An exhibition on a theme “Vietnam’s diversity through photographic works” was opened at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum.

Vietnamese and Chinese Confucian scholars, and blue militiaman (Linh Kho Xanh) at the French Embassy in Hanoi in the 1884-1886 period

More than 150 photos featuring Vietnamese culture and lifestyle during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which were selected from 200,000 pictures in the EFEO’s archives are being displayed to the public.

The exhibits show a peaceful and beautiful country, with images of Hanoi's Old Quarter, traditional festivals and rites, ancient architectures, cultural heritages and daily life activities of Vietnamese people.

The display is co-organized by the École francaise d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), the French Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum.

The event will run until June 28.

The French School of the Far East (École Française d' Extrême – Orient – EFEO) is a French institute dedicated to the study of Asian societies. It was founded in 1898 but received its definitive title in 1900. At first, it was based in Saigon (HCM City) but soon moved to Ha Noi by December 1901. Its functions are historic studies, language, ethnography, archaeology, preservation, restoration of historical relics in Indochina and study of Asian cultures and civilizations.

Founded and based in Vietnam for more than a half of century, the study of Vietnam was one of the EFEO's main tasks.

Its 18 centers and offices set up in 12 countries serve as hubs for the networks of local and international researchers on which the EFEO's development is founded.

By Minh An – Translated by Kim Khanh