Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — Two books featuring the history of South Viet Nam were released by HCM City publishing houses last week.
Xu Nam Ky - La Cochinchine (South Viet Nam), published by the Hong Duc Publishing House in co-operation with Xua & Nay (Past & Present) magazine, features 465 photographs with captions about the history and culture of the south in the 1920s.
The work is written by Marcel Bernanose, who worked for French authorities in Indochina.
The photos in the book were shot by famous artist Nadal. Four-hundred copies were first printed in 1921 in Ha Noi.
Cultural researcher Truong Ngoc Tuong of Cai Lay Town in Tien Giang Province has one of the original books.
The publishers, Hong Duc and Xua & Nay, used Tuong’s copy to reprint the book based on the first publication.
The book, published in French, English and Vietnamese, includes photos of urban life and architecture in Sai Gon and the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta provinces in the 1920s, including Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Long Xuyen, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Rach Gia, Chau Doc and Ha Tien.
The author offers general information about the history, geography, culture and lifestyle of each location.
Another book on Sai Gon was also released by the HCM City Culture-Art & Literature Publishing House and Phan Books.
The book, Sai Gon – Nhung Bieu Tuong (Memories of Sai Gon), features Sai Gon between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It includes 21 writings about the city’s politics, economy and culture of different periods.
Featured articles are written by well-known historians and authors including Du Tu Le, Ha Vu Trong, Huynh Nhu Phuong and Phan Trieu Hai.
The 184-page book has several pictures and photos in black and white featuring old streets, buildings, markets and tourist sites related to the city’s history and development.
Both books are available in bookstores. — VNS