Les Messageries Maritimes – the Far-East Line to Haiphong – Hanoi

Text from the leaflet

HAIPHONG, the port of the French Protectorate of Tongking, is situated at the far end of the Gulf of Tong-king, on the Cua-Cam, 90 minutes from the sea, and is 8229 miles from Marseilles. Its population is about 75.000, of which the French and Chinese number 15.000.

Fine streets and spacious boulevards bordered by brilliant flowering trees and shrubs give the town a most cheerful appearance. Among its most important buildings are the Residency, the Post Office and the Bank of Indo-China; the French quarter, where there are numerous charming villas and beautiful shady places, should also be visited. Haiphong, as the only port of Tong-king, is very well served, principally by steamers ensuring almost a daily service with Hong-Kong or Saigon.

The river port is not less animated, the Chinese river Song-Tam-Bach, on whose banks it extends, unceasingly bringing down to the coast the agricultural and mineral wealth of the country. The Delta presents a view of innumerable green rice fields, profusely plan ted with clumps of bamboos, among which villages and pagodas are hidden. Twenty-two kilometers from Haiphong is the shore of Doson, the summer resort of government officials and colonists, who go there during the very hot weather.

The dainty villas of Doson are hidden beneath the shade of the “filaos”. The road by the coast which leads there is especially recommended to travellers. Haiphong, on the other hand, is touring centre for Hanoi the Capital of Tongking, the Bay of Along, Langson and Yunnan, a province in Southern China.

Hanoi, a large town of beautiful avenues, and including, besides the European Quarter, a most interesting native city, is connected with Haiphong by railway and road. The journey by train takes three hours, and about two and a half hours by motor-car. In addition to the Annamite town, we particularly consider it worthwhile to visit the Zoological Gardens, the Pagoda of the Great Buddha and the principal buildings in the European quarter : The Theatre, Government House, Law Courts, Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient etc…

From Hanoi, a visit to the annamite centres of Hadong. Bae-Minh, Shulang-Thuong, Dap- Cau, Namdinh, is recom-mended. These excursions are easily made. Namdinh, the most distant being only 75 Kilometers from the Capital. From Haiphong tourists should not fail to see the Bay of Along. It is one of the most interesting sights of the world, and perhaps one of the most beautiful.

Its innumerable strangely shaped rocks, sometimes stirring the imagination in are markable manner and reflected in the jade colored sea, provide a spectacle, the most brilliant description of which could give only an imperfect idea, and creating an impression which can never be forgotten. From Haiphong, very comfortably equipped launches make the trip to the Bay of Along in a little over four hours. Langson, Caobang, Bac-Kan, Thai-Nguyen and the lakes Ba-be, Chapa, Tam-Dao, etc… situated in the high region of Tongking are also recommended to tourists.

The excursions to Bac-Kan and the lakes Ba-be must be made in the dry season, the roads, during the rainy sea-son being impracticable for automobiles. Yunnanfou, the capital of the Chinese province of Yunnan, is connected with Hanoi by a railway passing through mountainous country.

Tourists who undertake the long trip are well rewarded for their efforts by the magnificence of the views obtained. The journey from Hanoi to Yunnanfou occupies three days: the first day travelers sleep at Lakay, the second at Amitcheou, and the third at Yunnanfou.