Vietnamese people in the First World War (1914-1918) is the highlight of a photo exhibition being held in Paris from November 19 to December 30.
On display are more than 100 documentary photos depicting the working and living conditions of the first Vietnamese who were brought to France by the French colonial government in the early 20th century to serve the war.
Historian Pierre Brocheux introduced the historical context since nearly 100,000 Vietnamese people, mainly from poor areas of Vietnam, were sent to France together with 240,000 colonial soldiers from Africa and Indochina.
The Vietnamese expatriates had to work in weapon and gunpowder factories clean up battlefields and carry wounded soldiers, and even had to join the combat, he added.
Researcher Francois Trieu, who spent four months to collect and study documentary photos, described the exhibition as a “spiritual responsibility” to pay tribute to the deceased.
The event is organised by the Vietnamese Association in France.-VNA
On display are more than 100 documentary photos depicting the working and living conditions of the first Vietnamese who were brought to France by the French colonial government in the early 20th century to serve the war.
Historian Pierre Brocheux introduced the historical context since nearly 100,000 Vietnamese people, mainly from poor areas of Vietnam, were sent to France together with 240,000 colonial soldiers from Africa and Indochina.
The Vietnamese expatriates had to work in weapon and gunpowder factories clean up battlefields and carry wounded soldiers, and even had to join the combat, he added.
Researcher Francois Trieu, who spent four months to collect and study documentary photos, described the exhibition as a “spiritual responsibility” to pay tribute to the deceased.
The event is organised by the Vietnamese Association in France.-VNA
