Saigoneer

    BackHeritage » Saigon » [Photos] Walk Into Saigon's Rarely Seen Neighborhoods in 1966-1967

    AAA
    Did you know that Hung Vuong Street used to run alongside a railway connecting Saigon with My Tho?

    In 1966 and 1967, Australian serviceman Allen McKenzie was stationed in Vietnam. These film photos were taken during many of his trips wandering around the city. McKenzie’s snapshots captured some rarely seen facets of Saigon in the 1960s. The city center of District 1 is more than well-documented by tourists and famed photographers alike, but that sheen of glamor did not reflect the rest of the town’s conditions.

    Working-class communities sprouted up along railways, around wet markets and along riverbanks, forming tight-knit but squalid neighborhoods. Today, most Saigon residents have moved on to better living conditions: shanty towns along the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe and Tau Hu canals — as shown in McKenzie’s images — dispersed as city authorities cleaned and revamped the waterways.

    Have a look at Saigon in the late 1960s below:

    Rows of shopfronts in District 6.

    Houses on Hung Vuong Street.

    An old tenement on Hung Vuong Street by the railway.

    A section of the railway filled with trash left over from an earlier market session.

    A hotel on Dong Khanh Street (now Chau Van Liem).

    In Cho Lon.

    Ba Thang Hai Street.

    Nhieu Loc Canal.

    Nhieu Loc Canal.

    Modernist architecture in Saigon.

    The author of the photos with his camera at Viet Nam Quoc Tu Temple on Ba Thang Hai Street.

    A Chinese opera performance.

    Tau Hu Canal.

    Tau Hu Canal.

    [Photos via 103 Field Battery RAA]


    Related Articles:

    [Photos] A Visual Tour of Late 1960s Saigon by Brian Wickham

    [Photos] In 1995 Vietnam, a Paradise for Honda Cubs and Xích Lô

    [Photos] Vung Tau in 1970: Bars, Beaches and a Bustling Bazaar


    Saïgon Chợ Lớn Then & Now
    Join Group

    If you have enjoyed our work and believe that Saigoneer’s voice is an important one to have, please consider supporting us. Pledge any amount you’re comfortable with in the form of a one-time or recurring donation so we can continue bringing you the stories you love to read.

    Related Articles

    in Saigon

    10 Old Photos Of Carriages In Saigon

    Before motorized transportation was the norm in Saigon, horse-drawn carts were used to move both goods and people.

    in Saigon

    10 Old Pictures of Advertisements in Saigon

    Before 1975, large advertisements were commonplace in Saigon. But after the American War and the fall of capitalism in the South, ads were considered a vestige of the old order and were heavily regula...

    in Saigon

    10 Old Pictures of Art Deco Buildings in Saigon

    Art deco is by far our favorite architectural style, one which luckily, Saigon has in spades. However, with each passing day, these buildings are being torn down to make way for modern structures whic...

    in Saigon

    10 Old Pictures of Cars in Saigon

    Though cars have been present in the country since the turn of the 20th century, decades of war (1941 – 1975) and an economic stagnation (1975 – 1986) drastically reduced the number of automobiles in ...

    in Saigon

    10 Old Pictures of People in Saigon

    We often look to old buildings in order reconnect with the past since they are clear and static reference points. Though useful, another important window into the past is the day-to-day lives of peopl...

    in Saigon

    10 Old Pictures of Workers in Saigon

    As Vietnam's economy has become increasingly intertwined with the global free market over the past decade, some elements of Saigon's pre-war, western-oriented economy have reappeared - Factories aroun...

    Partner Content

    in Resorts

    Abandoning Saigon’s Steamy Spring for Cool Ski Slopes Abroad with Club Med

    The arrival of spring doesn’t need to mean you need to abandon your desire to ski this year just yet.

    in Resorts

    New Beachfront Pool Villas Balance the Harmony of Nature and Luxury at Green Bay Phu Quoc Resort and Spa

    “Our philosophy is about creating experiences. Resorts that succeed are so much more than a place to stay; we want to create that journey and lasting memories close to nature. Time is finite so every ...

    in Education

    How Thoughtful Design Boosts Educational Outcomes: Australian International School Undergoes Multi-Million-Dollar Renovations

    According to a 2018 study by the University of Salford in Manchester, carefully considered classroom environments can improve students’ academic progress by up to 16%. Researchers and educators alike ...

    in Health

    Veterinarians Warn Against Anaesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning

    A thorough oral examination is critical for the short and long-term health of one’s pet. Their teeth may appear clean on the outside but hidden dental problems could still be lurking beneath the gum l...

    in Education

    Examining the Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Benifits of La Petite Ecole’s Plurilingual Education

      What is a plurilingual education? Simply stated, it is one that teaches academic content in two or more languages rather than just teaching the languages as subjects in and of themselves. The ...

    in Resorts

    Traditional Tết Holidays Complimented by a Beach Vacation

    Traditional Lunar New Year festivities stretch to all corners of Vietnam and Đà Nẵng is embracing the vibrant transition into the most important time of the year.