Vietnamese historical photography, paths from Hong Kong to Cholon, Saigon Chinatown
For the Indochina period, historian François Drémeaux reveals an intriguing fact: Hong Kong served as the first harbor of French Indochina. This choice was influenced by several factors, with one of the primary attractions being the city’s favorable taxes and free port system.
The Vietnamese Administration of the Nguyen Dynasty also recognized this advantage. In 1865, they dispatched Dr. Dang Huy Tru on a Chinese mission to explore Hong Kong’s current development. At that time, photography had not yet taken root in Vietnam, but Hong Kong already boasted a few studios. The earliest seems to be the one of G. E. Petter, who first advertised in the 7th August 1861 issue of the China Mail.
During his trip, Dang Huy Tru captured two portraits: one dressed in court attire and the other resembling a Chinese merchant. Two years later, he returned to China and, during an official visit to Guangdong in 1867, he acquired photography equipment. Upon his return to Hanoi, he established the first photo studio in Vietnam.
Photography gained popularity in Hong Kong, and Chinese photographers began to emerge. Pun Lun Studio, founded in 1864, stands out as one of the earliest and most renowned studios. Its success led to the opening of franchises in Foochow (Fuzhou), Saigon, and Singapore. Notably, Pun Lun Studio’s photos of Saigon and its people provide a valuable glimpse into the city’s past, dating back to around 1880.
Our exclusive collection of archives from the Indochina period to 1975 originates from Cholon, a distinct Chinatown within Saigon that preserved its Chinese heritage. These historic studios were primarily situated along the main street of Dong Khanh (old name of Trang Hung Dao street). Among the fascinating items presented is a photographic manual, printed around 1931 by Shanghai Press in Shanghai. This manual found in Cholon, designed for Chinese inland photographers, serves as a tangible link, tracing a part of the Chinese roots in Vietnamese photographic history.
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Vietnamese historical photography, paths from Hong Kong to Cholon, Saigon Chinatown
Title : Cholon photo studio - Manual of Photography -Shanghai Press Publisher , circa 1931, Indochina era - Original archive of the gallery
Title : Cholon photo studio - Manual of Photography -Shanghai Press Publisher , circa 1931, Indochina era - Original archive of the gallery
Title : Cholon photo studio - Cholon photo studio - Hong Kong Photo magazines, circa 1950, Indochina era - Original archive of the gallery
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Title : Cholon photo studio - Hong Kong Photo magazines, circa 1950, Indochina era - Original archive of the gallery
Title : Cholon photo studio Rex - 103 Dong Khanh street , circa 1964 - Original archive of the gallery
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Title : Cholon photo studio Chau Giang - 433 Dong Khanh street , circa 1950, Indochina era - Original archive of the gallery
Title : Cholon photo studio Linh Nam - 273 Dong Khanh street , circa 1960 - Original archive of the gallery
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Title : Cholon photo studio Dong Phuong - 107 Armand Rousseau street , circa 1960 - Original archive of the gallery
Title : Cholon photo studio Clair - 95 Dong Khanh street , circa 1960 - Original archive of the gallery
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Title : Cholon photo studio: Photo Viet.Nam - Thap Muoi street , circa 1960 - Original archive of the gallery Info : 35, Rue Thap Muoi - Cholon
Title : Cholon photo studio - Stamp (Original antique and vintage photo) - Antique and vintage photo
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Title : Portait of a young girl at Cholon studio Quang Chau, circa 1940, Indochina era - Antique and vintage photo
Title : Portait of a young girl at Cholon studio Quang Chau, circa 1940, Indochina era - Antique and vintage photo
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Title : Cholon photo studio - Portrait (Original antique and vintage photo), circa 1960 - Antique and vintage photo
Title : Cholon photo studio - Portrait, circa 1950, Indochina era - Antique and vintage photo
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Title : Cholon photo studio - Portrait, circa 1960 - Antique and vintage photo
Title : Cholon photo studio - Portrait, circa 1960 - Antique and vintage photo
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Title : Cholon photo studio - Portrait, circa 1960 - Antique and vintage photo
More photos : antique and vintage style from our exclusive collection
The gallery is deeply committed to present the history of Vietnamese photography through original documents. These photographs are contextualized within their historical and social framework. Read all archives and browse all photos.