~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2002]

"Colonial time" bar in Saigon reproached

The recent appearance of a bar-cafe called An Nam in Truong Dinh Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City has upset cultural and ideological officials who claimed that it invokes sad memories of Vietnam under colonial times. An Nam is the ancient name for Vietnam used during the period of Chinese and French domination. The name was first used under Chinese dynasties as a way of dominating the "barbarous and ill-mannered" peoples of the southern land.

Later in French colonial times, the name was still in use and the French disdainfully called the Vietnamese Annamites, they said. In May, the city authorities ordered the Service of Planning and Investment and local people's committees to proceed changing the name of enterprises which use the name An Nam, and to not register new ones with this name. But for unknown reasons, the bar stays untouched.

Global News Wire - June 21, 2002.