Mapping Ethnic Diversity in Highland Northern Vietnam

Mapping Ethnic Diversity in Highland Northern Vietnam

Introduction to this site:

This site displays a range of reproduced historic maps and recent original maps of northern highland Vietnam. These are presented here as part of a larger project regarding the mapping of highland minorities in Northern Vietnam by the three authors, a cultural anthropologist a development geographer and a GIS specialist, based at three Montreal universities, Canada.

Dr Jean Michaud
Centre d'Etudes sur l'Asie de l'Est,
Université de Montréal
E-mail: michaudjean@yahoo.com

Dr Sarah Turner
Department of Geography
McGill University
E.mail: turner@geog.mcgill.ca

Dr Yann Roche
Department of Geography
Université du Québec à Montréal
E-mail: roche.yann@uqam.ca

Michaud, J., S. Turner, and Y. Roche (2002 –published in 2004): Mapping ethnic diversity in highland Northern Vietnam. GeoJournal. 57 (4), 281-299.

In this paper we initially critique a range of ethnological maps produced over the last 130 years for highland northern Vietnam, both during and after colonial times. In particular we illustrate the many difficulties faced when trying to represent mosaics of ethnic highland minority groups on two dimensional maps. Such historical maps included no attempts to bring detailed topographic details into the picture, an idea that would have been virtually impossible anyway, given the cartographic technologies at the time. Yet by not including such details or not representing them clearly, a partial image of these populations has been created that, over time, has become a standardised representation. Therefore, as a more systematic approach to the analysis of these highland minority groups, we present recent attempts to create more functional maps for the northern Vietnam province of Lao Cai using modern cartographic techniques and geographic information systems. Utilising tools such as digital cartography and digital elevation models a wealth of information can be gained which has the potential, amongst other possible uses, to allow a greater understanding and sensitivity regarding ethnic minority groups in Northern Vietnam, and their use of the local environment.

A selection of the maps reproduced or produced for the article:

Figure 1. Region of focus in the colonial and post-colonial maps included in this paper, and the province of Lao Cai.
Source: National Center for Human and Social Science Research, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1994. Production: Yann Roche.

Figure 2. Number of Ethnic Groups in Lao Cai Communes, 1989.
Source: Data from General Department of Land Administration, and National Center for Human and Social Science Research, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1994. Production: Yann Roche.

Figure 3. Garnier’s 1869 Carte générale de l'Indo-Chine.
Source: GARNIER, F. 1873 Album pittoresque, first part of Atlas du voyage d’exploration en Indo-Chine (Paris: Librairie Hachette).

Figure 4. Lunet de Lajonquière’s 1904 map.
Source: LUNET DE LAJONQUIERE, E. 1904 Ethnographie des territoires militaires (Hanoi: F.H. Schneider)

Figure 5. Gallois' 1909 ethnographic map.
Source: GALLOIS, C.L. 1909 Atlas général de l'Indochine française (Hanoi-Haiphong: Imprimerie d'Extrême-Orient)

Figure 6. Teston and Percheron’s 1931 map.
Source: TESTON, E. and PERCHERON, M. 1931 L'Indochine Moderne: Encyclopédie administrative, touristique, artistique et économique (Paris : Librairie de France)

Figure 13. Ethnic composition of Lao Cai Province at the district level.
Source: Data from General Department of Land Administration, and National Center for Human and Social Science Research, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1994. Production: Yann Roche.

Figure 14. Ethnic Diversity of Lao Cai communes, 1989.
Source: Data from General Department of Land Administration, and National Center for Human and Social Science Research, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1994. Production: Yann Roche.

Figure 15. Ethnic composition of two districts at the commune level.
Source: Data from General Department of Land Administration, and National Center for Human and Social Science Research, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1994. Production: Yann Roche.

Figure 16. 3D representation of Lao Cai province.
Source: Data from General Department of Land Administration, 1994.
Production: Yann Roche.

Figure 17. 3D Image of the Ethnic Diversity of the Lao Cai Communes, 1989.
Source: Data from General Department of Land Administration, and National Center for Human and Social Science Research, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1989. Production: Yann Roche.

Figure 18. 3D Image of the Ethnic Groups in Lao Cai Province, 1989.
Source: Data from General Department of Land Administration, and National Center for Human and Social Science Research, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1989. Production: Yann Roche.