In
the past, Hanoi’s Royal Citadel was surrounded by a wall that had five gates.
Most Hanoians are familiar with an old song that recounts:”The five city gates
are welcoming the coming soldiers as if flower with five petals is blooming…”
According
to historians, two gates once stood on the southern side of the old Hanoi
citadel: the West – South gate and the East – South Gate. The latter was also
known as Dai hung Gate. Cua Nam (Southern Gate) is now the name of a street,
and several other names in the Old Quarter remind us of the now demolished
Citadel.
The
name of Dinh Ngang Street refers to the checkpoint where soldiers once
monitored those entering the royal Citadel. Cam Chi Street which means
“Forbidden Zone” refers to an area that was once out of bounds for commoners.
The second – shortest street in Hanoi, Dinh Ngang measures only 54m-long.
Nearly lays a park, where s small-scale replica of the statue of Liberty stood
during French colonial times.
Known
locally as the “Open – Dressed Dame”, this was exhibited at the Dau Xao
Fairgrounds in 1887, and then given to Hanoi. The statue was first placed in
the park in front of the Indochina Bank, then on top of the Turtle Temple, and
finally in Bach Viet Park in 1896, on August 1st, 1945, the Tran Trong
Kim government had the statue removed as a “colonial remnant”. The bronze was
used by artisans in Ngu Xa village to cast an impressive16-ton Buddha statue.
Earlier,
the site where the stature had stood had been home to Quang Van Hall, built in
1491, During the Le Dynasty, new graduates presented at Quang Van Hall. Under
the reign of Gia Long it was renamed Quang minh Hall. During the Nguyen
Dynasty, people gathered here to hear the announcement of royal decrees.
Long
ago, malarial were required to carry parasols when they entered the imperiled
to carry to their needs, merchants set up shop along Hang long Street (now Le
Duan Street) and Hang Day Street (now Nguyen Thai Hoc Street). At the corner of
these streets stood the Taupin printing house, where the first banknotes
showing Ho Chi Minh’s portrait were printed. The former printing house is now a
wholesale store at No. 5 Nam Bo.
In
2005, the corner Nguyen Thai Hoc and Nam Bo streets were designated a “Hanoi
Cultural Street” for its beauty and historic relevance. Especially noteworthy
is the house at number 65 Nguyen Thai Hoc, which has been home to many
important early 20th century artists, including painters Nguyen Phan
Chanh, Nguyen Tu Nghiem and Van Giao, musicians Do Nhuan and Do Hong Quan, the
stress HCieu Xuan, writers Nguyen Dinh thi and Vu Tu Nam and the journalist
Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong.
Nguyen
Thai Hoc Street is close to Trang Thi Street, where royal exams were once held
on the site of what is now the National Library. This street has changed its
name four times. During the French colonial regime, it was called Rue Borgnis
Desborder. In 1945 it regained it original name of Trang thi. When the French
colonialist retook control, it was known as My Quoc. When Vietnam gained its
independence in 1954, the street was renamed Trang thi.
Qhile
Hanoi is undergoing many changes, these are many reminders of the city’s long
and fascinating past - if you know where
to look for them.
This
article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vietnam Heritage Travel
For
original article, please visit:
No comments:
Post a Comment