POSTAL SERVICES IN TONKIN DURING THE 1930s: A STUDY THROUGH SELECTED REGULATORY PROVISIONS

Abstract

The postal system in French Indochina emerged as a product of the French government's strategy of “colonial enlightenment” and the “dissemination of civilization” throughout Indochina. The integration of scientific advancements, innovative transportation methodologies, and communication technologies, including sound transmission and signaling systems, facilitated remarkable transformations within Vietnam's postal industry during the 1930s, notably in the optimization of waybill routes, the acceleration of information circulation, and the diversification of service offerings such as telegrams, telephones, postal items, parcels, and letters. To ensure effective operation that catered to the distinctive characteristics of each region within Indochina, the French colonial administration instituted specific regulations governing the sending, receiving, and postage associated with each category of postal service. Utilizing secondary sources and archival materials, this article investigates several of these regulations pertinent to the Tonkin region during the 1930s, thereby enriching the understanding of postal services in Vietnam throughout the period of French colonial rule.