Presidential Palace, Hanoi, Vietnam: description, photo, location on the map, how to get there. presidential palace presidential palace hanoi

Behind the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum in Hanoi, in the building of 1906, which was once the residence of the governor of Indochina, the Presidential Palace is located. This building is reminiscent of socialism.

History of occurrence

The construction process of the Presidential Palace lasted six years (from 1900 to 1906). Until 1945, the ruling governor lived in it. In the period from 1947 to 1954, the highest French army ranks were quartered in the building. After Vietnam gained independence (1954), Ho Chi Minh refused to live within the walls of this building because of his principles, and used it only to receive visitors. He turned the palace into a hotel where party workers lived. He also erected a small wooden house in the garden near a small reservoir. He lived in this two-story building from 1958 to 1969.

Architecture

The presidential palace in Hanoi was built for the governor-general of Tonkin. It was built by a German architect. The appearance of this building is typical of European castles. Only mango trees remind you that you are in Vietnam.

Neighborhood

Be sure to walk the streets of the old quarter of Hanoi. There are many ancient buildings and century-old shops. The streets bear the names of the goods that were traded on them. See Hanoi's historic Buddhist temple, the One Pillar Pagoda. It was built by Emperor Li Thi Tong. The ruler had no children, but after he had a dream with a goddess who gave him a boy, Li Tong met a peasant woman, married her and she bore him a son. The joy was boundless. In gratitude to the Goddess of Mercy, a temple was erected. During the Li dynasty, a ceremony was held here every year on the Buddhist festival of Vesak, the birthday of the Buddha. annual event bathing Buddha attracted monks and civilians. This beautiful wooden building in the shape of a lotus flower was destroyed in 1954 by French troops and rebuilt in 1955. The oldest Christian church in Hanoi is considered to be the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The Neo-Gothic style building is similar to Notre Dame Cathedral. Started operating in 1886. The cathedral survived a period of persecution during the communist regime, but since 1990 it has again begun to freely receive the laity.

Note to the tourist

Unfortunately, on this moment there is no opportunity to visit the Presidential Palace, but you can wander around the surrounding areas at least every day from 8-00 to 11-00 and from 14-00 to 16-00. It will cost about five thousand dong.
Many restaurants in Hanoi are ready to feed you dishes from most countries. But local kitchen nothing worse. Feel free to demand change, because in many establishments it is often “forgotten” about it. Cobra dishes are prepared in the village of Le Mat. They can be tasted in restaurants that specialize in seafood. They will offer you wine with cobra blood. Before your eyes, they will kill her and prepare a drink with a heart. Dog meat is another local delicacy. Especially in demand in winter.

The Presidential Palace fits perfectly into the face of Hanoi, which harmoniously combines quarters of old buildings of the colonial period and modern areas. However, it is a well-known fact that the first president, Ho Chi Minh, considered his residence prim and preferred a nearby small wooden building.

The construction of a building intended for the residence of the Governor-General of French Indochina is associated with controversial events. Despite the protests of the population, the ancient pagoda was demolished to clear the site for construction, and part of the land was confiscated from the previous owners. The author of the project and the curator of the construction is August-Henry Vildier, a French architect. classical columns, main staircase, separate pediments are indicative features of the Italian neo-Renaissance. The building looks like an exemplary European castle, transferred to Asian soil.
The end of construction dates back to 1906. From that time until 1945, the governor general stayed here. Then, before the country gained independence, the highest ranks of the colonial army lived in the palace.

Knowing the history of the building, Ho Chi Minh's fundamental refusal to live within its walls is understandable. Visitors were received in the palace, part of it became a hotel where party workers lodged. To the left of the palace there is a gravel path leading to the house of the first president of Vietnam. This is a cozy place, near a pond among mango trees and gazebos.

The palace is currently the official residence of the President of the country. It hosts state receptions and protocol events.

Tourists do not visit the palace, but they are happy to walk around the surrounding botanical gardens and take pictures of the facade of this beautiful architectural landmark of Hanoi.

The official residence of the President in,; one of the most interesting architectural sights of the city. The palace was built in the early years of the 20th century for the governor general of the country, and after the expulsion of the colonists, it became the working headquarters of the first president, Ho Chi Minh.

The palace owes its atypical architecture to Asia to European architects, in particular to the Frenchman A. G. Villedieu. The construction took about six years. Externally, the palace has a mustard yellow color. The divided pediments and classical columns point to the Italian Neo-Renaissance style. And only by the surrounding mango trees you can guess that this is Vietnam. The entrance to the palace is framed by wrought iron gates. Ho Chi Minh used this palace only for work purposes.

The president lived in another, absolutely modest in terms of external and internal decoration, a wooden house. Here he preferred to receive guests and accommodate party workers. Opposite the palace, a small artificial reservoir was built, and next to it a beautiful Botanical Garden which can be visited on fixed days and hours. Geographically, the Presidential Palace is located near the mausoleum of the Vietnamese leader and is part of the ensemble of Badinh Square.

Photo attraction: Presidential Palace