The nearly 100sq.m painting was drawn by Victor Tardieu, first Rector of the Indochina Fine Arts College (presently the Hanoi Fine Arts College), on the wall of the Indochina University in Hanoi (precursor of the Hanoi National University).

The painting, completed in 1930, featured 200 persons from various walks of life, including French and local ones, portraying the lives of the Hanoians in the early 20th century. It was then destroyed by weather and wars.

Vietnamese painter Hoang Hung has been conducted the project on toile canvas, based on old photos and documents.