Information about the secret tunnel located in the premises of the Northern Power Corporation (20 Tran Nguyen Han) is currently attracting public attention. This is also the "four-quarters" area in the planning project to renovate the space east of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Talking to Lao Dong reporter, historical scholar Duong Trung Quoc said that he did not have much information about this tunnel.
According to historians, the tunnel (if at more than 100 years of age) may have experienced two bombing periods, which are the 1940s - USA bombed at Japanese base areas, and later, in the period of 1966 - 1972, the US escalated the North.
In 1940, Japan launched its first Indochina campaign, attacking the French Indochina region. History records that in September 1940, Japan occupied Hai Phong port and stationed troops in Hanoi against the helplessness of France.
According to information from the National Archives Center I, in the years of 1943-4, Hanoi was first bombed by the US air force during the air campaign against Japanese military bases in Vietnam.
According to archival documents, in 2018 there were 167 warnings about the appearance of US aircraft, 121 of which were related to Hanoi. From December 10, 1944 to April 8, 1944 in Hanoi, there were 3 serious bombings, causing many losses in human lives and property.
Therefore, according to historian Duong China, "I conjected the basement through two bombing periods, the first time was the 1940 period when the Allies bombed the base areas of Japan, and the second time was the period when the US escalated the Northern bombardment during the anti -American country."
Historist Duong Trung Quoc said, "It is necessary to soon study this tunnel, determine what it is used for, from what construction materials, how old it is... After having a clear research conclusion, we will continue to calculate".
Regarding the project to renovate the space east of Hoan Kiem Lake, historical scholar Duong Trung Quoc affirmed that he fully supports and believes it is very necessary. "We must open more space for Hoan Kiem Lake" - Mr. Duong Trung Quoc said.
However, when there is information about the secret tunnel at 20 Tran Nguyen Han, the authorities also need to study and verify the date and historical value of the tunnel.
Previously, speaking with Lao Dong reporter, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son - full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society said, "I think that the cultural and tourism sectors, especially agencies such as the Department of Cultural Heritage, the Department of Culture & Sports, and the Department of Tourism of Hanoi, need to quickly intervene to assess, prepare documents, and protect relics.
This should be seen as part of the strategy for developing the cultural industry - where history does not lie still in books, but is told through space, experience and emotions.
On the bulletin board in front of the tunnel in the Northern Power Corporation's premises, it was introduced that this tunnel was used as a bomb shelter for electricity workers from 1966 to 1972 when the US dropped key bombs on power plants.
Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son affirmed that the discovery of the secret tunnel is of great significance for us to better understand the history of the central area of the capital.
The discovery of a shelter for electricity workers during the war in the center of the capital really touched me, said Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son.
