The film, after winning the Best Foreign Language Film award, and Catherine Deneuve being nominated for the list of best actors at OSCAR 1993, has turned Ha Long Bay into a must-see destination for European visitors, especially in France. As for the big family in Ha Long, the days of being involved with the film crew have changed their lives and oriented their work in the future.
The guide
That big family is currently living together, close to each other in Lane 6, Cao Xanh Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province. They were overseas Vietnamese and French. Mr. Nguyen Van Dan ( born in 1940) - the eldest brother of the extended family - said: "In 1963, my parents brought my whole family from France to the countryside, then Hon Gai town, to live. At that time, my brothers - the youngest person in over ten years, I was married to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, who later became a famous silver screen version of Catherine.
In 1991, Mr. Dan's younger sister from Hanoi called to announce that a French film crew was recruiting French translators during filming in Vietnam. Mr. Dan, who was a construction worker at that time, rushed to take a boat to Hanoi to apply for the entrance exam, but he could not help but worry, because since leaving France to return home in 1963, he has hardly spoken French. He was recruited and signed a contract, with the task of: Translating for the assistant director, specializing in logistics.
The film "Dong Duong" was filmed in many places in Vietnam, but only in Ha Long Bay, the film crew set up a film studio in the Vung Oan area. For that reason, not only is he an interpreter, Mr. Dan also helps the group mobilize labor and purchase materials to build a film set, because he is a local, he is a full-time employee of the above work.
Unforgettable memories
Mr. Dan's extended family still preserves many documents related to the process of serving the film crew; and also documents and films about later when the witnesses and actors of the film crew returned to Ha Long... These are photos with the signature of Catherine, or a monthly payment for the dicher...
Ms. Hai said, "I was arranged in a room near Catherine's room in the hotel, so that when needed, she would call me. However, every time I go to the set, Catherine rarely calls me to go with her because of the role, they have already assigned me, so there is no need for an interpreter. Catherine told me to stay at home, do whatever I want. At each filming location, the crew selects personnel in those localities to facilitate the working process. However, Catherine requested to keep 2 for the two people: the driver and the interpreter Nguyen Thi Hai. Therefore, after 4 months in Ha Long, Ms. Hai had another time to work as an interpreter for Catherine at Thay Pagoda, Hue Imperial City...
In Ha Long, Catherine in room 208, Ha Long 1 Hotel, was redecorated according to her idea. After Catherine left, room 20, although the price was sky-high, was always in a state of "uses" because every tourist wanted to sleep in the room that the beautiful Catherine used to live in...
Among the Vietnamese people who participated in serving the "Dong Duong" film crew, Mr. Nguyen Van Song was the last person to receive the crew's salary. After the final filming on Hai Van Pass, he was involved in transporting the ancient fishing boat that the fishermen's group bought in Ha Long to the Philippines - where the boat was then burned down. Next, he hit the last car of the group to Saigon port to bring back to France. "It took about 5 days to rebuild the set. At that time, the tide dropped, causing the script to change because the filming scene was no longer the same as before, while waiting to film scenes at the set tide level, we had to wait a long time. For that reason, the scenery related to Ha Long Bay is only about 10 minutes, instead of over 30 minutes as planned" - Mr. Song recalled.
Thanks to "Dong Duong"...
When the film "Dong Duong" was filmed in Ha Long Bay, tourism here was in its early stages, with a single route, departing from the old Bai Chay ferry terminal passing through the Vung Oan film studio to Bo Nau Cave, Trinh Nu... When "Dong Duong" was released, the number of international visitors, especially French visitors to Ha Long Bay, was a surprise visit. Most of these guests suggested visiting the Vung Oan film studio. Right at the Vung Oan film set, a restaurant serving seafood dishes named "Indochine" was also opened soon after. However, later, because the tourist wharf and route were also adjusted, the "Indochine" restaurant was deserted and the "Dong Duong" film studio gradually disappeared.
After the film crew left Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Van Dan's family opened a series of eateries and cafes in Bai Chay tourist area, using documents and paintings about "Dong Duong" to attract customers. Mr. Dan's family's restaurants are always crowded with French guests, because in addition to the advantage of fluent French speaking, members of his family are also the most attractive witnesses to the behind-the-scenes of the movie "Dong Duong". Mr. Dan's family also met some members of the film crew when they returned to Ha Long, including Vietnamese-French actress Pham Linh Dan - who plays Camille, a main character in the film.
Up to now, only Mr. Nguyen Van Song is still in the tourism business. In the French tourist market, Mr. Song has a special position. In the tourism guide published in France every year, there is a section introducing Ha Long Bay, in which French tourists who want to have full information about this destination should meet Van Song. "Coming to Ha Long without meeting Van Song, it is considered as not coming to Ha Long" - the French handbook "adultery" French tourists and his email address and phone number information.
November. 2016 Catherine Deneuve returned to Vietnam for the 4th Hanoi International Film Festival. Here, the Indochina film was shown at the opening night of the festival.
