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Before the 20th century, Ba Dinh Square was an empty plot of land, later developed by the French into Pugininer Garden. Surrounding the garden were several public offices and villas, including today’s Presidential Palace and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After Japan’s coup against the French, Dr. Tran Van Lai - the mayor of Hanoi under the Tran Trong Kim government - renamed the garden Ba Dinh Square.

On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The square was a sea of people, flags, and flowers, with everyone beaming, joyful, and overwhelmed with happiness on that historic day.
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The Government Office building is a national-level structure of special significance, where important meetings and activities of the Government take place. The building spans a total floor area of 25,000m², with 9 above-ground floors and 3 basement levels, designed in a semi-classical style.

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The National Assembly Building on Doc Lap Street (Ba Dinh District) has a square structure with a central round meeting room, standing 39 meters tall, with 5 above-ground floors and 3 basement levels, covering a floor area of 60,000m².

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Atop the building flies the national flag, while beneath the dome hangs a massive chandelier made of crystal, weighing nearly 6 tons.

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The Bac Son Memorial commemorates the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed for the country’s independence and freedom. Located on Bac Son Street, across from Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and next to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Ba Dinh Hall, the memorial was inaugurated on May 7, 1994, marking the 40th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

The Bac Son Memorial stands 12.6 meters tall within a 12,000m² area. Its body is a square column, 8.7 meters high, with a 0.9-meter-high base and a 1.35-meter-high pedestal. The surrounding water features span 1,255m², with green areas, lawns, and flower gardens covering 1,620m². The monument’s structure is made of reinforced concrete, with the exterior clad in ivory-white granite, resembling a giant candle lit against the blue sky.

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The State Bank of Vietnam headquarters on Ly Thai To Street began as the Hanoi branch of the Indochina Bank (Banque de l'Indochine), established in 1875 in Paris, France, to issue banknotes and coins for France’s Asian colonies and oversee France’s economic interests in the Far East.

Since October 10, 1954, the headquarters has served as the central command of the banking sector and is now the State Bank of Vietnam, overseeing state management of currency and banking operations.
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Located in one of Hanoi's most prime locations, Trang Tien Plaza was formerly the General Department Store before 2002 and was the most luxurious shopping destination in the capital during the subsidy era. Today, with its new appearance, the goods sold inside range from daily necessities to luxury items.
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Hang Dau Water Tower, built by the French in 1894, stands at the intersection of six streets: Hang Than, Hang Luoc, Hang Giay, Hang Dau, Quan Thanh, and Phan Dinh Phung. The cylindrical tower is about 25 meters tall with a conical roof, holding a capacity of 1,250m³ of water. It received water from the Yen Phu Water Plant, storing it in the tower’s highest tank to create hydraulic pressure for distribution through pipes to the city center.
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Cua Bac Church on Phan Dinh Phung Street is a popular tourist spot, with its blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles. Built between 1925 and 1930 by French architect Ernest Hébrard, the church stands on a stretch of land at the corner of Nguyen Bieu Street. Initially named the Church of the Martyrs of Vietnam, honoring the Virgin Mary as Queen of all Saints, it later became popularly known as Cua Bac Church, named after the nearby North Gate of the Thang Long Citadel.

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Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of Vietnam’s oldest pagodas and was once named among the “Top 10 Most Beautiful Pagodas in the World.” Inside the pagoda’s main hall are altars dedicated to Amitabha Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Guanyin.
In 1962, Tran Quoc Pagoda was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a National Historical and Cultural Site. It holds great significance for Vietnamese Buddhism and is a proud heritage site, treasured for its architectural, historical, and cultural beauty.
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Thanh Nien Street, one of Hanoi’s most romantic “love roads,” was formed between the 15th and 17th centuries. The road stretches about 1 kilometer between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, approximately 3 kilometers from Hoan Kiem Lake. On October 10, 1958, four years after Hanoi’s liberation, the Hanoi Administrative Committee began expanding Co Ngu Street, entrusting the project to Hanoi’s youth. In 1959, the renovation was completed, transforming the small, rugged Co Ngu Street into a wide, smooth road, which was then renamed Thanh Nien Street.

Hoang Ha - Pham Hai