"A Month in Cochinchina" - Travelogue of famous places in Cochinchina over 100 years ago

“A Month in the South” is a special travelogue by author Pham Quynh that has just been published by Omega Plus. The memoir not only describes the landscape, people and culture of the South, but is also a valuable document that helps today’s readers visualize a vibrant historical period of the country.

“A Month in the South” first appeared in Nam Phong magazine in 1918, published in three parts (not consecutively): part I, issue 17, November 1918, pp. 268-285; part II, issue 19, January 1919, pp. 20-32; part III (final part), issue 20, February 1919, pp. 117-140.

The book was written by writer Pham Quynh - who held the positions of: Royal Office, Minister of Education, Minister of Personnel in the government of King Bao Dai from 1932. The book was written after he had a more than one-month travel trip in the South. During this more than one month, Pham Quynh traveled here and there throughout the Six Provinces, saw and heard many things with his own eyes, and broadened his knowledge. After returning to the North, he published the travelogue "One Month in the South" in Nam Phong magazine, recounting the trip, "bringing honest words to discuss with the people".

The work records the author's journey of more than a month in 1918 through the provinces of the old South. On August 21, 1918, Pham Quynh took a train from Hanoi to Hai Phong. On August 22, 1918, he left Hai Phong on the ship Porthos to travel to the South, four days later the ship arrived at Saigon port. The rickshaw took Pham Quynh across Khanh Hoi bridge, our tourist from the North began to be exposed to the atmosphere of Saigon - the Western city, a large metropolis in the South. The streets of Catinat, Charner, Xa Tay, the Western theater, the wire house, the Governor's Palace... appeared brightly before the eyes of the young man from the North. Pham Quynh, only 26 years old that year, had subtle, profound comments about the people, culture, life... of Saigon...

Pham Quynh observed meticulously and did not forget to compare Bac Ky with Nam Ky, thereby portraying a social portrait, a panoramic picture of the country at a historical period. During this trip of more than a month, he intentionally traveled to many places, to broaden his knowledge: "Therefore, the feeling of a newcomer here is a feeling of joy, joy and trust in the future, not sadness and regret for the past."

There were exchanges and meetings between Pham Quynh and famous scholars, intellectuals, and colleagues in the journalism community of Luc Chau: Bui Quang Chieu and Nguyen Phu Khai (La Tribune indigène); father and son Diep Van Cuong and Diep Van Ky; Nguyen Van Cu (Dai Viet magazine), Phu Bay Le Quang Liem (Long Xuyen Khuyen Hoc Hoi), Vo Van Thom (An Ha daily newspaper)...

Besides the detailed and accurate descriptions of the people, culture, customs, history, geography, economic activities... of the Southern region; the comments on the press, publishing, social integration, the Chinese and the Cham... from over 100 years ago are still relevant today.

The cover of the book uses a panoramic map of Saigon in 1898 drawn by Gaston Pusch.

The book belongs to the Vietnamese History Bookshelf of Omega Plus, and is an ideal choice for those who love to learn about old Saigon, regional culture and history, and the classic Vietnamese travelogue genre.

Author Pham Quynh (1892-1945), pen name Thuong Chi, pen name: Hoa Duong, Hong Nhan. Pham Quynh was a great writer and journalist of Vietnam in the early 20th century. He worked at the Far Eastern Institute, collaborated with Indochina magazine, was editor-in-chief of Nam Phong magazine, and taught at Hanoi College...

Since 1932, he held the positions of: Imperial Office, Minister of Education, Minister of Personnel in the government of King Bao Dai.

KINGDOM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mot-thang-o-nam-ky-du-ky-ve-nhung-dia-danh-noi-tieng-o-nam-ky-hon-100-nam-truoc-post884296.html