French photographers’ lens bring Vietnam's history to Paris

Visitors to the photo exhibition featuring Vietnamese history from 1966 to 1976 (Photo: VNA)

Paris – The portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, scenes of war-ravaged Hue city, and poignant glimpses of daily life under bombardment are among the photos featuring Vietnamese history from 1966 to 1976 now on display at the Guimet Asian Art Museum in Paris through March 12.

The exhibition features over 50 black-and-white photographs by French photographer Marc Riboud. It is being held by Les amis de Marc Riboud (Marc Riboud’s friends association) to commemorate Vietnam’s 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

While documenting the war, his photographs maintained a positive perspective. From bustling commerce atop rubble-strewn streets to couples dating beside bomb shelters and the bright faces of Vietnamese children, the works revealed how civilian life, though disrupted and tragic, persisted tenaciously against all adversity.

The highlight of his collection is the world-famous photo of a US anti-war protester holding flowers before armed soldiers outside the Pentagon in Washington, which then became an international symbol for peace.

The world-famous photo of a US anti-war protester holding flowers before armed soldiers outside the Pentagon (Photo: VNA)

According to Lorène Durret, who is in charge of the Les amis de Marc Riboud, all works are presented with specific contextual background, providing viewers with profound insights into this critical historical period. She hopes to bring the exhibition to Vietnam, noting this was also Riboud’s wish when he returned to Vietnam for the last time in his 80s.

Riboud had great admiration for the Vietnamese people's courage. (Photo: VNA)

Catherine Riboud, the photographer's widow, revealed that Vietnam held a special place in her husband's heart, adding he had great admiration for the Vietnamese people's courage and that was the reason why he returned regularly throughout those 10 years.

Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang praised the exhibition's timing as Vietnam prepares to mark 50 years since the national reunification. He noted that Riboud's photographs not only depict war’s brutality but also capture the heroic Vietnamese people fighting for national independence.

Riboud, who died in 2016 at age 93, took more than 50,000 photographs during his storied career./.