AGDE
Organised by the AMCA (Association for the Memory of the Agde Camp) in partnership with the Town of Agde and the Agde Municipal Archives.
At the start of the Second World War, the French government forcibly conscripted 20,000 Indochinese workers from its colonies in Indochina and brought them to France to work in munitions factories.
In June 1940, at the time of the French retreat, plans were made to repatriate them, but due to the blockade of shipping routes, most of them were unable to leave and found themselves confined to internment camps.
Thus, 3,300 Indochinese people lived at the Agde Camp for over two years.
Programme:
Friday 24 to Thursday 30 April
Exhibition
This exhibition traces the context of the arrival in France of these Indochinese workers, their life in the Agde camp and the links they formed with the local population.
Salle du Chapitre in Agde: 9am–12pm / 2pm–6pm
Opening on Thursday 23 April at 6pm
Free entry
Friday 24 April
Lecture/Testimonials: “Emigrants against their will: the Indochinese workers of the Agde camp”.
Who were the people the people of Agde called Annamites?
How did they end up at the Agde Camp?
What memories did they leave behind?
And above all, what became of them?
By Virginie Gascon, Agde archives mediator, and Jean-Philippe Duong-Van
Lecture enriched by testimonies from descendants of Indochinese workers
Agde Media Library at 6pm
Free admission, booking required
Saturday 25 April
Screening of the film ‘Công Binh, the Long Indochinese Night’
This film sheds light on the little-known story of these Indochinese people who were forcibly displaced, and gives a voice to those whom the director was able to track down in Vietnam more than 70 years later.
Screening attended by LAM Lé, the film’s director, with the participation of Christine Delpous, history teacher
Le Travelling cinema at 6pm
Price: €6.50
Wednesday 29 April
Concert: classical repertoire and Vietnamese songs
Charity concert in aid of disadvantaged Vietnamese children, organised by the Arte Vitalis association
Featuring Jean-Philippe Duong-Van, opera singer, and Élisabeth Iannontuanni, pianist
Saint-Sever Church at 6pm
Free entry – donations welcome
Spoken languages : French
From 24/04 to 30/04/2026.
