(Baonghean.vn) - In the early years of the 20th century, the Ba Dinh Square area was planned by the French to build the administrative center of the Indochina Federation.
 |
Panoramic view of Ba Dinh Square in the early 20th century, which was then called Pugininer Garden by the French. This area is also called Round Square by Hanoians because of the large roundabout in the center, officially called Pugininer Roundabout. Photo courtesy of the French. |
 |
Main buildings in the Pugininer Flower Garden area: The building in the middle is the gate of the Botanical Garden (located in front of Uncle Ho's Mausoleum today), the building on the right is the Palace of the Governor General of Indochina, now the Presidential Palace. Photo: Document. |
 |
The Palace of the Governor General of Indochina is one of the largest mansions built by the French in Indochina, consisting of 30 rooms, each with a different decorative style. The third floor is the private rooms and residence of the Governor General. Photo: Archive. |
 |
The appearance of this building today has not changed much. Photo: Archive. |
 |
In front of the Governor-General's Palace is the "For France" (À la France) monument erected in 1907. The statue depicts a woman symbolizing France sitting on a throne decorated with Angkorian motifs and Annamese dragons and phoenixes, surrounded by soldiers and native women. Photo courtesy. |
 |
Due to public condemnation, the colonial government had to remove this monument in 1925. Photo: Archive. |
 |
The main gate of the Botanical Garden is located opposite Pugininer Roundabout. Photo courtesy. |
 |
This is a rather imposing structure with two floors, three main arches and many secondary arches on both sides. Photo courtesy. |
 |
By the 1930s, the upper level of the gate was removed for some reason. Photo archive. |
 |
View of Pugininer roundabout with the nearby Botanical Garden gate on the founding day of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, September 2, 1945. File photo. |
 |
In this photo, we can see the platform where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence located in front of the gate, in the middle of the old Pugininer roundabout. Photo archive. |
Peace
(Synthetic)