City sights: A picture of the Temple of Literature that was restored and converted into a 3D photo is part of an exhibition that explores the beauty of the capital city. — Photo courtesy www.sohoahanoi.com

HA NOI — Restored photos of Ha Noi streets from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century will be on display in the capital from Thursday, as part of the programme to celebrate National Day on Sep-tember 2.

The exhibition will be held at Exhibition House at 45 Trang Tien Street until September 4. It can also be seen on website www.sohoahanoi.com from 4pm Thursday.

Nguyen Khac Loi, deputy director of Ha Noi's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which organised the event, said the more than 100 photographs on display would help young people respect the city's rich cultural and historical values.

"We also aim to promote its image to domestic and overseas friends," Loi said.

Important documents concerning Ha Noi during this period will also be on display.

The 2D and 3D photographs were produced by 3D Company, which is a group of young Hanoian architects who spent seven years collecting the photos from museums, historians and friends.

One of the group, architect Nguyen Van Quang, said young people like him, who were born and grew up in the city, were not only passionate about the city's history but were also thirsty to discover its hidden beauty and charms.

"We decide then to use technology to present to a wider audience the cultural and spiritual values of our beloved city," he said.

The group also wanted to send a message about environmental protection by showing famous sites in Ha Noi fully covered in snow due to climate change.

"The sites of Ha Noi like One-Pillar Pagoda covered with snow, do you want to see that?" Quang said. — VNS