A collection of 150 photos featuring the long relationship between Vietnam and France is on display in Hanoi.
The show, entitled “France-Vietnam-Four Centuries of Relations”
provides a panorama of photos on 40 big panels with captions in both
Vietnamese and French.
They reflect relations in trade, education, arts, science and technology from the late seventeenth century.
“The shared past of the two countries is much richer than we thought,”
said Pierre Geny, permanent secretary of l’Academie des Sciences
d’Outre-Mer ( Academy of Overseas Sciences ) which helped produce
the show.
The relationship began in December 1624 when French
missionary Alex-andre Rhodes arrived in south Vietnam, and made great
contributions to the creation of quoc ngu (romanised Vietnamese script)
which is still used in Vietnam today. A part of the exhibition is
devoted to him.
The relationship in the 18th century is linked to
the activities of French horticulturalist Pierre Poivre, whose book.
The Voyages of a Philosopher, showed his passion for Vietnam ‘s
technique of mountain cultivated rice. The book was after read by many
people, including Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United
States.
A focus of the show, of course, is the colonial period
from the end of the 19th century to the early 20th century. On display
are portraits of eminent French and Vietnamese figures who contributed
to the development of Vietnam.
They include August Pavie,
who was very active in the science-technology field, Alexandre Yersin
and Albert Calmet in the medicine industry, and Victor Tardieu and Nam
Son, Nguyen Van Tho in the arts industry.
The resistance of
Vietnamese people under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh against
the harsh rule of French colonialists is an important part of the show.
When the injuries of the past healed, bilaterial relations
developed in all fields. Globalisation has brought the two countries
closer, creating regional and international organisations in which both
nations are members. This included the entry of Vietnam into the
Francophonie world in 1997.
The show displays the work of the
first French photographers in Vietnam, the first Vietnamese writers
who wrote in French, French books talking about Vietnam – and
portraits of French people with a deep love of Vietnam.
“Even
though there has been much sadness, it would be silly of us to remember
only those events,” said Thi Minh Huong, head of the National Archives
Centre.
Stephane Richemond, president of the Paris-based Images
and Memories Association, said a stamp collection in memory of French
doctor Alexandre Yersin (1863-1943), who founded the Medical School of
Hanoi in 1902, will be distributed in Vietnam and France on September
20. This marks the 150th anniversary of his birth.
The exhibition will run until November 10 at the National Archives Centre, No 1, 18 Vu Pham Ham Street, Hanoi.-VNA