Why are we standing in front of this grand building? This, my friends, is the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department. It’s a place steeped in history, a silent witness to the city’s tumultuous past. The Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department stands on a site that once housed a much grander residence. This belonged to a wealthy Cantonese merchant named Wang Tai, who controlled the Cochinchina opium monopoly. Imagine the opulence, the secrets whispered within those walls. His residence, known as Maison Wang-Tai, even overshadowed the Governor’s Palace at the time. However, by 1885, the French administration, having taken over the opium trade, found the building unsuitable for their Customs and Excise Department. They commissioned Marie-Alfred Foulhoux, a renowned French architect, to rebuild it. Foulhoux’s creation, while retaining some of the original structure, is a testament to neo-classical architecture. Notice the intricate details, the grand proportions – it’s both imposing and elegant. And if you look closely at the third-floor facade, you’ll find a curious detail: opium poppies. A subtle nod to the building’s past and the lucrative trade that funded its construction. Today, the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department serves as a reminder of the city’s complex history – a blend of opulence, colonialism, and trade. It stands as a testament to the passage of time and the ever-evolving story of Ho Chi Minh City.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to