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Quang Ninh a century ago

VNE • 12/10/2023 18:25

In the early 20th century, Quang Ninh's infrastructure was mainly military posts, ports, coal plants, post offices and the public headquarters of the French.

A residential area in 1920, which now belongs to Quang Yen town. In the distance is Ha Long Bay with towering limestone mountains

On the mainland, Vietnamese villages were then built in flat places so they could farm and grow crops. Their houses boasted simple designs with thatched roofs and leaf walls.

At the seaside, fishing boat villages are nestled against rocky mountains on Ha Long Bay, which was later recognized as a UNESCO heritage site and has become one of the top tourist attractions in Vietnam.

At that time, people mainly earned their living by fishing.

A girl ferries on Ha Long Bay, as photographed by a French national in May 1927

The French soon realized the tourism potential of Ha Long Bay, calling it the 8th wonder of the world.

Tourists at that time mainly came from Ha Noi who arrived in Hai Phong by train and then reached Hon Gai by boat or car to enjoy a two-to-four-day journey to explore Ha Long Bay on luxury steamships.

Locals were recruited as tourist boatmen.

Cua Luc Bay from Bai Chay towards Hon Gai in 1927

With the presence of the French, many large projects were built to serve the rulers and merchants.

A typical example is the Société des Charbonnages de Hongay hotel, inaugurated at the end of 1924, near Hon Gai port.

According to many documents, the hotel has 28 bedrooms, a ground floor, a terrace overlooking the bay, and a wharf for boats and canoes.

The dining room and lounge are large, with full lighting and ventilation systems.

A traditional market in Tien Yen, an important land between Ha Long, Mong Cai and Binh Lieu

In July 1886, the French occupied Tien Yen and built roads, waterways, and airways connecting Ha Noi, Hai Phong, and Mong Cai.

A military post of the French built on a hill in Uong Bi. At that time, most of the large buildings are built by the French

An open pit coal mine in Hon Gai during the 1920-1929 period

Hon Gai Port was built to serve coal mining. The port consists of a 75 m long wharf and two decks, each 70-80 m long. At the port, there are 10 cranes powered by steam engines and two cranes powered by electricity.

Hon Gai Port was one of the symbols of France's port industry at that time.