This is a somewhat shabby park, it could do with some cleaning and general freshening up. But most of all a somewhat important point of interest relating to the history of Hanoi and Vietnam.
This is a war memorial from ’47, just after the second world war. Vietnam was a french colony for a long time, but during the war got invaded by the Japanese. After the war the French tried to take back control – and that is what this statue/monument is all about.
The area this monument is situated is also the location for one of the first meets between the French and the Vietnamese national resistance. A hidden radio station outside Hanoi called for arms, and fight to death, to protect the fatherland, December, 1947- this fight lasted for just under 10 years. After this we got the Geneva convention, separating Vietnam in north and south.. something that would lead up to the very well known Vietnam war – that was won by the North (communist supported by USSR among others).. then we moved on to the war on Cambodia… China.
So, as with many other monuments – like Reagen statue in Budapest and others. Quite an important place, and probably – not a place that brings out happy memories from the older population in Hanoi. Its not that many years ago.
Some background reading for those interested: