Nearly one century ago, Sofia Yablonska, a Ukrainian writer, photographer, and travel filmmaker, set foot in Vietnam in pursuit of passion and exploration, capturing several moments of Vietnamese people’s daily life and landscapes through her camera across a decade.

As many as 55 documents, photos, and videos by the Ukrainian woman are on display at an exhibition called ‘Sofia Yablonska - Journey through Centuries’ at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

The exhibition opened on Monday and runs until November 11. It is hosted by the Embassy of Ukraine in Vietnam and marks the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

Visitors can enjoy a journey through time and explore the natural landscapes as well as Vietnamese people’s daily life in the 1930-40 period, accompanied by black-and-white photos and sentimental writings.

With her images and documents about Vietnam, visitors will feel as though they were living in the past and traveling around the charming nation, from the northern mountainous region to Ha Long Bay.

While admiring the historic charm of Hanoi and the Hue Imperial Citadel City, visitors can also learn about the lifestyle of past generations who were fishermen or ethnic minority people.

The diversity of cultural representation features the daily life of Thai, Mong, and Dao Tien ethnic minority groups, plus Hanoians captured by Yablonska.

Yablonska was born in Hermaniv Village near Lviv, Ukraine in 1907, beginning traveling through Paris in 1927. 

After her successful trip, she signed a contract with a French film studio to film documentaries about people in various nations and territories such as Morocco, Egypt, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Vietnam.

She and her French husband, Jean Oudin, lived in Vietnam for 10 years, where they designed two villas on Ba Na Hills in Da Nang City and Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The couple welcomed their second son in Vietnam.

She loved to spend her time soaking in the culture and traditional customs of Vietnam’s northern mountainous region. This reminded her of the Carpathian Mountains in her beloved homeland.

In addition to showing her interest in Vietnam via documentaries and images, she also expressed her enthusiasm for the nation, which she referred to as ‘a magical and enchanting land’ via her diary entries. 

The artist, who passed away in 1971, wrote, “What an exotic land! There is so much beauty that remains out of reach! Eternal, mystical, and secret forests seem to be protected by wild animals, and the wonderful crystal-clear blue water is off-limits to humans.”

When it came to describing Hanoi, Yablonska confided, “Returning to Hanoi from Yunnan, China, I experienced the ‘entire winter’ or the rainy season. Rain poured down for several days, several weeks, and months. The streets citywide were covered with thick fog.”

Deeper understanding of Vietnam-Ukraine culture

According to Ukrainian Ambassador to Vietnam Gaman Oleksandr, Yablonska was not only a traveler with a passion for exploring new lands, but also inspired others to a spirit of going on adventures across the world.

Oleksandr explained, “Traveling in the past was challenging. Photos by Sofia can be seen as windows into the past, spotlighting Vietnam’s history, culture, and traditions.”

Besides being a talented artist, photographer, writer, reporter, model, and documentary director, she advocated to uplift women's perspectives and voices. 

She also created a new behavioral model for women, encouraging them to dream and act.

"I am deeply moved to introduce such a remarkable journey of a courageous and renowned Ukrainian woman to the public in Ho Chi Minh City," Oleksandr shared.

Director of the museum and painter Tran Thanh Binh said that photos and films by Yablonska highlight a simple but profound Vietnam.

The exhibition is aimed at giving young Vietnamese generations a chance to not only access the past through the eyes of a European artist but also learn about the cultural connection and evolution of Vietnam and Ukraine.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!