At the beginning of the 20th century, the infrastructure of Quang Ninh primarily consisted of military posts, ports, coal mines, post offices, and the colonial administrative offices of the French.
A residential area in 1920, now part of Quang Yen town. In the distance is Ha Long Bay with its towering limestone mountains.
Since the feudal era, Quang Yen has been established by various dynasties as a base for expanding into the ocean, guarding the islands, and becoming the central provincial capital of the Northeast region. In 1883, French colonialists invaded Quang Yen and established a governing apparatus in the Northeast.
In the inland areas, indigenous Vietnamese villages were built in flat areas suitable for farming. Simple houses with thatched roofs and leaf walls.
Near the sea, fishing villages nestled against the rocky mountains in Ha Long Bay. The residents made their living by fishing.
A young girl rowing a boat in Ha Long Bay, captured by the French in May 1927.
The French soon recognized the tourism potential of Ha Long Bay, calling it the eighth wonder of the world.
At that time, tourists primarily traveled from Hanoi to Haiphong by train, then took a boat or car to Hon Gai to embark on a 2 to 4-day exploration of Ha Long Bay on luxurious steamships. Some locals were recruited as boat rowers for tourism.
Cua Luc Bay photographed from Bai Chay towards Hon Gai in 1927.
With the presence of the French, many large constructions were built to serve the ruling class and merchants. Notably, the Société des Charbonnages de Hongay hotel was inaugurated at the end of 1924, near Hon Gai port (the two-story building on the left adjacent to the sea at Hon Gai).
According to various documents, the hotel had 28 bedrooms, a ground floor, a rooftop overlooking the bay, and a pier for boats and canoes. The dining room and lobby were spacious, equipped with a complete lighting and ventilation system. Bathrooms provided both hot and cold water.
The local market in Tien Yen, a crucial area located between Ha Long, Mong Cai, and Binh Lieu.
In July 1886, the French conquered Tien Yen and constructed roads, waterways, and air routes connecting Hanoi, Haiphong, and Mong Cai.
French military post built on a hill in Uong Bi. At that time, most solid constructions were built by the French.
Open-pit coal mine in Hon Gai during the years 1920-1929. The coal was extracted in a stepped manner with tracks and carts operated by workers.
While the Nguyen dynasty did not recognize the significance of the Hon Gai coal mines, capitalists from various countries vied for influence to exploit coal here.
Hon Gai port was built to serve coal mining. The port included a 75-meter-long pier and two wharf platforms, each 70-80 meters long. The port had 10 steam-powered cranes and two electric cranes.
Hon Gai port is one of the industrial symbols of the French colonial era.
According to historical records, taking advantage of the treaties of 1864 and 1874, many French merchants conducted reconnaissance on the coal reserves in Hon Gai and Dong Trieu. In the years 1880-1882, the French compelled the Nguyen court to send engineers to survey and explore the mines, bringing coal samples back to Paris for analysis. Recognizing the quality of coal in the Hon Gai mining area as among the best in the world, the French colonialists were determined to occupy this land.
Open-pit coal mine in Cam Pha during the 1930s captured from an airplane.
In 1883, after capturing Hanoi, 500 French troops seized the Hon Gai mining area, establishing a military headquarters in Mong Cai, marking the beginning of 72 years of occupation and coal exploitation in Quang Ninh. The Cam Pha mine was forced to be sold by the French in 1884.
In terms of administrative boundaries, the French placed Cam Pha under Quang Yen province. The Nguyen court considered Cam Pha district as part of the Hon Gai special zone.
After the August Revolution, in November 1945, a people’s government was established throughout Quang Yen province. On March 31, 1947, the Quang Hong inter-province was formed, including Quang Yen province, the Hon Gai special zone, and the districts of Thuy Nguyen, Chi Linh, Nam Sach, Kinh Mon, and Dong Trieu.
In August 1947, most of the territory of the two districts of Son Dong and Luc Ngan was merged into Quang Hong inter-province. On December 16, 1948, the Administrative Resistance Committee of Zone I decided to separate Quang Hong province into Quang Yen province and Hon Gai special zone.
On October 30, 1963, the National Assembly decided to merge Hai Ninh province and Hong Quang region into Quang Ninh province.
