The Straits of Malacca, Siam and Indochina: Travels and Adventures of A Nineteenth Century Photographer

Glimpses into the 19th century, guided by the lens and words of John Thomson — one of the earliest travel photographers to capture Southeast Asia.

In The Straits of Malacca, Siam and Indochina, Thomson recounts ten years of journeys across bustling ports, royal courts, and remote landscapes. Published in 1875, his work blends vivid storytelling with groundbreaking photography, offering a rare window into a world in transition.

We see Siam under King Chulalongkorn, poised between tradition and modernization. We glimpse the Straits of Malacca, a maritime crossroads alive with traders, sailors, and colonial ambitions. And we follow Thomson into Indochina, where his images and words preserve cultures and customs that were little known to the West