990 years of Nghe An's name through the book 'In the past, Nghe An province became Vinh city'

On the evening of November 29, in Vinh City, the book launch ceremony "Years ago, Nghe An province, Vinh city" will take place. The launch coincides with the occasion when Nghe An is preparing to organize990th Anniversary of Nghe An Name(1030 - 2020) and received the Certificate of Special National Monument for Hoanh Son communal house, the book is a meaningful gift.

The book includes images and content of Nghe An and Vinh City from the late 19th century to the early 20th century collected, verified and introduced by author Pham Xuan Can, published by Nghe An Publishing House.

Among the 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam today, Nghe An is the province with the largest area and the 4th largest population in the country. Nghe An has a long history and a rich and diverse nature like a miniature Vietnam.

As the capital of Nghe An, Vinh is also an urban area that was born and developed quite early in the history of modern Vietnamese urban areas. However, time, natural disasters, wars and historical events have almost erased all traces of the past about a century ago.

In recent years, many historical and geographical research works of the province, district, commune and other sectors have made great efforts to record events about the land and people here to preserve and develop historical and cultural values. However, no matter how hard we try, writing still cannot replace visual images. Therefore, looking back and admiring images that have long existed only in characters, but in the memories of the elderly, is a sincere need of every human being.

Vinh market in the early 20th century. Photo: Collected by Pham Xuan Can.

The content of the book is presented in 6 groups of issues (Country - People; Cultural works - Beliefs; Politics; Economy; Urban; Culture - Society), although not complete but very basic. Readers and viewers will initially visualize the natural landscape, country, people, cultural heritages, political, economic, cultural and social activities of Nghe An and Vinh city from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Among hundreds of photos with verification and annotations from many sources, there are the oldest photos taken in 1890, 130 years ago.

Book cover. Photo: PV

In Part I (Land - People), many photos faithfully record the Western Nghe An region such as Muong Xen, Muong Tip (Ky Son), Do Ham (Quy Chau) of the Mong, Thai, Tho ethnic groups... with water wheels, water wheels, ethnic costumes, bamboo dancing, pre-made coffins placed under the stilt houses of the Thai people, hunters, French expeditions in 1897...

In part II (Cultural and Religious Works) with many photos of Diec Pagoda (Vinh), Vo Mieu, Van Mieu (Vinh), Tap Phuc Pagoda (Vinh), Cau Ram Church (Vinh), Monasteries, Minor Seminaries, Bishop's Palace (Xa Doai), Nghe An Citadel (Vinh), Khoa Truong Bridge across Rao River between Nghi Long and Nghi Xa communes, Mai Xa village temple in Nghi Xa commune (Nghi Loc)...

A photo of Vinh city about 100 years ago. Photo collected by Pham Xuan Can

Coming to Part III (Politics) with many extremely valuable photos recording the scene of King Bao Dai returning to Vinh in 1932 with the Governor General of Indochina, the French Consul, the Governor of Nghe An, Western mandarins, Nguyen Dynasty mandarins, soldiers in blue and red trousers, the plane that fired guns and dropped bombs to suppress the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, offices such as the Consul's Palace, the Civil Court, Truong Thi Barracks, Ben Thuy Military Camp, Truong Thi Airport, Nam Dan district office, Vinh station...

In Part IV (Economy), there are many images still in the memory of Nghe people such as Truong Thi Railway Factory, Ben Thuy Power Plant, Ben Thuy Match Factory, Ben Thuy Port, Ben Thuy Station, Ben Thuy Wooden Bridge; ancient traces left behind such as the great irrigation works of Bac Nghe An, Bara Do Luong, Nam Dan, Ben Thuy; Nghi Loc Dam, Thanh Thuy (Nam Dan), Thai Son (Do Luong); Hanoi - Vinh Railway; Vinh Market, Phu Nguyen Gold Shop and famous businessmen such as Phu Nguyen, Nguyen Duc Tu, Vuong Dinh Chau...

Part V (Urban) with many images of the landscape and urban structure of Vinh in the first decades of the 20th century such as Guest Street (now Cao Thang Street running from Vinh market intersection); Hang Gao Street (now Le Huan Street); Cua Tien Wharf; Post Office Flower Garden; Vinh Railway Station; Railway Station Hotel; Ben Thuy intersection lamppost... and images of handcarts, horse-drawn carriages, and cars circulating in Vinh urban area at that time. There are also unique photos of Truong Thi Airport welcoming pilots flying around the world.

Part VI (Culture - Society), highlighted by many precious photos of the diagram of Vinh National School, French - Vietnamese Primary School, Nguyen Truong To Girls' School, private schools Khuat Nhu Khoi, Thuan An, Le Van, Chinh Hoa, Primary schools in Yen Thanh, activities of teachers and students, schools, school records, student courses with costumes from nearly a century ago. Medical facilities such as Vinh Hospital in the area for natives and the area for Europeans, Cau Giat Medical Station...

Many sports activities with Vinh National School football teams, championship cups, cycling races.

In terms of journalism, in the Thanh - Nghe - Tinh region at that time, there were 16 newspapers published, of which the newspaper "Thanh Nghe Tinh Tan Van" was the earliest published in July 1930.

This book is highly appreciated by some historical researchers in Nghe An for its information value, passion for research, study, exploration and responsibility.

Previously, in 2015, author Pham Xuan Can also published the book “Old Vinh” with nearly 100 photos of Vinh city in the early 20th century. Immediately after publication, the book was warmly received by many readers.

From “Old Vinh” in 2015 to early 2020, author Pham Xuan Can continued to publish the book “Vinh in Memory” which he edited./.