Some cities once experienced a so-called golden age. Their legends originate either from their rich history or from something uniquely special that sets them apart from others. Cholon, founded in the late 18th century, was never part of Saigon—the city now known as Ho Chi Minh City. Its name means “big market,” reflecting its role as a vibrant Chinese trading community and serving as the commercial and cultural hub for Chinese immigrants settling in Saigon.
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(updated with new postcards)
Trần Hưng Đạo Street in Cholon is a bustling commercial hub, known for its vibrant street markets, diverse shops, and numerous eateries. It stands as the longest entrance road and the primary thoroughfare of Ho Chi Minh City, traversing numerous neighborhoods and extending for approximately 6 kilometers. Its history is deeply intertwined with the city’s own evolution.
Originally, Saigon and Cholon existed as separate entities. In 1865,
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This exceptional series comes from the archives of the Inlen gallery. It stands out for its night shots, showcasing a brightly lit Saigon, then considered the “Pearl of Asia.” In addition to iconic landmarks like the Governor’s Palace, the Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market, the photographer also captured lively spots such as the Rex and Thanh Chung cinemas, Brodard bakery, and the Dong Khanh hotel in the bustling Cholon district. This suggests that Saigon wasn’t just about official monuments,
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Statement by the visual artist Quang Lam
“The Autograph Collection Hotels, in collaboration with Vinpearl Landmark 81, has launched the visionary project “Gallery in the Sky.” I would like to cultivate the values of international connections and exchanges, leveraging the unique setting of Vinpearl Landmark 81. My vision for “Gallery in the Sky” involves capturing captivating photographs of airplanes arriving from all corners of the globe, visible from the hotel. But invisible, they are like “Air Flows”.
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The historical aftermath of the Qing Dynasty’s overthrow of the Ming Dynasty in 17th-century China led to Ming loyalists seeking refuge in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, these Chinese immigrants played a pioneering role during the “March to the South.” They settled in Bien Hoa. By the late 18th century, to escape the massacres perpetrated by Tay-son troops, the community regrouped in the present-day location of Cholon, situated 11 kilometers away from the center of Saigon,
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Fernand Nadal, born in Algeria, arrived in Saigon in the 1920s. His first advertisement in the magazine Indochine française (1922) described his activities as follows: “Art Photographie—Photography for business” and “Publishing: postcards, photo albums, and documentaries on Cochinchina, Cambodia, and Annam.”
Unlike other studios that focused primarily on portraits, Nadal’s work provided a documentary perspective of that era. He published over 2000 photos, with notable albums including:
- Ruines d’Angkor: A collection of photographs showcasing the ancient temples of Angkor.
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The Independence Palace, completed in 1966 by the architect Ngô Viết Thụ, winner of the Prix de Rome, was never inhabited by President Ngo Dinh Diem who requested its construction but by the next President who made him assassinated. It has become a museum since April 30, 1975 when tanks have crashed through its gates.
Renamed as Reunification Palace, It is now the gathering place for all the city’s major festivities and commemorations.
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The Saigon’s historic main street goes from the Cathedral to the river. Its name changed three times following Saigon’s history, known as Rue Catinat, then Tu Do (Freedom) and now Dong Khoi (Total Revolution).
Consulates, prestigious companies, wealthy families business set their offices and apartments on that street where to be seen was the must.
213 Dong Khoi St. Block at the corner of Le Thanh Ton St was built in 1930s by Brossard et Mopin,
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Photography is about questioning of what reality is and what is captured by the camera.
It is nowadays stimulated by the concept of « hyper-reality » defined by J. Beaudrillard.
It is the inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality.
This is particularly relevant nowadays where people accept created environments as primarily models, when they are actually all fake.
Video mapping can express the dissolution of the reality into a form that have any reference to the initial architecture.
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