Legacy 80: Six buildings preserving Hanoi’s memories for over 80 years

The square itself can hold up to 200,000 people. At its centre rises a 30-metre flagpole from which the national flag is raised each morning. The green lawns, neatly divided into smaller squares, evoke the image of Vietnam’s rice fields. In the light of dawn or dusk, the entire scene takes on a quiet, poetic beauty. Viewed from above, Ba Dinh Square is at once a carefully composed work of architecture and a living symbol of national pride.

In the heart of Hanoi lies August Revolution Square, also known as 19 August Square, which, more than 80 years on, remains one of the city’s most enduring sites. It has stood witness to the country’s extraordinary progress in culture, economics and society.

Today the square is a vibrant meeting place, hosting special gatherings and events. Around it rise historic structures, most notably the Hanoi Opera House, a French-inspired masterpiece modelled after the Opera de Paris. Completed in the early 20th century after more than a decade of construction, it was once the preserve of the elite, where classical music and drama were performed beneath glittering chandeliers.

Designed by architects Harlay and Broyer, the building spans 2,600 square metres, its facade facing August Revolution Square. The Opera House’s frontage, in Renaissance style, is striking with Ionic columns and a roof tiled in curved slate. Inside, the mood shifts to Baroque grandeur, with sweeping balconies and sculptural details adorning every corner.

Close to August Revolution Square stands the National Museum of History, begun in 1926 and opened in 1932. Nestled behind the Hanoi Opera House, it was first known as the Louis Finot Museum. Renamed the Vietnam History Museum in 1958, it later merged in 2011 with the Vietnam Revolution Museum, another French-style building, to form today’s National Museum of History. The museum now safeguards more than 200,000 artefacts and documents reflecting the cultural and historical legacy of Vietnam.

The museum’s architecture marries Eastern and Western influences. Designed by C. Batteur and E. Hébrard, its defining feature is an octagonal central hall with three tiled roofs, each block 11 metres wide, with a walkway leading towards the roof. The main exhibition area takes the form of a long rectangle, balanced by two adjoining spaces, creating a sense of openness and fluidity for visitors.

The Bac Bo Phu, or Government Guest House, was constructed in 1918. After the August Revolution of 1945, it became the seat of government offices, later coming under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Known also as Tonkin Palace, its design reflects French architectural influence. Covering 11,180 square metres, the complex includes a three-storey building of 900 square metres and an additional five-storey structure built in 1976. Its symmetry and blend of European and Vietnamese elements leave a lasting impression. At the centre, a grand arched doorway opens beneath a petal-shaped porch in glass and metal. The roof, tiled in black stone, is richly ornamented, lending the building a classical French elegance with touches of Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau style.

In November 2024, as part of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival, Bac Bo Palace welcomed visitors for the first time, opening its doors from 9–17 November. The event offered the public a rare chance to step inside and explore the building while revisiting milestones in the nation’s history.

Founded in 1902 as the Indochina Medical School, Hanoi University of Pharmacy has weathered many changes. In 1961 it was separated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy to become the University of Pharmacy, and today it stands as Hanoi University of Pharmacy. Through decades of transformation, the institution has retained the distinctive beauty of its Indochine-style architecture.

Designed by French architect Ernest Hébrard, renowned for his restoration of Thessaloniki following the 1917 fire, Hanoi University of Pharmacy resembles an old European castle. Entering the lobby, visitors are struck by the soaring dome adorned with intricate motifs, complemented by pale yellow walls that evoke a sense of nostalgia, luxury and solemnity. Pillars along the hall recall European architectural traditions, while the glass windows lining the stairs to the first floor, nearly four metres high, allow light to fill the space, preserving an elegant and airy atmosphere.

See more: Legacy 80: DTAP and the song “Made In Vietnam” celebrate Vietnam’s 80 years of glory

Elsewhere, the building draws on the Neoclassical style typical of early 20th-century European universities. Hébrard also incorporated elements with distinctly Asian character, including the octagonal multi-layered tiled roof and small decorative windows between roof tiers.

In 1924, the Paul Doumer Bridge, named for the French politician, was inaugurated as the second longest bridge in the world at the time. Initially, it served more as a symbol of authority than a practical transport route. By 1945, it had been renamed Long Bien Bridge, and over the years, traffic across it steadily increased.

Having endured decades of wear, damage and historical upheaval, Long Bien Bridge remains steadfast, a silent witness to Vietnam’s milestones and an enduring emblem of Hanoi. Its 19 spans stretch 1,682 metres with a height of 13.5 metres. Often likened to a “horizontal Eiffel Tower,” the bridge’s distinctive design offers a striking visual effect from multiple viewpoints. The combination of solid large blocks with thinner steel bars, arranged both horizontally and vertically, imparts a sense of strength tempered by grace.

These architectural treasures serve as “living witnesses” to Vietnam’s turbulent past, simultaneously recalling bygone eras and inspiring hope for a brighter, ever-stronger future.

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