The Mysterious Appeal of the French Consulate General's Residence

The French Consulate General's residence in Ho Chi Minh City is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m on September 17. Many visitors shared that in order to come here, they had to register many days beforehand.

The French Consulate General's residence is only open once a year to welcome visitors. Photo: plo.vn

This activity is part of a series of events called "European Heritage Days". This is the only occasion of the year for the public of Vietnam and other countries to visit historical structures, and admire the works of art and ancient furniture displayed in this unique place.

The residence of the French Consulate General is hidden in the middle of a tree-lined garden, under the canopy of old trees. This building is considered a symbol of Indochina architecture in the 19th century.

This is the first time that fine art researcher Ngo Kim Khoi has visited the Consulate General's Residence. He was accompanied by his son. They arrived very early. He expressed his joy when he saw the artwork of painter Nguyen Gia Tri - a "national treasure" solemnly placed in the center of the palace.

“I am very happy to see the works of Vietnamese artists, especially the lacquer work of painter Nguyen Gia Tri. That painting is a national heritage. Previously, the painting was partially damaged by the passage of time. My purpose today is to come here to admire this painting. Opening the residence to visitors is a wonderful way to educate the community about heritage and culture, as it is not easy for the public to set foot in this 150-year-old building," shared art researcher Ngo Kim Khoi shared.

Art researcher Ngo Kim Khoi and his son visit the French Consulate General's Residence. Photo: plo.vn

A hundred-year-old tree with luxuriant branches attracts the attention of many first-time visitors to this place. Photo: plo.vn

The Bao and his wife Nhu Quynh toured the French Consulate General's residence and took many memorable photos during this trip. Mr. The Bao shared:

“We know that the French Consulate General's residence is open through the Consulate General's Facebook page. We arrived at 11:30. I feel that this tour is very good and meaningful. The trip helped me accumilate more knowledge related to architecture, and the furniture inside has very high historical value. I am a person who loves to learn about cultural history”.

The Bao and his wife Nhu Quynh at the French Consulate General's residence. Photo: plo.vn

A small green corner on the grounds of the French Consulate General's residence. Photo: plo.vn

Emmanuelle Pavillon-Grosser - Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City shared that "European Heritage Days" have been held since 1984 and have been expanded around the world. This is an initiative of the French Ministry of Culture. This day is the only occasion of the year for the public to visit historical buildings that are not normally open to visitors because they are used for other political or diplomatic purposes.

Photo: plo.vn

Here, each visitor has 30 minutes to visit. The lacquer work of painter Nguyen Gia Tri is solemnly placed here. According to information from the QR code, this painting is called "The Procession in the Village," painted by the artist in 1939, and consists of 9 panels. Some of the artist's paintings are recognized as "national treasures," which means that they are not allowed to be brought out of the territory of Vietnam

The lacquer work of painter Nguyen Gia Tri is on display. Photo: plo.vn

The lacquered wooden screen from the reign of the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue attracts a lot of attention from tourists. Photo: plo.vn

In the French Consulate General's residence, there are many small and beautiful potted plants. Photo: plo.vn

The unique stairs in the "auxiliary kitchen". According to information from the QR code, the stairs are made of cast iron, have a lot of screws, and may have been a part of a French navy warship. This staircase has a spiral design, it leads up to the roof, and the frame is also made of metal to counter termites. Photo: plo.vn

Corridor inside the French Consulate General's Residence. Photo: plo.vn

Tall trees in the French Consulate General's Residence. Photo: plo.vn

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