A French photographer living in the central tourism town of Hoi An has opened his own art gallery museum to display a collection which he considers the ‘precious heritage’ of Vietnam.

Opened with free admission since earlier this year, the “Precious Heritage” art gallery museum is where Réhahn displays the culmination of his five years exploring Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

The 250m² art space is home to more than 30 authentic traditional costumes, 200 photos, precious artifacts and stories in French, English and Vietnamese.

“I first met ethnic people in Sa Pa in 2011 then I started to learn how many ethnic minorities that Vietnam has, and also their culture,” the 38-year-old photographer told Tuoi Tre News.

"I recognize the cultural traditions of some ethnic groups are eroded very quickly due to the modernization process,” he lamented. “So I thought of documenting the culture of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.”

Réhahn has been mostly concerned about the disappearance of traditional costumes, especially in groups with a very small population, which has encouraged him to open Precious Heritage.

"I remember I once visited Cho Ro people in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. I went through three or four villages to find someone who could show me their traditional costumes, but it was a surprise that nobody could,” the photographer from Normandy recounted.

Finally, Réhahn went to see a village chief who was 88 years old and friendly talked to him to explain his intention of finding a costume.

“He gave me a traditional outfit of his wife, I was deeply touched,” Réhahn said. “That may be the last outfit of the Cho Ro in Vietnam because the village chief said that no one wears and makes that costume anymore."

French photographer Réhahn (1st from L) talks to visitors at his Precious Heritage space in Hoi An on January 17, 2017. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

In addition to the costumes and artifacts, at Precious Heritage, each journey to meet ethnic minorities is also recreated through a large portrait Réhahn took of a member of the ethnic group.

Information on each group’s place of residence, population, cultural characteristics as well as his own experiences is carved on a wooden board next to the costume.

Réhahn said he had read many books and visited several museums to collect all the information and make sure that they are right.

He even bought a house so that he is no longer burdened by rent.

“We do not know how the future will be, 10 years or 20 years from now. If tomorrow I die or leave Vietnam, I want these things to be preserved in Hoi An, I want to give this collection to Vietnam,” he said.

“I think authorities should facilitate the introduction of the place, which also means introducing the beauty of Hoi An to domestic and foreign tourists,” Vo Phung, director of the center for culture and sports of Hoi An City, commented on the place he considered a valuable tourist destination.

The room displaying the cuture of ethnic minorities in Vietnam's central and southern regions. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

Meanwhile, Eva Nguyen Binh, cultural counselor at the French Embassy in Vietnam, called the place “a tribute to Vietnamese ethnic minorities, their culture and their beauty.”

“The fact that he puts a costume with a big picture he took of a member of each ethnic group comes out very well,” she said. “It’s beautiful and also educative because with each costume, he tells a story of a group in his own words, about his encounter with each minority.”

According to the cultural counselor, through the display of images and vivid costumes, Réhahn is trying to bring not only foreign tourists but also Vietnamese people plenty of information about Vietnam’s ethnic culture.

Most of the visitors to the place also expressed their surprise knowing about the diversity of Vietnam, as well as appreciating the knowledge of ethnic people of the French photographer.

American Kathy Peterson expressed her admiration after seeing “what the artist has done.”

“These things are precious and they may disappear, so it’s important to preserve them,” she said.

Her husband, Dan Mosby, said he was surprised reading stories that ethnic people do not make their costumes anymore, and “will tell people about this place to come to support the effort of preserving minority culture.”

American tourist Kathy Peterson reads the information board about Cham people at the Precious Heritage art gallery museum on January 17, 2017. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

Ao dai displayed at the Precious Heritage art gallery museum. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

Costumes of Red Dao people showcased at the Precious Heritage art gallery museum. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

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