With the approval of the Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Museum of History has collaborated with the EFEO Hanoi to organize an exhibition titled "Objectif Vietnam" focusing on Vietnam in the early 20th century from the archives of the EFEO. The opening ceremony will be held at 17h00, December 3rd, 2014 at the VNMH Museum (25 Tong Dan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi).
The exhibition will showcase around 60 photographs from the archives of EFEO. These come from EFEO's scholars and photographers who used the large and medium format cameras and the old photography techniques. The photographs have been digitalised and image restored.
Kim Cuong statue – Dong Duong Buddhism Relic (Quang Nam province).
My Son relic
Vendors selling food for candidates before examination
The exhibition contains 4 groups of photographs:
Group 1: Showcasing archaeologist's photographs took when they studied Vietnam, especially the archaeological discoveries on Champa and Oc Eo cultures.
Group 2: Displaying photographs about museum construction works. EFEO has built 8 museums in the Indochina region; and 5 in Vietnam in particular, including the VNMH Museum now.
Group 3: Featuring the life in Vietnam in the early 20th century, the folk culture and agricultural ceremonies, festivals, worships, funerals, and daily life activities such as Moon Festival, the life in the ancient streets of Hanoi. This group of photographs is the most important part in the exhibition.
Group 4: The Nam Giao Offering Ritual implemented in Bao Dai reign of Nguyen Dynasty (1939).
The exhibition will also introduce 50 objects preserved in the VNMH including the devices used by EFEO scholars and the objects found in the archaeological sites of Hoa Binh, Bac Son, Dong Son, Sa Huynh, Oc Eo, Champa cultures.
The exhibition "Objectif Vietnam" was previously launched at the Cernuschi Museum (Paris) from March to June/2014 on the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France. This time, it will be opened at VNMH Museum in December 3rd, 2014 and last till March 2015.
VIETNAM NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY