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[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Ben Thanh Market

The southern hub has seen its fair share of transformations over the years. From French colonialism to the swinging 60s, the early days of Đổi Mới to 21st-century Vietnam, Saigon’s urban landscape has undergone constant change, and yet the photos below are proof positive that modern-day Saigon is not so far removed from its past.

As we continue our quest to capture the ever-changing urban character of Saigon, we’ve dug up some old images of Ben Thanh and matched them to the corresponding market scenes of today. The following images, taken between 1965 and 1966 by a photographer simply referred to as Lloyd, might not have the best composition but provide a rare glimpse at some of the market’s less frequented corners. Here is a window into the past, courtesy of Flickr user manhhai:

 

 

 

 


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