With its central location, Hoan Kiem Lake of about 12 hectares is home to many scenic spots like the Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, Nghien and But towers ... Viewed from above, one can see that the lake is the connection point of the old quarter (north) with the modern zone (south) in the European architectural style that the French planned more than a century ago. 

The Huc Bridge in 1884 without handrail. The 15 span bridge connecting the lakeshore to Ngoc Son Temple means "condensed halo". The bridge once collapsed due to overcrowding of people. It was then rebuilt with concrete. 

Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square near Hoan Kiem Lake was the junction of several tram lines. The name of the square is similar to the name of the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc school opened in March 1907 in Hang Dao Street. 

The Hanoi Opera House and the August Revolution Square. This work was built over 10 years (1901-1911) as the prototype of the Paris Opera House. The theatre has been the center of cultural and artistic performances in the capital for more than 100 years. 

Hang Khay Street. 

Godard – the "department store" serving the French, on Trang Tien Street. The building was a major landmark for Hanoi’s commerce. After Godard opened, varied goods were imported from other countries such as France, India ...

In 1953, the building was sold to a businessman and since then it has gone through the hands of many owners. A department store opened in 1960, the largest store in northern Vietnam at the time. In 2002, it was replaced by the Trang Tien Plaza. 

A building at No. 10 Le Lai Street in 1900. The building was completed in 1887, with two gates looking to the Hoan Kiem Lake and Paul Bert (Ly Thai To today) flower garden. It was home to many administrative bodies, including the tax and customs offices, communications and public utilities, civil status agencies. Today, it is the Department of Foreign Affairs of Hanoi. 

The toad flower garden (Dien Hong flower garden today) in 1905. It is located opposite the Government Guest House.

In 1901, the French built this flower garden, with a stone fountain 3.5 meters high, with decorative bronze toads around so it was called the toad flower garden by locals. In 1954, it was renamed the Dien Hong garden. 

The bustling Dong Xuan market in 1910. This is the biggest market in Hanoi's Old Quarter, with a history of hundreds of years from the Nguyen Dynasty. In late nineteenth century, the French rebuilt the market, with five arches in western architectural style. 

Hang Co railway station or Hanoi railway station today. It was built by the French, inaugurated in 1902. It has been an important traffic artery of the capital over the past century. 

Ho Tay (West Lake) and Truc Bach Lake in the early twentieth century. West Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake located in the northwest of central Hanoi, with an area of over 500 hectares and a perimeter of 17 km. It is part of the old Red River after diversion. The West Lake also has other names such as Dam Dam Lake, Xac Cao Lake ...  Truc Bach Lake was part of the West Lake. 

Bach Mai airport was built in 1919, on the rice fields south of the city. 

The Hang Dau water tower in 1911 - the first water supply station of the city. The work was built in 1894, before the Long Bien Bridge, located at the intersection of the six streets of Hang Than, Hang Giay, Hang Luoc, Hang Dau, Quan Thanh and Phan Dinh Phung.

 Cua Bac (northern gate) in 1883. This is one of the five remaining old gates of old Hanoi. It is located on Phan Dinh Phung Street.