Rambling about the ancient map, Ke Ga lighthouse and Lang Biang plateau

An old map (restored from the original) of Dai Nam at that time showing administrative boundaries and names of localities (provinces, towns) and neighboring countries. The Dai Nam dynasty began in 1838 when King Minh Mang (Nguyen Phuoc Dam) officially changed the country's name from Vietnam to Dai Nam, and ended this feudal dynasty in 1945 with the abdication of King Bao Dai.

I was especially surprised when looking at this map. My old hometown Binh Thuan was so vast: to the East it bordered the East Sea; to the South it bordered Bien Hoa town; to the West it bordered Nam Vang (Cambodia) and Nam Ban (a small country, a vassal of Dai Nam at that time); to the North it bordered Khanh Hoa.

This map is very meaningful and valuable for reference from the perspective of historical and cultural value when consulting on mergers, naming new provinces and administrative centers. Dai Nam at that time was a powerful country with a position not only in Southeast Asia. As we enter a new era, we cannot help but consider, research, and absorb the quintessence of a prosperous period of the Vietnamese nation.

In this article, the author would like to briefly discuss the story of Ke Ga lighthouse and the discovery of the new Lang Biang plateau here, in order to provide readers with some information, although not new, but interesting in the current context. Previously, when I was a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, studying History - majoring in Ethnology, during a trip to the National Library to read documents, I made a personal discovery, with a number with a rather interesting coincidence: that was the event in Binh Thuan in 1897. This was the year of the inauguration of Ke Ga lighthouse in the southern sea of ​​Binh Thuan (this is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Vietnam, built by French engineer Chanavat in 2 years with unique architecture and stone structure). That same year, Lang Biang plateau was discovered by Dr. Alexandre Yersin through an expedition with the starting point also in Binh Thuan, from Phan Ri (belonging to Tam Phan: Phan Thiet, Phan Ri, Phan Rang). Dr. Yersin's expedition went up the mountain on the western slope of Binh Thuan (now in the mountainous area of ​​Phan Son and Phan Dung communes). After discovering this new plateau, on July 19, 1897, Dr. Yersin sent a letter to the Governor General of Indochina, Paul Dumer, reporting the situation and proposing to build a resort camp for the French in this year-round cool land, amidst vast pine forests.

Ke Ga Lighthouse in the southern sea of ​​Binh Thuan.

By coincidence, 1897 was the year of the inauguration of an important maritime project on the Southeast Sea of ​​Binh Thuan, which every night illuminated the way for domestic and international merchant ships to safely cross the sea. Also in 1897, from the land of refuge, Mr. Yersin discovered and proposed that the French take advantage of the new Lang Biang plateau to build a resort for the French who were operating in Indochina. Doctor Yersin laid the foundation and idea for this new plateau to become a famous resort later on. From a maritime project built in the old land and a discovery in the new land with a cool climate all year round at the same time of 1897, it is now nearly 130 years old.

"Old land - new land, old people - new people" are about to become brothers, a few random lines from the sea to the forest, reviewing the past and learning the present, hoping everything goes smoothly!

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/tan-man-ve-tam-ban-do-co-hai-dang-ke-ga-va-cao-nguyen-lang-biang-129035.html