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The Encounters With the West
First and Foremost—Why This Collection?
At its heart, this collection is born of What events have shaped Vietnam—and, by extension, the world—throughout history? Collectibles are fragments of the past, each holding a piece of a larger narrative. When viewed together, they offer insights that go beyond the individual objects themselves. While some artifacts are discovered by chance or luck, true collecting demands passion, patience, and a deep commitment to preservation. For both novice and seasoned collectors, the journey offers the thrill of discovery and a meaningful connection to history through tangible relics.
Vietnam’s long and often turbulent history—particularly in the past century—has witnessed the loss or destruction of countless historical artifacts. War, climate, and the passage of time have all contributed to this erosion of material heritage. Collecting and preserving authentic artifacts is not just an act of safeguarding; it is a means to deepen our understanding of the past and to share that legacy with future generations.
Why This Book?
This book series is the result of a passionate effort to “braid a timeline” through a curated collection of small, flat, and lightweight artifacts connected to Vietnam. It seeks to tell a continuous, visually compelling story using genuine historical objects. To do so, the book is organized chronologically—presenting artifacts according to their date, the era in which they were created, the historical context they reflect, or, in some cases, the stories they convey on their own.
Drawn from a private collection of approximately 12,000 items, this series showcases around 1,500 handpicked artifacts spanning multiple fields—numismatics, philately, ephemera, memorabilia, militaria, and archival studies. Included are photographs, books, medals, personal documents, and select antiques. Each piece was selected for the unique narrative it contributes to the story of Vietnam—its people, its land, and its defining moments.
As Presented in This Volume
This volume explores Vietnam's contacts with the West from the late thirteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, primarily through antique Western maps and books, official certificates, and military decorations.
Chapter 1 examines antique maps and books from early Western adventurers who began to take notice of the kingdoms south of China and near Hainan Island along the Pacific coast. The accounts of these initial contacts offer valuable insights into early Western impressions of the local people and culture, as well as improvements to European maps, which began to include kingdoms in the land of present-day Vietnam. This chapter also explores the accounts of European missionaries, their lasting cultural impact, and their role in laying the groundwork for future religious conflicts.
Chapter 2 further investigates the detailed accounts of French missionaries and adventurers during periods of civil war and territorial division in Vietnam.
Chapter 3 reviews a series of books that document the historic diplomatic and trade missions of the British and Americans.
Chapter 4 explores decorations and books that shed light on the French Second Empire and its global colonial ambitions.
Chapter 5 examines a range of decorations, books, certificates, and coins that reflect French colonialism in the Asia-Pacific region and the first military interventions in Vietnam.
At its heart, this collection is born of What events have shaped Vietnam—and, by extension, the world—throughout history? Collectibles are fragments of the past, each holding a piece of a larger narrative. When viewed together, they offer insights that go beyond the individual objects themselves. While some artifacts are discovered by chance or luck, true collecting demands passion, patience, and a deep commitment to preservation. For both novice and seasoned collectors, the journey offers the thrill of discovery and a meaningful connection to history through tangible relics.
Vietnam’s long and often turbulent history—particularly in the past century—has witnessed the loss or destruction of countless historical artifacts. War, climate, and the passage of time have all contributed to this erosion of material heritage. Collecting and preserving authentic artifacts is not just an act of safeguarding; it is a means to deepen our understanding of the past and to share that legacy with future generations.
Why This Book?
This book series is the result of a passionate effort to “braid a timeline” through a curated collection of small, flat, and lightweight artifacts connected to Vietnam. It seeks to tell a continuous, visually compelling story using genuine historical objects. To do so, the book is organized chronologically—presenting artifacts according to their date, the era in which they were created, the historical context they reflect, or, in some cases, the stories they convey on their own.
Drawn from a private collection of approximately 12,000 items, this series showcases around 1,500 handpicked artifacts spanning multiple fields—numismatics, philately, ephemera, memorabilia, militaria, and archival studies. Included are photographs, books, medals, personal documents, and select antiques. Each piece was selected for the unique narrative it contributes to the story of Vietnam—its people, its land, and its defining moments.
As Presented in This Volume
This volume explores Vietnam's contacts with the West from the late thirteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, primarily through antique Western maps and books, official certificates, and military decorations.
Chapter 1 examines antique maps and books from early Western adventurers who began to take notice of the kingdoms south of China and near Hainan Island along the Pacific coast. The accounts of these initial contacts offer valuable insights into early Western impressions of the local people and culture, as well as improvements to European maps, which began to include kingdoms in the land of present-day Vietnam. This chapter also explores the accounts of European missionaries, their lasting cultural impact, and their role in laying the groundwork for future religious conflicts.
Chapter 2 further investigates the detailed accounts of French missionaries and adventurers during periods of civil war and territorial division in Vietnam.
Chapter 3 reviews a series of books that document the historic diplomatic and trade missions of the British and Americans.
Chapter 4 explores decorations and books that shed light on the French Second Empire and its global colonial ambitions.
Chapter 5 examines a range of decorations, books, certificates, and coins that reflect French colonialism in the Asia-Pacific region and the first military interventions in Vietnam.
516 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2025
471 people want to read
About the author
Hai Chau
6 books6 followersBased in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, Hải Châu has worked as a software engineer for nearly two decades and has been an avid collector for more than ten years.
The book series "Collecting Vietnam: On the Trail of Historical Collectibles", dedicated to his father and to lovers of Vietnam, explores the importance of collecting as a means of preserving and understanding the country's rich and turbulent history. Motivated by curiosity, collecting offers insights through tangible artifacts that have withstood war, climate, and time.
Drawing from a private collection of around 12,000 items, the series showcases approximately 1,500 carefully selected collectibles—ranging from coins and stamps to medals and documents—presented in chronological order. Through these artifacts, it seeks to 'braid a timeline' that visually narrates Vietnam’s past and highlights its cultural and historical legacy.
See sample pages of the books: www.facebook.com/collectvietnam
The book series "Collecting Vietnam: On the Trail of Historical Collectibles", dedicated to his father and to lovers of Vietnam, explores the importance of collecting as a means of preserving and understanding the country's rich and turbulent history. Motivated by curiosity, collecting offers insights through tangible artifacts that have withstood war, climate, and time.
Drawing from a private collection of around 12,000 items, the series showcases approximately 1,500 carefully selected collectibles—ranging from coins and stamps to medals and documents—presented in chronological order. Through these artifacts, it seeks to 'braid a timeline' that visually narrates Vietnam’s past and highlights its cultural and historical legacy.
See sample pages of the books: www.facebook.com/collectvietnam
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