Con Coc (Toad) Flower Garden is located across the Government Guest House and Metropole Hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake. This place hides a secret that no one can expect.

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Con Coc flower garden, also known as Dien Hong flower garden, is located between major streets such as Ngo Quyen, Le Phung Hieu, Ly Thai To, and Le Thach. The flower garden is about 300m from Hoan Kiem Lake.

The centerpiece of the garden is the fountain, also called the Toad fountain. This is a favourite destination of the local people and foreign tourists.

However, few people would expect that on the top of the fountain was an open-air tomb. The owner of the tomb is Leon Jean Laurent Chavassieux (1848 - 1895) - former Deputy Governor General of Indochina. This is a work built by the French, the purpose is to commemorate Leon Jean Laurent Chavassieux. Therefore, Con Coc flower garden was formerly known as Chavassieux flower garden.

According to documents of the National Archives Center I, in 1897, the French opened a selection of designs to build a memorial to the former Deputy Governor-General of Indochina. At that time, the total estimated cost was 3250 VND.

In the end, the design by architects Harlay was chosen. The construction of the building was the contractor Guillaume. On September 29, 1899, Hanoi City Council held a talk. After that, the monument construction will erect a fountain. They want this place to become a place of entertainment and festivals of the people, bringing an artistic mark to both Europeans and natives.

After discussion, the Council decided the location of the fountain would be opposite the Tonkin Governor's Palace. Accordingly, the avenues of Henri Riviere, Courbet and Cuu Lau Street (now Ngo Quyen, Ly Thai To and Le Thach streets) will be the limit.

In the middle of the garden is a circular fountain, a large square stone pillar about 3.5m high. On top of the stone pillar is the small coffin containing the remains of Chavassieux.

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Around the stone pillars are bronze toads spraying water on the stone pillars. This place is decorated with a series of eye-catching classical motifs, which is a harmonious combination of architectural styles of both the West and the East. In addition to the bronze toads, the flower garden also has 8 adoring dragons, moving towards 4 directions of the stone pillars, showing strength and stability and majesty.

In 1901, the work was completed and put into use. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Con Coc flower garden saw an event that attracted many people's attention. It was the comedy King Charlie Chaplin enjoyed their honeymoon at the Metropole hotel nearby. The world-famous comedian and his wife walked on the flower garden of Con Coc, dressed completely different from the sloppy image in the movies.

In 1945, Con Coc flower garden was renamed Dien Hong flower garden. However, people are used to calling it the Con Coc flower garden because there are 4 bronze toads here. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Hanoi government had a plan to replace the old fountain to build a new symbol. However, in the face of fierce opposition from the architects, the work was kept.

After more than 100 years, many places in the flower garden have been degraded. A bodhi tree growing on the fountain caused part of the work to crack. However, in general, the oldest fountain in Hanoi is still quite well preserved.

Some experts suggest removing the Bodhi tree to preserve the monument. The currently selected option is to wear an iron belt to hold the structure for the fountain. Today, Con Coc flower garden is a tourist attraction and a favourite place for young people to take wedding photos.

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