In his book "Splendid Indochina: Central Vietnam-Northern Vietnam-Southern Vietnam," published by Nha Nam, Pierre Dieulefils showcases many historical images, offering a rich resource for studying late 19th-century Vietnam.

In 1885, at the age of 23, Pierre joined the French expeditionary force and was stationed in Hanoi. In August 1887, he returned to France and was discharged from the military. Due to the economic crisis, he decided to return to Hanoi and secured a contract to take ID photos. This allowed him to travel across North, Central, and South Vietnam to explore and indulge his passion for photography.

He became a leading publisher of Indochina postcards based on the photographs he took himself. Pierre was the first to introduce the world to postcards depicting this region.

The images captured by Pierre Dieulefils show that long ago, people freely rowed boats on Hoan Kiem Lake.
Ngoc Son Temple is located on Jade Island in Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a cultural and religious relic dedicated to Saint Tran Hung Dao and Quan Vu De, along with two other deified military leaders. The temple has witnessed the naval drills of the Dai Viet army. The temple is accessed via a system of gates and the The Huc Bridge, which connects Jade Island to the eastern shore of Hoan Kiem Lake. Historically, Jade Island was where Lord Trinh Giang built the Khanh Thuy Palace during the Vinh Huu era (1735-1739) for summer enjoyment. To beautify the scenery, the lord had two mounds, Dao Tai and Ngoc Boi, constructed on the eastern shore.
When the Trinh family fell, Le Chieu Thong, who was restored to power by Nguyen Hue in 1786, took revenge by burning down the Lord's Palace and Khanh Thuy Palace. In the early 19th century, a pagoda was built on the former palace site on Jade Island, named Ngoc Son Temple, with a high bell tower. In 1843, the Huong Thien Society converted the pagoda into a temple dedicated to the Three Saints and Saint Tran Hung Dao. The bell tower was later demolished. In 1864, patriotic scholar Nguyen Van Sieu renovated the temple, emphasizing the worship of Wen Chang, the deity overseeing examinations in Taoism. He also constructed stone embankments at the island's base and built the Tran Ba Pavilion in front of the temple, facing Turtle Island. The current architecture of Ngoc Son Temple retains much of its appearance from Nguyen Van Sieu's renovations.
An image from Hang Bac Street. Historically, Hang Bac Street had three trades: minting silver ingots, goldsmithing, and money exchange. These trades originated from three renowned gold and silver craft villages: Chau Khe (Hung Yen), Dong Xam (Thai Binh), and Dinh Cong (Hanoi).
An image of Paul Bert Street, one of the most luxurious streets in colonial Hanoi, commonly known as the French Quarter. Today, this street is called Trang Tien Street.
Images of Hanoi Railway Station, the Opera House, the Supreme Court, the Exhibition House, and St. Joseph's Cathedral. The Exhibition House, built in 1902, resembled a castle, measuring 110 meters long, 30 meters wide, and 27 meters high, situated on a 3,000-square-meter lot. Due to war damage, the building was demolished. In 1985, with Soviet assistance, Vietnam built a new structure, the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Cultural Palace, on the site.
The ceremonial gate of Ngoc Ha Village Hall in Hanoi. The hall, built in the late Le Trung Hung period, enshrines Saint Huyen Thien Hac De. It is located at 158 Ngoc Ha Street, Ngoc Ha Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
An image of Lang Pagoda's gate. Lang Pagoda, officially known as Chieu Thien Temple, is an ancient pagoda in old Thang Long. According to inscriptions, the pagoda was built during the reign of King Ly Anh Tong (1138-1175). It is located in Yen Lang Village (Ha Hamlet, Vinh Thuan District), later Lang Village, an ancient village along the To Lich River. Today, the pagoda is situated on Chua Lang Street (Lang Thuong Ward, Dong Da District).
An image of the pier and Doumer Bridge over the Red River. The French built Long Bien Bridge during their first colonial exploitation (1897-1914) to create a railway from the port city of Hai Phong across the Red River to Lao Cai and Yunnan, China. The bridge, made entirely of steel except for the approach ramps, became the largest in Indochina. Initially named after Governor-General Paul Doumer, it is now called Long Bien Bridge. At first, the bridge was mainly for trains, with pedestrian paths on either side. From 1920, with the advent of automobiles in Vietnam, the side paths were expanded to accommodate more vehicles.

Tinh Le