In 1845, Mr Jules Itier, who was a representative from the French Ministry of the Economy and Finance, took 3 photos of places in Da Nang: the Non-Nay Fortress, the Da Nang Bay, and the Marble Mountains.  These were the first photos to be taken in Viet Nam, and they utilised the daguerreotype process which was officially introduced in 1839.

The photo of the Non-Nay Fortress was printed in the 3-volume book entitled “Journal d’un Voyage en Chine en 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846” which was published by Dauvin et Fontaine Librairies in Paris in 1853.  The photo was captioned “Vue du fort Cochinchinois de Non-Nay”.  It is a pity that the other 2 photos taken by Itier were not also printed in the book. 

Itier’s photo of Non-Nay Fortress

According to Itier’s memoirs, the Non-Nay Fortress was built on a small island which was on the southeastern side of Da Nang Bay.  The island was locally called “Co” (Miss) in the “Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi” (the Geography of the Unified Dai Nam), and it was also named either l’Îlot de l’Observatoire or l’Îlot during the French colonial period.

In 1843, Itier came to China along with other French government officials to sign the Treaty of Whampoa at the request of the French King Louis-Philippe.  After signing the treaty, Itier was asked to immediately travel to Viet Nam on the ship Alcmène in order to intercede for the release of 5 missionaries detained in Hue.  The ship eventually arrived in Da Nang Bay at 11pm on 30 May 1845 and, during his stay in the city, Itier took the 3 photos mentioned.