These are the highlights of "Reading the History of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City in One Breath ," a new book released during these vibrant days of April.
The book's title itself reveals the intention of its creators: to tell the history of the region in a completely new tone—youthful, lively, engaging, and accessible through a single-reading style that allows for quick comprehension and information gathering, perfectly suited to modern young readers. It can be affirmed that this is a history book written in a new style, using a wealth of reliable documents, interesting information, and authentic images of the Gia Dinh - Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City region from ancient times to the present.
The book (published by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - Tam Books) is over 80 pages thick, has a hardcover, and features beautifully printed color pages inside.
PHOTO: D.Q
Read it in one go and quickly grasp the history of Ho Chi Minh City.
With its content scientifically divided according to time periods, readers can easily recognize the layers of cultural sediment that bear witness to the glorious past of the ancient Southern region before the 17th century, a place where indigenous civilizations flourished, such as the Dong Nai and Oc Eo cultures, along with the emergence of the Funan kingdom and traces of the Water Chenla region lasting for centuries. Following this are the imprints of pioneering ancestors: Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, who ordered the inspection of the Saigon-Gia Dinh region; Duke Nguyen Huu Canh, who established the Gia Dinh prefecture in 1698… along with changes in ideology, politics , life, economy, and society from the time of the Nguyen dynasty's kings and officials, and the imprints of various waves of migrants to this land before the French arrival.
Key timelines are presented in a diagrammatic format, making them easy to follow.
PHOTO: D.Q
A series of events unfolded afterward: the French colonialists' attack on Saigon in 1859; the Vietnamese national liberation struggle from its early stages against the French; Nguyen Tat Thanh's journey to find a way to save the country in 1911; the funeral of Phan Chau Trinh with a sea of people bidding farewell on the central boulevard in 1926; and the August Revolution in Saigon in 1945. Indispensable were the 30 years of arduous and heroic struggle against the Americans, 30 years of significant changes in Saigon - Gia Dinh's urban development and cultural modernization, leading to the triumphant victory of reunification in 1975, marking the beginning of 50 years of peace and the building of the dynamic and developing city we see today.
A map of Saigon from 1898, with annotations highlighting historical and current landmarks of the city.
PHOTO: DQ
"Absorbing" history in a new way.
Unlike the traditional approach to history in textbooks, which is heavily focused on numbers, events, and battles, " Reading the History of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City in One Breath" recreates history through a vivid, multi-faceted lens. Readers will encounter not only historical milestones but also the cultural essence, lifestyles, and ways of organizing life for the inhabitants throughout different periods.
How did migrants from Central Vietnam to Southern Vietnam in the late 16th century reclaim and cultivate land? Why were tiger figures so widely worshipped in the temples and shrines of old Saigon? How was the Gia Dinh examination system, which selected talented individuals for the nation's education and human resource management, organized? How did Saigonese people conduct their economy in the early 20th century? The heroic act of Ba Thi, a female hero who broke the rules to secure rice for the city before the Doi Moi (Renovation) period... These vivid glimpses of life are recreated in each page with a concise and clear narrative style, along with many characteristic illustrations, helping readers easily visualize a vibrant and authentic historical period of the Gia Dinh - Saigon region.
The book describes events concisely, clearly, and accessiblely.
PHOTO: DQ
No longer are these dry pages of history. Reading through the past in one sitting, readers will feel more empathy and appreciation for the land and its people, and gain a deeper understanding of the distinctive character, the free-spirited, flexible nature of the people of Saigon—the unique qualities that make up the city's unmistakable culture.
"Read in one go" - a book series for busy people.
Understanding the mindset of today's young readers with limited time for reading, this book is a pioneering publication in Tam Book's signature "read-through" style. The book is scientifically structured with 5 concise chapters, each taking only about 15-20 minutes to read. It combines a timeline highlighting important historical milestones with numerous vivid illustrations and interesting information boxes prominently displayed to help readers quickly access and grasp the content. You can skim through for an overview or delve deeper into sections you're interested in, reading the information, viewing the images, and reflecting.
The book also provides many suggestions about architectural landmarks and historical sites so that readers can discover them on their journey to understand the city. It also includes a poster outlining the history of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City through key milestones , presented in infographic form to help readers easily grasp the overall picture.
The historical map of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City, included with the book, is printed in a large format suitable for wall mounting, making it convenient for remembering information.
PHOTO: D.Q
Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City is still writing new chapters in its history. And perhaps, after reading this book, you will see the city from a different perspective. Every street we walk today, every ancient building we admire every day is steeped in old memories that make up Ho Chi Minh City with its glorious history and unique heritage, which is vibrant and alive every day. These stories will be continued and will continue to be told to future generations.
Along with "Reading in One Breath: The History of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City" (compiled by Dr. Huynh Ba Loc, illustrated by artist Diep Xuong Vy, photographs by photographer Minh Hoa, advisor by researcher Tran Quang Duc), the "Reading in One Breath" book series includes many titles, including historical topics such as: " Reading in One Breath: The History of Thang Long - Hanoi", " Reading in One Breath: The History of Hue"; and cultural and customary topics such as: " Reading in One Breath: Vietnamese Cuisine", " Reading in One Breath: Vietnamese Clothing", " Reading in One Breath: Vietnamese Customs and Traditions", "Reading in One Breath: Vietnamese Intangible Heritage", " Reading in One Breath: Vietnamese Art"...
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doc-mot-hoi-cham-lich-su-sai-gon-tphcm-185250416150406386.htm
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