Women buying jewelry at Hang Bac Street, children strolling the streets shopping for Mid-Autumn lanterns, and the bustling activity at Buoi market are rare images of the daily life of Vietnamese people a century ago appearing in the book 'Outline of Vietnamese Cultural History.'

    The book 'Outline of Vietnamese Cultural History' was compiled and first published in 1938. It aimed to address the clash between Vietnamese culture, which had been inherited over many generations, and the Western culture that was widely imported into Vietnam’s society in the early 20th century. It contains numerous illustrations sourced from contemporary magazines.

    Workers in the Cho Dien mineral mine (Ban Thi commune, Cho Don district, Bac Kan province) in the early 20th century.
    The exhibition of mechanical products at the Dau Xao House in Hanoi in 1928.
    A market street in Hue, as illustrated in the magazine 'L'Illustration' in 1883.
    A corner of Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi during the early 20th century.
    At Buoi Market (Hanoi). During each market session, people came to Buoi Market to experience the atmosphere of a pure rural market. 
    A woman was buying jewelry at Chan Hung gold shop on Hang Bac Street. Since ancient times, Hang Bac has been a gathering place for skilled craftsmen.
     Playing human chess in Saigon. Human chess is a folk game often organized during traditional festivals in Vietnam. Essentially, it is a game of chess using people instead of chess pieces to move on the board.
    Children in Hanoi buying lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
    A scene from a Nam Giao ceremony during the Nguyen Dynasty. The Nam Giao Altar was where the Nguyen Dynasty kings held ceremonies to worship heaven and earth every spring. It is the only altar that remains relatively intact in Vietnam, and it is also the only one that still exists among many ancient altars in Hue.
    The examination ceremony in Nam Dinh in 1888.
    An outdoor art class.
    A calligrapher selling calligraphy works during Tet.
    The carpenters are carving wooden objects and paintings by artist Thang Tran Phenh. Famous before attending the Indochina College of Fine Arts, artist Thang Tran Phenh is considered one of the first bricks to lay the foundation for the modern "house of Vietnamese fine arts". At the same time, he also played a pioneering role and made significant contributions to Vietnamese stage art.

    Tinh Le