The French Consulate General's Palace opens to visitors on weekends

Ho Chi Minh City: The French Consulate General's Palace opens to visitors this weekend on the occasion of "European Heritage Days".

The French Consulate General said the 151-year-old French architectural building at 6 Le Duan Street, District 1 will open to the public on September 16. Entrance is free, with a maximum visit time of 30 minutes.

A representative of the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City said that this year's program brings digital experiences to visitors. QR codes in 3 languages ​​(Vietnamese, English, French) are arranged throughout the tour, helping visitors explore the history and anecdotes about the building. Visitors will receive a postcard using augmented reality (AR) technology, helping to sketch the development process of the mansion over time. AR (Augmented Reality) describes the physical state around people, adding virtual details. through smartphones, computers or other electronic devices.

Outside the ancient mansion, photo taken in 2018. Photo: Quynh Tran

Visitors need to register in advance via the link posted on Facebook and the website of the French Consulate General. Currently, the tour time slots are fully booked. This weekend tour program will take visitors to visit the mansion and the surrounding garden, enjoy some French culinary products.

The center of the residence is the reception room, which is used to organize events of the Consulate General. The interior is decorated with items that reflect the cultures of both the East and the West. The representative of the French Consulate General said that the ancient artifacts here reflect the decorative and spiritual arts in Vietnam in the 19th and 20th centuries. One of the most beautiful works on display is the lacquer painting by the famous painter Nguyen Gia Tri called "Procession" painted in 1939.

The mansion has a garden of more than 1.5 hectares with many ancient trees, some as old as the building. The garden is a haven for weasels, squirrels and rare birds.

The mansion was built in 1872, at the same time as other typical French architectural works in Ho Chi Minh City such as Norodom Palace (now Independence Palace), St. Joseph's Seminary or Notre Dame Cathedral. The palace was originally the residence of the colonial military governor, then the commander-in-chief of the French army in Cochinchina and after 1954, the French ambassador's residence in the South. After the country's reunification in 1975, the building became the residence of the French consuls general.

Every year, the ancient mansion opens its doors to visitors for one day during the "European Heritage Days". Last year, the mansion welcomed more than 1,000 visitors.

The corridor area near the reception room in the French Consulate General's residence, photo taken in 2022. Photo: Quynh Tran

The National Heritage Days are a French initiative, first held in 1984. The public is allowed to visit sites that are not normally open to tourists .

In 1985, the European Council decided to extend the event to the whole European Union. In 2000, the event was renamed European Heritage Days. This year is the 40th time the event has been held.

Bich Phuong

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