Hanoi Identity and the Influence of French Culture and Civilization

Abstract

The historical values of Hanoi since the founding of the capital by Ly Cong Uan are deeply embedded in the minds of each and everyone of us, which we often evoke whenever interacting with relics and cultural heritage. But many of Hanoi’s monuments and heritages have now become almost symbols, like physical shells that store the consciousness of many generations. Compared with cultural heritages worldwide and in neighboring countries, heritage sites such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Nung Mountain, Co Loa Temple and Quan Chuong Gate are mostly “value carrier“ of the history with few visual traces of tangible values. Meanwhile, the heritage associated with the French colonial period are majestic constructions that still retain a lot of tangible values. These include Hanoi’s famous tourist attractions, namely the Trumpet House, Opera House, Hoa Lo Prison, Hang Co Station, Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi Cathedral, Dong Xuan Market, where one can find both tangible and intangible values. Thus, it will be hard to understand Hanoi’s identities without connecting to the French culture and civilization that still remain in the urban life therein.