A clandestine journey in a palanquin to escape the death penalty

Théophane Vénard is a priest who had to enter Tonkin clandestinely to escape persecutions. Emperor Tự Đức was indeed leading a policy of terror punishing priests and Christians with death. Accompanied by Legrand de La Liraÿe and Cochinchinese guides, he managed to reach Vinh Tri on July 13, 1854, by hiding from checkpoints in palanquins.