Area 41 acres (17 ha) City Hanoi Closure 16 February 1903 | Country Vietnam Organized by Paul Doumer | |
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BIE-class Unrecognized exposition Name Indo China Exposition Française et Internationale Building Palais d'expositions designed by Adolphe Bussy Opening 15 November 1902 (1902-11-15) | ||
The Hanoi Exhibition (Exposition de Hanoi) was a world's fair held in Hanoi between November 16, 1902 and February 15 or 16, 1903.
Contents
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 (now Long Biên) Bridge. The exhibition was the idea of Paul Doumer.
Construction
The site of the fair was the racecourse established in the early 1890s, and its main building was the Palais d'expositions designed by Adolphe Bussy. This was intended as a permanent structure, but was destroyed in World War II.
The fair left Hanoi's budget in deficit for a decade.
Participation
The fair showed products from France and her colonies, and from other territories in Southeast Asia: Dutch Indies, Burma, China, Formosa (now Taiwan), Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malacca, the Philippines and Siam.
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.