Bonzes de la Pagoda Chinoise (Cholen), Saïgon, Cochinchine 1866

"Bonzes de la Pagoda Chinoise (Cholen), Saïgon, Cochinchine" is an 1866 photograph by French photographer Émile Gsell. This photo, a part of Gsell's larger photographic survey of Vietnam, depicts three Buddhist monks standing in front of a Chinese pagoda in Saïgon. This albumen print, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, highlights Gsell’s interest in documenting the diverse people and places he encountered during his travels. The image provides a glimpse into the religious practices and architectural styles prevalent in 19th-century Vietnam.