HÀ NỘI — More than 8,000 domestic and international visitors have flocked to a special exhibition in Hà Nội showcasing old Peugeot bicycles.

The display, 'Peugeot and Memories of Hanoians' ran for over a month at the Hà Nội Arts and Culture Centre at 22 Hàng Buồm Street.

On May 18, marking International Museum Day, the Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Hà Nội Old Quarter Management Board held a gathering to announce the number of visitors and present a certificate recognising the contributions of world record holder Đào Xuân Tình in preserving and promoting Hà Nội’s urban memories and cultural heritage.

Đào Xuân Tình (third from the right) and his wife pose for a photo with the certificate recognising his contributions in preserving Hà Nội's urban memories. — VNS Photo Bảo Long

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Tâm, Vice Chairwoman of the Cultural Heritage Fund, presented the certificate to Tình for his role in successfully organising the exhibition.

She said the recognition was not only for a valuable private collection, but also for the exhibition’s success in bringing objects associated with old Hà Nội closer to the public.

From April 4 to May 20, 2025, the exhibition welcomed more than 8,000 visitors. Elderly residents, people nostalgic for old Hà Nội, young visitors and international tourists all came to explore exhibits such as Peugeot bicycles, vintage sewing machines and household items once closely linked to urban life in the capital.

Đào Xuân Tình said his greatest joy was seeing the objects “come back to life” in the heritage space of Hà Nội’s Old Quarter.

He said for many Hà Nội families, Peugeot bicycles and vintage sewing machines were not merely means of transport or household tools, but treasured possessions and symbols of pride.

Tình (left) shows off his bicycle collection, to visitors at the exhibition. — VNS Photo Lê Hương

He added that the collection is more than a display of old objects; it tells stories of urban memories and cultural exchange between Việt Nam and France. Many antique sewing machines were restored from separated parts collected from different places.

Notably, he used wood from sunken ships found at Việt Nam’s river mouths and coastal areas to create table tops, symbolically connecting international artefacts with Vietnamese materials.

Painter Nguyễn Mạnh Đức praised the collection for its large scale, emotional depth and unique storytelling about Hà Nội’s cultural life.

The exhibition also left strong impressions on international visitors. A French-Vietnamese couple wrote in the guestbook that they were deeply moved to immerse themselves in the shared history between France and Việt Nam through the collection.

Đào Xuân Tình currently owns more than 200 Peugeot bicycles, including some over 70 years old. For him, collecting is not simply about preserving old objects, but about allowing them to tell historical stories and connect today’s generations with the Hà Nội of the past. — VNS

Tình, his wife - Khúc Thị Dậu - and Nguyễn Thị Thanh Tâm, Vice Chairwoman of the Cultural Heritage Fund, share the same passion with the Peugeot bicycles. — VNS Photo Lê Hương