An exhibition is taking place in Hanoi to celebrate 20 years of ties between the Vietnamese capital city and Toulouse, a city of France.

The event’s opening ceremony was organized on Saturday at the Old Quarter Culture Exchange Center at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

The exhibition will last until September 20, featuring photos and documents which reflect the cooperation between the two cities in preserving and promoting the heritage values of the Old Quarter.

According to Duong Duc Tuan, chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem District, the cooperation between Hanoi and Toulouse has helped develop the Vietnamese capital’s economic affairs, culture and society.

The chairman also expressed his hope that people from Vietnam and France will have a better understanding of the effort by the two countries in preserving the old town’s heritage value through this exhibition.

Speaking at the ceremony, Jean-Claude Dardelet, deputy to the Mayor of Toulouse, highly appreciated the contribution of both authorities and Hanoians in the preservation effort.

The French people in general and the citizens of Toulouse in particular have always been very fond of Vietnamese people, he added.

A number of projects have been jointly carried out in the Old Quarter in the last 20 years, including the restoration of Kim Ngan Temple on Hang Bac Street and the renovation of the ancient houses at 87 Ma May Street and at 51 Hang Bac Street.

The old town has been put under a well-thought-out conservation and embellishment plan since 1995.

In 1996, the Hanoi People’s Committee and Toulouse City’s authorities signed a cooperation agreement to preserve and promote the old quarter.

The Old Quarter covers around 82 hectares and includes 79 streets with about 66,600 residents.

The town reflects the long-standing history of Hanoi and has grown to be one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

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