First time publishing many images of ancient Indochina seaports

The online exhibition “Ancient Ports: From Indochina to the World ” organized by the National Archives Center I - Department of State Records and Archives will take place on April 15 at the address: archives.org.vn / https://www.facebook.com/luutruquocgia1.

 

Some pictures at the Exhibition

The exhibition consists of 3 parts: Seaport - Gateway for trade and penetration; Lighthouse - Divine eye of the sea; Maritime transport - Connecting horizons.

Seaports are not only important trading gateways. Historically, great powers have also used the strategic location of seaports as a springboard for colonial invasion. Before the 19th century, foreign merchants frequented Vietnam's seaports to conduct trade and explore the domestic situation. This was also where foreign missionaries landed before penetrating the interior to spread their religion, paving the way for Western intervention in Vietnam.

 

Some pictures at the Exhibition

After invading our country, the French had the ambition to build a series of seaports along the East coast such as Saigon, Da Nang , Hai Phong, Hon Gai-Cam Pha, Ben Thuy, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Ha Tien... At the same time, the system of documents serving the management and operation of seaports was also gradually completed.

Along with the port network, lighthouses play a key role in helping offshore ships navigate, signal navigation, and indicate the location of dangerous underwater obstacles...

The Royal Records show that the Nguyen Dynasty paid attention to the construction and renovation of lighthouses to serve the activities of ships. During the French period, a series of lighthouses were built, contributing to the development of maritime infrastructure, thereby creating favorable conditions for colonial exploitation.

 

Map of Hai Phong port in 1925

The completion of infrastructure including the system of seaports, lighthouses linked with the road and railway systems strongly promoted maritime transport activities in Indochina. Large French shipping companies, especially the two companies Messageries Maritimes and Chargeur Réunis, developed strongly during this period thanks to contracts for the transport of people and goods between Indochina and the mother country as well as other countries and territories.

 

Elevation drawing of Hon Dau Lighthouse in 1895

In the elaborately designed sea and island space, the exhibition will take viewers to many locations in the three regions of the North, Central and South to look back at the development process of international gateways at sea as well as the history of the "eyes" of the blue ocean.

HA AN

Source: https://baotanglichsu.vn/vi/Articles/3091/75350/lan-djau-cong-bo-nhieu-hinh-anh-ve-hai-cang-djong-duong-xua.html