The Hanoi Exhibition (Exposition de Hanoi) was a world's fair[1] held in Hanoi in then French Indochina between November 16, 1902,[1] and February 15[2] or 16,[1] 1903.
Context
Hanoi had become the capital of French Indochina earlier in 1902 replacing Saigon. Earlier activities to mark the change included a festival on 26 February 1902 attended by emperor Thành Thái and the governor generalPaul Doumer[2] and the opening of the Paul Doumer (now Long Biên) Bridge.[2] The exhibition was the idea of Paul Doumer.[3]
The site of the fair was the racecourse established in the early 1890s,[3] and its main building was the Grand Palais de l'Exposition (Vietnamese: Nhà Đấu xảo) designed by Adolphe Bussy.[4]
The preparation for the fair, especially the construction of the exhibition palace, left Hanoi's budget in deficit for a decade.[3]
When the Japanese took over Vietnam, they based their military and supply in the palace. Later, air raids at the end of World War II completely destroyed the building.[4]
The modern site of the palace now stands the Friendship Cultural Palace (Vietnamese: Cung Văn hoá Hữu nghị), a concert venue in southern Hoàn Kiếm District.
As well as country displays there was a machine gallery,[6] a La Grand Roue amusement ride,[7] and art in the French Section of Fine Arts including work by Carolus-Duran.[4]
References
^ abcPelle, Findling, ed. (2008). "Appendix B:Fair Statistics". Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 415. ISBN978-0-7864-3416-9.