Published:  00:00 Thursday - October 08, 2009

An exhibition displaying old photos of Hanoi’s thirty-six streets and guilds opened at the Gallery House, 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street on October 8. All the photos were collected by Chaplain Philippe, Chairman of France’s National Heritage League. 

Present at the opening ceremony were ambassadors of Cuba, Laos, China, Russia and France and Bruno Audo, and Deputy Mayor of Bourg-la-Reine, France.

The exhibition was organised by the Hanoi Federation of Friendship Organisations in coordination with Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The 4-day exhibition celebrates the 55^th anniversary of Hanoi’s liberation day and the city’s recognition by UNESCO 10 years ago as a “City for Peace”.

Visitors will discover old features of Hanoi through black and white photos of Hang Buom, Hang Be, Hang Gai, Hang Ngang and Hang Dao streets, Restored Sword Lake, Long Bien bridge and Dong Xuan market, portraying the daily lives of Hanoians.

Chaplain Philippe was born in Paris in 1956. During many visits to Vietnam, he amassed a huge collection of photos of the country, especially of the capital city. He was the first foreigner to create a website featuring old photos of Hanoi.

Since 2006, Philippe has taken part in and won prizes at several international competitions portraying Thang Long-Hanoi. He has donated all prize money to the support of poor people, orphans and HIV/AIDS patients in Hanoi.