French Forts of Old Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City still has many old French colonial forts. These forts are from the French era; back when present day HCMC was called Saigon. The specific type of fort I am talking about is known as a blockhouse. They are found in many parts Vietnam. Some are in total ruins, while others are still in surprisingly good condition.
These types of forts should not be mistaken for the larger French forts, equipped with heavy cannons, cannon fields and mortar fields, found on Vung Tau island, at the mouth of the Saigon River. The larger forts (which did have some blockhouses also) were to keep rival colonizers, like Britain, from attempting to pinch Indochina from the French.
However, blockhouses, lines of blockhouses and porcupine formations of blockhouses were constructed to help the French counter the Vietnamese resistance to French colonization. They were usually rectangular shape, made of clay bricks, with an internal mezzanine floor, and rifle slots for riflemen. They were very practical and not made for comfort.
VIETNAM HISTORY and CULTURE
and OTHER GOOD STUFF
Posted by Paul Rowe 10/2019, HCMC, Vietnam.
and OTHER GOOD STUFF
Posted by Paul Rowe 10/2019, HCMC, Vietnam.