Hanoi Exhibition


The Hanoi Exhibition was a world's fair held in Hanoi between November 16, 1902 and February 15 or 16, 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 general Paul Doumer and the opening of the Paul Doumer Bridge. The exhibition was the idea of Paul Doumer.

Grand Palais de l'Exposition

The site of the fair was the racecourse established in the early 1890s, and its main building was the Grand Palais de l'Exposition designed by Adolphe Bussy.
The preparation for the fair, especially the construction of the exhibition palace, left Hanoi's budget in deficit for a decade.
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.
The modern site of the palace now stands the Friendship Cultural Palace, a concert venue in southern Hoàn Kiếm District.

Participation

The fair showed products from France and her colonies, and from other territories in Southeast Asia:, Burma, Ceylon, China, Dutch Indies, Formosa, French Indo-China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malacca, the Philippines, Siam and Singapore.

Exhibits

As well as country displays there was a machine gallery, a La Grand Roue amusement ride, and art in the French Section of Fine Arts including work by Carolus-Duran.