The Vietnam Memories Project is an initiative by Vintage Cars Tours Vietnam dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Citroën LaDalat vehicles - the first car ever manufactured in Vietnam - of which only around 200 still survive today.
Preserving the Citroën LaDalat - A "Vietnam Memories Project" Initiative
The Vietnam Memories Project (VMP) aims to safeguard and protect Vietnamese automotive heritage. Learn more about the history of the Citroën LaDalat, the car at the heart of this initiative.
Approximately 3,850 vehicles were produced between 1970 and 1975. Today, this car has become extremely rare - only around 200 are still in circulation across the country, and most are in poor condition.
After 1975, with the country closed off, it became almost impossible to find spare parts to maintain them. Owners patched them up with whatever was available. It is not uncommon to find LaDalat cars fitted with parts from completely different vehicles. On one of our own cars, for example, the turn signal switch comes from a Russian vehicle and the seats from an old Toyota.
Most LaDalat that could not be repaired ended up either sold for parts or left to rust away in a garden over decades of tropical climate. They simply disappeared.
The Challenge of Restoration
Finding a Car with Proper Documentation
One of the greatest challenges is finding a LaDalat with proper documentation. Over time, a car may have changed hands several times without any owner updating the registration in their name. At best, the only paperwork is a simple handwritten receipt for each transaction. If one of these receipts is lost and the previous owner cannot be traced, obtaining a registration document becomes impossible.
Nowadays, a large number of LaDalat are driven without up-to-date papers. For now, the authorities tolerate it - but for how much longer? Their future is uncertain and they could one day be confiscated and destroyed.
Restoring a LaDalat: Expertise, Time and Passion
It is therefore very difficult to find a LaDalat with proper documentation, and almost impossible to find one in its original condition. They have been patched up or completely modified over the years.
Our project is to preserve this heritage. And even though it is much easier today to maintain this type of vehicle, restoring a Citroën requires expertise, money and a great deal of time.
Restoring a LaDalat to its original condition is particularly complicated. Being a very simple car with a sheet metal body, many were modified as soon as they left the factory to suit their owner's needs - and then further modified by subsequent owners. We also have very little documentation on the various models produced. There were many different versions of the LaDalat, with specifications that evolved significantly across the 5 years of production.
We have therefore decided to renovate them while keeping the appearance they have today. After all, it reflects their history and that of the country itself.
How You Can Support the Project
Support Vietnamese Automotive Heritage
By joining a tour with Vintage Cars Tours, you directly support this project and help fund our programme to preserve a unique piece of Vietnamese automotive heritage. Every booking makes a difference.
Currently, we own 5 vehicles: Titine, Choupette, Choupinette, Jeanette and the Top Gear car. We do not know their exact manufacturing date, as their registration documents simply state "before 1975" - 1975 being the year of the country's reunification. Each vehicle is properly registered with up-to-date registration and technical inspection.
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Your Questions About the Vietnam Memories Project
What is the Vietnam Memories Project?
The Vietnam Memories Project (VMP) is a heritage preservation initiative by Vintage Cars Tours Vietnam. Its goal is to restore, document and preserve Citroën LaDalat vehicles - the first cars ever manufactured in Vietnam between 1970 and 1975. Only around 200 of these iconic vehicles survive today in the country.
Why are Citroën LaDalat so difficult to restore?
After 1975, spare parts became almost impossible to find in Vietnam. Owners repaired their cars with whatever was available, often using parts from completely different vehicles. Today it is extremely rare to find a LaDalat in its original factory condition. Restoration requires specialist expertise, significant investment and considerable time, as well as detailed research into the original specifications of each model.
How can I support the Vietnam Memories Project?
The simplest way to support the project is to join one of our classic car tours in Hoi An. Every booking contributes directly to funding our restoration and preservation programme. By riding in a LaDalat, you help keep this unique piece of Vietnamese automotive heritage alive for future generations.
How many Citroën LaDalat does Vintage Cars Tours own?
Vintage Cars Tours Vietnam currently owns 5 vehicles: Titine, Choupette, Choupinette, Jeanette and the Top Gear car. Each is properly registered with up-to-date documentation and technical inspection. Their exact manufacturing dates are unknown - their registration documents simply state "before 1975."
Are the LaDalat used in tours authentic original vehicles?
Yes. All vehicles used by Vintage Cars Tours Vietnam are authentic Citroën LaDalat manufactured in Saigon between 1970 and 1975. They have been carefully maintained and renovated while preserving their original appearance - a direct reflection of their history and the history of Vietnam itself.
Have more questions? Visit our frequently asked questions page before booking.
