and of the Việt Nam People’s Army (the official name of Việt Nam’s Army since 1950) is represented with a number of memorabilia: weapons, maps, strategic decisions, site models of major attacks, especially those related to the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign. Objects and documents concerning the war against the American invaders are also on display in the museum. There are guns called Ngựa Trời (heaven horse), self-made hand grenades which were effectively used in the days of the 1960 general uprising. Visitors can see strong army units with tanks, heavy artillery which participated in the Spring Campaign of 1975 to liberate the South. Besides, there are photographs about major fights between Việt Nam’s military forces and the American army at Vạn Tường, Bình Giã, Khe Sanh, Southern Laos, and the “Dien Bien Phu in the sky” (in Hà Nội, late 1972), etc. The site model of the Hồ Chí Minh campaign is also provided.

Vietnam Army History Museum

There are many historical objects such as a pack- bicycle used during the Điện Biên Phủ campaign, MIG 19 and 21 jet-fighters, SAM 2 and 3 rockets which smashed the supremacy of the us Air Force, simple bamboo spikes, and the tank of the motorized army which rolled through Saigon on 30th April 1975.
The Army Museum manifests the Vietnamese people’s indomitability embodied in the phrase “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom.”

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers

Ba Dinh Square - Hanoi City

Ba Đình Square is the heart of Hà Nội as this place has witnessed the events of local or national significance. This area was formerly the site of the West Gale of the ancient Hà Nội Citadel. At the beginning of French domination, the colonialists destroyed the citadel and built a flower garden in this place which they called Puginier Ring. In 1945, it was renamed Ba Đình garden to remind people of a region where a rebellion against the French colonialists broke out from September 1886 to January 1887 in Thanh Hoá province.

Ba Dinh Square - Hanoi City

On 2nd September 1945, half a million people from Hà Nội and the adjacent areas poured into this Square to participate in the Nation’s Independence Proclaiming Ceremony. A platform was set up in the middle of the Square. Four sides of the platform had the trapezium shape, covered with red cloth, in the middle of which were tucked four relief yellow stars.

Right at 2 p.m, all the members of the Provisional Government were present on the plat-form. After the flag-salutation ceremony, President Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence. All the participants were eager to listen to their leader’s speech. Then came the swear-in ceremony of the Provisional Government.

in front of the Square (the west side) stands the Mausoleum of President Hồ Chí Minh

After that, Minister of Internal Affairs Võ Nguyên Giáp talked about the domestic situation and the Government’s policies; Minister of Propagation Trần Huy Liệu reported to the Government on how King Bảo Đại handed over the Royal seal and sword to the representatives of the new Government.

He showed the people these objects symbolizing the power of the Nguyễn Dynasty; Mr. Nguyễn Lương Bằng, representative of the Việt Minh headquarters, talked about the people’s struggle and called on all social strata to bring into full play their solidarity and further develop the revolution. Finally, the meeting was turned into a march of demonstration along the streets.

On the 9th September 1969, seven days after President Hồ Chí Minh passed away, the memorial service in honour of the President was solemnly held also in this Square. One hundred thousand compatriots from the Capital and other provinces together with 34 international delegations took part in the service.

Today, in front of the Square (the west side) stands the Mausoleum of President Hồ Chí Minh. The present Square is 320m in length and 100m in width enough for 200,000 people to gather. The Square is, in fact, composed of 168 small squares of evergreen grass. In the middle of the Square there is a flag pole 30m high.
The Ba Đình Square has become a sacred place in Hà Nội.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers

Quan Chưởng Gate - Hanoi Old Quarter

In Việt Nam, citadels and fortresses may be found in many localities, but city gates only exist in Hà Nội and even in Hà Nội today, there is only one gate left: Quan Chưởng Gate in Hàng Chiếu Street, close to the Red River dyke. The gate is similar to that of a citadel but smaller in size. This is one of the many gates built on the eastern side of the earth citadel enclosing the former Thăng Long Royal Capital. That citadel was built in 1749, but the appearance of this gate is due to the major repairs in 1817.

Quan Chuong Gate - Hanoi French Quarter

At present, the gate has a main entrance and two smaller entrances on both sides. Above the main entrance is a watch-tower which was formerly occupied by security guards throughout the day and night. On the left-side wall there is a stele on which was sculpted the order of the Mayor Hoàng Diệu in 1882 prohibiting soldiers from embarrassing funeral processions passing through the gate. Thus, there used to be a door at this gate, which was closed at night.

Quan Chuong Gate - It should be noted that Quan Chưởng is a popular name

It should be noted that Quan Chưởng is a popular name, not the formal one which is engraved on the mam entrance: Đông Hà Gate. Đông Hà is the name of a ward under the Lê Dynasty, consisting of the present Hàng Chiếu, Thanh Hà and Đào Duy Từ Streets.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers

Hà Nội Flag Tower

It is one of the few architectural works in Hà Nội which were not destroyed by the French administration from 1894 to 1897. The relatively high flag Tower was used by the French troops as an observation tower and communications station between the command post an adjacent military posts. In the daytime, signals were used while at night a system of lights was operated.

Hanoi Flag Tower in the Past

The tower was built in 1812, composed of three lower structures and a tower. The three lower structures are square frustums, smaller at the top, overlapping each other and covered by bricks. The lower structure, 42.5m long each side, is 3.1m high with two brick staircases. The second structure, 27m long each side, is 3.7m high with four doors. The eastern door has two inscribed characters reading “Nghênh Húc” (“welcoming dawn’s sunlight), the western door with “Hội Quang” (light absorbing) and the southern with “Hướng Minh” (facing sunlight).

The northern door has no inscription. The third structure is 12.8m long and 5.1m high with a staircase on the northern side. On top of it stands the tower body, a 18.2m high eight-sided structure that gets smaller to the top. Each side at the bottom is 2m wide. Inside the structure is a 54-step spiral staircase. Light and air to the whole tower come through holes, which are scattered along the sides, each side having from 4 to 5 holes.

Hanoi Flag Tower Now

The peak of the Flag Tower is an eight-sided room, 3.3m high with 8 windows at 8 sides. In the middle of the octagon there is a cylinder 8m in height and 0.4m diameter where the flagpole is placed. The entire Flag Tower is 33.4m high and if the flagpole is included, the Tower is over 4lm high.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers

West Lake - A big lake in inner Hà Nội

A big lake in inner Hà Nội, it covers an area of hundreds of hectares and the road around the lake is 17km long. Geographers have proved that the lake was once part of the Red River before the latter changed its course. It is perhaps due to such history that there are so many legends about the lake and its names.

For instance, according to the story about the Fox Devil, the lake was called Xác Cáo (Fox Carcass). The legend says that there was a 9-tailed fox hiding itself in the lake, harming the people. Long Quân raised waters in order to destroy the fox’s lair. The lair collapsed and was turned into the lake. According to another legend, the "'Bell-Casting Griant - the lake had another name.”Golden Buffalo".

West Lake in Hanoi

The story says That there was a giant who lived ID the South and collected all the black bronze from the North in order to cast a bell. When struck, the bell echoed throughout the North. As black bronze was believed 10 be the mother of sold, the golden buffalo of the North heard the sound and desperately went south to look for its mother.

It came to this area and trampled on the land so much that the earth sunk and became a lake. However, according to some ancient manuscripts, in the 11th century this lake was called Dâm Đàm (Frosty Lake). By the 15th century. It was called Tây Hồ (West Lake). Another name of the lake is Lãng Bạc which is considered the field where fierce fights between the soldiers of the two Trưng Sisters and the Han troops (in fact, that field is in Tiên Sơn district, Bác Ninh province).

West Lake has for long been a beautiful land-scape. During the Lý and Trần dynasties, many kings had various palaces built around the lake as resorts. Some of these palaces: Thúy Hoa Palace in the Lý Dynasty, i.e. Hàm Nguyên Palace in the Trần Dynasty (Trấn Quốc Pagoda’s site now); Từ Hoa Palace 111 the Lý Dynasty, (Kim Liên Pagoda’s site now); Thụv Chương Palace in the Lê Dynasty (Chu Vãn An School now), etc.

Fishing on the Lake

Taking walk around the lake, one can see many historical sites and beauty spots: Nghi Tàm village, the birthplace of the wife of the Prefect Thanh Quan (a famous poetess who lived around 19th century); Kim Liên Pagoda with its unique architecture; Nhật Tân village with its famous gardens of peaches; Xuân Tảo village, with SÓC Temple dedicated to Saint Gióng; Trích Sài village with Thiên Niên Pagoda dedicated to the founder of the craft of weaving; silk; Kẻ Bưởi village with its traditional craft of making paper and Đồng cổ Temple; Thụy Khuê village with Bà Đanh Pagoda which was once very famous. Quan Thánh Temple, etc. Today, a series of newly-built hotels around the lake adds much diversity to its beauty.

Together with Trúc Bạch Lake, West Lake further enriches the poetic nature of inner Hà Nội while being a source of fish for the City.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers

Temple of Literature - Vietnam's first university

The Temple of Literature was built in October 1070 for worshipping sages and saints of Confucianism (Confucius, Mencius and others).

The Temple of Literature was built in October 1070

Six years later (1076), the National University was built at the rear of the temple. Originally, it was only a University for princes, but later it also admitted bright students from the populace.

The whole Temple of Literature is surrounded by brick walls. Inside the complex, there are walls separating it into five sections. The first one begins at the great portico on which Han characters are inscribed. Under the gate, there are two stone dragons made in the style of the early Lê Dynasty (15th century). The main path running through this gate leads to the Great Middle Gate which marks the second section. 

This gate is flanked by two smaller sates. The main path leads to the Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature). There are also two small gates on both sides of Khue Van Cac. The third section is that between the Khue Van Cac and Dai Thanh Mon (the Gate of Cheat Synthesis). In the middle of this area there is a square lake called Thien Quang Tinh (Well of Heaven Clarity), which is bordered by walls.

At the rear of the Great House of Ceremonies is the Quốc Tử Giám

On both sides of the well are pavilions of steles. These steles record the names of those who attained the Tien Si, or doctor laureate degree. In 1993, with the financial aid from an American business organization, eight pavilions were built to protect the steles.

Tiến Sĩ were those attaining the highest degree in the Court examinations (thi Đình). In ancient times, students after about ten years of study were able to participate in the thi Hương ( interprovincial competitions-examinations) which were held once every three years. Those who scored the highest marks in such exams were conferred with the title of Cu Nhan (bachelor). A year later, these bitchcJors came to the Capital lo take part in the first stage of the Court competition-examination (thi Hội). 

Winners of this stage were allowed to go ahead with the second stage, thi Đình. Winners of the tiến sĩ might be appointed court mandarins or local administrators, up to date, 82 steles have been preserved, the oldest of which records the exams in 1442 and the most recent is the 1779 exams. These steles are the most valuable relics of the Temple of Literature. Walking through Đại Thành Môn, we come to the fourth section.

The National University was built at the rear of the temple

There is a large courtyard to the left and right of which stand two rows of houses, originally used to accommodate the altars for the 72 disciples of Confucius. At the rear of the courtyard is the Great House of Ceremonies and the Sanctuary where various precious objects are found: a bell cast in 1768, on the left and on the right is a stone gong with an engraved essay telling us the usage of this musical instrument.

The present appearance of the Temple of Literature dates back at least to the Le Dynasty (15th-18th centuries), except for Khue Van Cac which was constructed at the start of the 19th century. However, the present general disposition of the Temple of Literature is similar to that in other countries (such as the Temple of Literature in Qu-fu, China, the birth place of Confucius - where there are also the Great Middle Gate, Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature, the Gate of Great Synthesis, the Sanctuary of Great Synthesis and stone steles). The Khuê Văn Các in Hà Nội’s Temple of Literature used to serve as the place for commenting on excellent poems and essays by examinees.

At the rear of the Great House of Ceremonies is the Quốc Tử Giám, the National University of the Lê Dynasty. When the Nguyễn Dynasty moved this University to Huế, this area was converted into Khải Thánh Temple dedicated to Confucius’s parents. It was damaged during the recent wars. However, this site has been restored with new constructions this year in 2000 as a contribution to the celebration of the 990th anniversary of Thăng Long-Hà Nội.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers