Scenes of Cholon people being vaccinated in 1890, Saigon River with a 150-year-old flagpole… are in the photo collection of French doctor JC Baurac.

Southerners vaccinated in Cho Lon, 1890s. The photo is in the work “Cochinchine and its inhabitants: Eastern provinces”, by JC Baurac – a French colonial doctor who came to Vietnam in the 19th century – perform. Vaccination was part of Baurac’s job in South Vietnam. In the book, he wrote that because the situation of the smallpox epidemic in the South in the 1890s became tense, the authorities had to continuously organize mobile vaccination points in many places to prevent and limit the spread.

The book was introduced in the country recently, in a series of two books “Cochinchina and its inhabitants”, the first on the western provinces and the second on the eastern provinces, both by Dr. JC Baurac. The photos in the book were taken by Baurac himself or collected from photographers. The work is a valuable document about the South of the 19th century through the eyes of the French, A vaccination session in the South in the 1890s. The epidemiological survey of Dr. Baurac at the end of the 19th century not only contributed to research to improve sanitation but also to overcome disease problems through methods. vaccination, but also helped him contact and collect a lot of information to form a geographical book for the French at that time. A “dampoon” (transliterated from the French “chaloupe”), or motorboat, was used as a vaccination site in the South. Baurac said that in Go Cong county, the number of people who come to get vaccinated each day is about 5,000 (population 68,000). He writes in the book: “Today, indigenous people have great faith in vaccines, they are more concerned with the health of their children, as well as for themselves.” Ganh Rai isolation camp – where the colonial government isolated infected passengers on ships entering the waters of Cochinchina. A scene of Southern life was recorded by JC Baurac. Portrait of Governor Tran Ba ​​Loc (1839 – 1899), an effective partner of the French colonialists, once suppressed many uprisings of southern farmers in the late 19th century. Tran Ba ​​Loc is also mentioned by the canal system. was established by his commander, bringing benefits to the land of Dong Thap Muoi. The book also introduces rare documents on landscape photography, such as the peaceful garden space of Lyonnais coffee shop, Saigon in 1864. The photo is printed on white paper. The house of scientist Truong Vinh Ky (1837 – 1898) in Cho Lon, taken by photographer Émile Gsell (1838 – 1879) around 1870. House by the river at low tide. Thanks to a long time of living and working, having to conduct fieldwork closely to each locality, Dr. Baurac understands the country through his journey along with the river system, thereby accessing data on the population. , geography, geographical and natural features, history… A village in Go Vap at the end of the 19th century. Ange Eugene Nicolai – deputy governor of Cochinchina in the period 1897-1898 once commented on the book: “I have read and re-read your book. The smallest details have made a difference. captured and presented with the vibrancy and conviction of those who have witnessed, participated (…) as well as progress and achievements, and then find the point of attracting readers for their work. This is really necessary for the South …”. On the banks of the Saigon River in the 19th century, the left corner is the Thu Ngu flagpole. This work was built in 1865 when it was newly formed, it functioned as a signal post for ships to enter and exit the canals in the area of ​​​​Saigon – Gia Dinh. Along with Nha Rong Wharf, Bach Dang Wharf and Mong Bridge, the flagpole is an important factor creating a unique historical and cultural complex, a witness to the process of urban development in Ho Chi Minh City. At the beginning of last year, the flagpole was restored , surrounded by trees and stone benches to serve tourists, with a budget of 10 billion VND from socialization.