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The Northern Government House, now the Government Guest House (12 Ngo Quyen Street, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District), is an important historical and cultural relic of Hanoi. It commemorates the General Uprising to seize power (August 19, 1945) by the people of Hanoi, and was also where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked after the August Revolution until the start of the nationwide resistance war. Today, the Northern Government House is an important historical site and tourist destination in Hanoi.
The imprint of the Autumn Revolution in the heart of the capital city.
Every autumn, Hanoi, the capital city, comes alive with the spirit of a historic season filled with significant events. All the places that bear witness to these glorious milestones have become cherished and preserved historical sites, a source of pride for the people of Hanoi, and bustling with visitors...
Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024, residents of the capital and visitors from all over eagerly flocked to admire the nostalgic architectural spaces.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the French began constructing numerous new neighborhoods and many cultural, public, and military facilities in Hanoi to assert their colonial rule in their colonies. In 1918, the French built the Governor-General's Palace of Tonkin at the intersection of Henri Rivière Avenue (now Ngo Quyen Street) and Chavassieux Street (now Le Thach Street).
The Northern Palace is an important historical landmark of our country.
The building has witnessed a long history of the nation's resistance against the French and American invaders, and served as President Ho Chi Minh's workplace from the August Revolution until the nationwide resistance war, under the name of the Northern Government House.
After the Japanese coup against the French (March 9, 1945), the building was renamed the Governor-General's Palace of Tonkin. On the day of the General Uprising, August 19, 1945, following a large rally at the Hanoi Grand Theatre, the people of the capital and the Viet Minh forces marched to occupy the Governor-General's Palace – a building symbolizing the power of the former colonial and feudal regime that had now fallen under the control of the revolutionary government. After the August Revolution of 1945, President Ho Chi Minh and the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam worked here until the start of the nationwide resistance in 1946.
This building, formerly the residence of the Governor-General of Tonkin and the Commissioner-General of Tonkin, has now become an important part of the nation's history of struggle.
Following the end of the Indochina War (1954), the Northern Government House was renovated and became part of the Presidential Palace Guest House, managed by the Reception Department, Protocol Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1981 to the present, the Government Guest House has been a subordinate unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Due to its exceptional historical value, in 2005, the Northern Government House was designated a Revolutionary Historical Monument by the Hanoi People's Committee.
A valuable urban heritage
Outwardly, the Northern Vietnam Governor's Palace retains its original architecture. The palace bears the distinct mark of classical European architecture harmoniously blended with local architecture, boasting a grand scale that reflects the importance of the highest-ranking administrative body in Northern Vietnam. The main facade of the building faces the Chavassieux flower garden, which locals commonly call the Toad Flower Garden.
Centuries-old architectural heritage is now being "awakened" through the lens of modern art and design.
The building has three floors: The basement houses a warehouse, service rooms, and document storage. The first floor contains a large reception hall, smaller reception rooms, a dining room, an office, and a waiting room; there is also a dining room, a billiards room, and a smoking room. The second floor contains the meeting room of the Tonkin Council and fully equipped guest rooms. The interiors of the rooms are elaborately and lavishly decorated in a classical European style, but with some Vietnamese motifs incorporated.
From the moment it opened, the Northern Palace attracted a large number of tourists, all eager to visit this unique residence for the first time.
The main facade of the building has a symmetrical structure, divided into three parts. The central block features a large arched doorway with a petal-shaped canopy made of glass and metal. Above it is a roof covered with black stone tiles, the apex elaborately decorated, creating a complete symmetry. The rear of the building has a similar architecture to the front but with simpler decorative motifs. Overall, the architectural style of the Governor-General's Palace of Tonkin is strongly influenced by French classical style intertwined with Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Nouveau styles.
Visitors can enter for free or opt for a guided tour for 59,000 VND.
This unique architectural space will be open to visitors for the first time from November 9-17. With the theme "Creative Crossroads," the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024 presents the public in the capital city with interesting creative projects based on Hanoi's outstanding architectural heritage.
The Northern Government House, on this occasion, has been transformed into a unique creative space. The art project "The Flow" at this architectural landmark offers people the opportunity to explore a building that symbolizes the patriotic spirit of the people of Hanoi in the past. The project's name also evokes the heroic flow of the capital's history.
Young people come here not only to learn about history but also to experience the atmosphere of one of the symbols associated with the capital city.
The area outside the Northern Palace houses the "Present" exhibition, featuring 43 glass panels forming an arc that guides visitors. These panels allow viewers to admire the vibrant colors and see the distinctive sculptures inside the exhibition.
This place has been given a unique experiential space, helping the community to better appreciate history and sparking creative inspiration.
The works are presented in various forms, allowing viewers to perceive the movement and transformation of volume as well as the effects of the materials. Each work is a distinct visual language, but all share a common spirit of honoring the past, cherishing the present, and strongly looking towards the future.
For over a century, the Northern Palace - Government Guest House has been a witness to the many historical ups and downs of Hanoi. Preserving and promoting the value of this heritage site in conjunction with tourism is extremely necessary, so that it will forever remain an unforgettable landmark in the hearts of the people of Hanoi and tourists.
