INDOCHINA CARTACARO.COM
Postcards, Photographs
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia

Laos Dien Bien Phu in color and black and white

2026-07-07T05:00:00Z

Laos: The Forgotten Postcard Land
A Rare and Discreet Land While Vietnam and Cambodia flood the postcard market, Laos remains a rare find. Why? This land of mountains and rivers, nestled between three powerful kingdoms, has always stood apart. With fewer people, less colonization, and a scarcity of officials or merchants, Laos escaped the cultural and commercial buzz of its neighbors. Here, kings were minor figures, and history unfolded quietly in the shadow of giants.
Explorers Behind (…)

- 2026 News

Cauvin - Deer Hunt

2026-07-06T05:00:00Z

This card is likely one of Cauvin-father's earliest, from 1916 and printed by a Japanese firm.
The image captures three soldiers who have just brought down a deer in the hills of Cap Saint-Jacques. They wear collar insignia—though the details are barely visible here. A note on another card even suggests the standing hunter may be the photographer himself. To hunt and own a personal rifle, they would have had to be officers or NCOs.
But why a Japanese printer? In 1916, Japan stood as (…)

- 2026 News

Dieulefils and color

2026-07-05T05:00:00Z

Now to Dieulefils. This card dates from 1920, a full decade after Fievet's and Raquez's. As a renowned publisher with both the expertise and the resources, Dieulefils delivered quality colorization—and the proof is right before your eyes. Behold!

- 2026 News

Alfred Raquez in color

2026-07-04T05:00:00Z

We have examined the color postcards of Fievet, Planté, and Demange—now let's turn to Raquez.
Now, after Fievet, Planté, and Demange, we look at Raquez.
At the time, color postcards were a premium product, and publishers kept a close eye on the competition. Raquez—or rather, those who published his work after his death—followed the trend.
His cards, divided into six series (A to F) around 1908, show no clear organizational logic. Likely compiled by someone unfamiliar with Laos, its (…)

- 2026 News

Our soldiers

2026-07-03T05:00:00Z

This card is by Victor Demange, part of a short series he devoted to Vietnamese or Chinese riflemen.
The cards are hand-colored, with pale tints so distinctive to Demange that his style is unmistakable at a glance.
But the most striking feature is the view itself. Look closely—doesn't it seem familiar?
To our surprise, while reviewing our cards of the riflemen, we discovered this one is actually a copy of an earlier edition published by Jumillard a decade before. Look closely!
Magical

- 2026 News

Phnom Penh - Buddhist Procession

2026-07-02T05:00:00Z

Today, we travel to Cambodia with photographer Victor Fievet—a small-scale publisher who captured Vietnam and Cambodia on film.
Here, a Buddhist procession appears on a hand-colored card. The colors bleed and are misaligned, resulting in a sloppy finish that fails to do the scene justice.
Next summer
Previous summer

- 2026 News

Two postcards "La Sarcelle"

2026-07-01T05:00:00Z

Two postcards by Victor Planté taken in Saigon.
One, numbered 91, captures the scene after the market: unsold goods had to be packed away, the space cleaned, waste removed, and everything packed up. Straw parasols marked out the selling area—likely a necessity in the heat, shielding both vendors, customers, and the merchandise.
The other postcard, more conventional, depicts the Governor-General's palace. The image reveals a majestic building, its grandeur emphasized by the garden in (…)

- 2026 News

A Postcard a Day, A Journey Through Time

2026-06-29T05:00:00Z

Discover Indochina: One Postcard a Day
This July and August, journey through time with rare postcards and unseen archives from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. From July 1 to August 31, each day brings a new postcard and its story—historical anecdotes, expert insights, and the occasional hidden detail.
Explore visual treasures from the early 1900s to the 1950s, alongside modern creations inspired by the region. Each week, we'll highlight a legendary publisher or photographer, sharing (…)

- 2026 News

Laos, Confessions of a 70s School Rebel

2026-04-27T05:00:00Z

Where Were You in the 1970s, We See You, Sam! ?
Racing your rusty bike like a madman through the streets of Vientiane, or trying not to laugh as your French teacher conjugated avoir in the passé simple?
Well, take a good look!
– Front row: 8th from the right… or maybe 12th from the left? (We know you *still* mix up left and right, even in gym class.)
– Second row: 5th from the left… the one who looks lost in thought, staring at the horizon—or just got scolded for doodling an elephant (…)

- 2026 News

Japonese Consulate

2026-04-20T05:00:00Z

Japanese Courtesans in Indochina: Myth or Historical Reality?
They were Japanese, and they were regarded as courtesans… Their charm and presence captivated both French military officers and colonists in Indochina. Rumors painted them as modern-day Mata Haris—accused of using pillow talk to gather intelligence for the Japanese government, which had growing interests in Vietnam at the time. But what was the truth? Were these women mere legends, or did they play a real role in the shadows of (…)

- 2026 News

INDOCHINA CARTACARO.COM Postcards, Photographs Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia

Laos Dien Bien Phu in color and black and white

Cauvin - Deer Hunt

Dieulefils and color

Alfred Raquez in color

Our soldiers

Phnom Penh - Buddhist Procession

Two postcards "La Sarcelle"

A Postcard a Day, A Journey Through Time

Laos, Confessions of a 70s School Rebel

Japonese Consulate

INDOCHINA CARTACARO.COM
Postcards, Photographs
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia