Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 1209

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

HANOI

1097

Facing the

ing the small islands which adorn it, and surrounded by promenades. lake there is the Square Paul Bert, with a fine bronze statue of Paul Bert unveiled on the 14th July, 1890, and a bandstand in the middle. Close to the square there are the City Hall, Treasury, Post Office, Union Club, Bank of Indo-China, Résidence Supérieur and the Hotel Metropole. Other public buildings, as the residence of the Comman- der of the Troops, the Hospital, etc., are situated on what was formerly the "Concession," close to the river bank. There is a large Roman Catholic Cathedral and a handsome small Protestant church. The imposing palace of the Governor-General stands at the entrance of the Botanic Garden, and other fine buildings in the town are the Theatre, Museum, Palais de Justice, Terminus, etc. There are two first-class hotels--the Hotel Metropole, with a front of nearly 300 feet, and the Hanoi Hotel-as well as some smaller ones.

tt The Cercle de l'Union," Société Philharmonique and the Masonic Lodge possess their own buildings. A racecourse, opened in 1890, is situated just outside the new town. Daily and periodical French papers are published at Hanoi. The citadel occupies the highest site and is surrounded by a brick wall 12 feet high, and a moat. It contains the buildings for the troops, arsenals, magazines, etc. The Royal Pagoda, also, stands within its enclosure.

The ancient city is situated between the citadel and the river and presents a novel appearance, owing to the singular architecture of the houses. Since the occupation by the French great improvements have been effected in the laying-out of the town, and the formation of roads and streets, of which over 50 miles are already drained, electrically lighted, and, even in the native city, well kept and very clean as com- pared with those of other Eastern cities. Of the numerous temples and pagodas, that of the "Grand Buddha," situated on the shore of the Grand Lake, is the most important and interesting for visitors on account of its colossal bronze statue.

Steel built halls, each 160 by 60 feet, for the native markets have been erected in different quarters.

Trade, both export and import, is steadily increasing, and besides many importan mercantile houses there is also a development of industries in this town; a cotton spinning mill, ice factory, match factory, paper manufactory, some distilleries furniture-shops and a brewery are among the number.

The transit trade has developed considerably since the different __ railway lines have been opened which connect Indo-China and Tonkin with Yunnan Province The first part, connecting Haiphong with Hanoi, was opened in July, 1902, and the line enters the capital by a magnificent steel bridge, 5,100 feet in length, over the Red River.

The Botanic Garden of Hanoi occupies a very fine site and is one of the best in the Far East. It contains over 3,000 various species of plants. The climate has under- gone a very favourable change, thanks to many sanitary works executed by the French, such as laying drains through the whole European and native city, filling up pools, marshes, etc. There is distinction of season: the summer begins in April, the winter about October. The highest degree of temperature in summer is 40° cen- tigrade, the lowest in winter about 0° centigrade. The population of Hanoi is about 100,000, 3,000 of whom are Europeans (exclusive of the military), the rest being Annamites, Chinese, Japanese and Indians. The first meeting of a Native Delibera- tive Assembly elected on a narrow suffrage was held at Hanoi on November 14th, 1907, and was addressed by M. Beau, the Governor-General.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 1209

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