Tourism in the old Indochina

Indochina once attracted Western tourists with numerous books published in the early decades of the 20th century in French, as well as vibrant tourism posters produced by the French colonial administration in Indochina.

The cover of the book "Travel in Indochina in the Past" features images of tourism posters for Indochina created by the French.

This book primarily focuses on describing the historical aspects of famous tourist destinations in the three regions (Southern, Northern, and Central Vietnam) of the Đại Nam kingdom (now Vietnam), along with valuable documentary images.

Following the authors, readers take a journey through Bach Long Vi Island, Do Son, Sam Son, Ha Long Bay, Cam Ranh, Nha Trang, Con Dao, Cap Saint-Jacques (now Vung Tau), Phu Quoc, Sa Pa, Tam Dao, Ba Vi, Bach Ma, Ba Na, Da Lat, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi , Ho Dynasty Citadel, Hue Imperial City, Hai Van Pass, and Saigon. Additionally, the book includes Angkor and Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Vientiane and Luang Prabang (Laos). Alongside the concise historical content (Vietnamese-English bilingual), the book features vivid and eye-catching illustrations.

In ancient Indochina, various forms of tourism existed, including leisure tourism, ecotourism, and cultural tourism through visits to historical sites and temples. Vietnam, in the past, also captivated Western tourists as a land of fantasy or an echo from the East. From these travels and experiences, they produced many unique travelogues about old Vietnam, such as "Northern Vietnam: Scenery and Impressions" (by Hilda Arnhold), "Three Years in Annam " (by Gabrielle M. Vassal), "Southern Vietnam: Wanderings" (by Léon Werth)... or articles/chapters about Vietnam by Pierre Barrelon, Brieux, Robert Chauvelot, Albert Morice... rich in documentation and literary quality. Coincidentally, tourists say that upon arriving in Saigon, foreign visitors have a similar feeling to setting foot in France. Hanoi, on the other hand, is vast and solemn…

With the hope of taking readers on a "journey across the homeland," the authors of the book "Travels in Indochina in the Past ," which explores locations that remain popular destinations for both domestic and international tourists, have opened a window into the past, preserved memories, and raised questions for the present and the future.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-lich-dong-duong-xua-185241003235434829.htm