A Collection of Scenes in 1964 Saigon, Bến Tre, Biên Hòa on Film
In 1964, Saigon’s Phù Đổng Roundabout didn’t feature the towering bronze statue of folk hero Thánh Gióng. Instead of the congestion hot spot the intersection is known as today, it was actually spacious and airy, with nary a shop or bubble tea parlor in sight.
Vauban Architecture: The Foundation of Central and Northern Vietnam's Citadels
In our previous article on Vietnam’s southern citadels , we covered a mix of ancient structures and those constructe...
Unearthed: Tracing the Past Citadels of Southern Vietnam
Although the forces of modernization encourage constant progress and leaving behind the pre-modern past, the trails of yesterday never fail to leave our presence.
10 Rare Illustrations Offer Glimpses Into Life in Tonkin in 1923
What’s your typical Sunday routine? If your answer includes grabbing some noodles on the street, getting your earwax removed and mustache shaved, and maybe smoking some opium to take the edge off, congratulations, you might be living in 1923 Tonkin.
Tim Doling in Vietnam
Revisit 1990s Saigon in 'L’Amant,' the Film Adaptation of Marguerite Duras' Famous Novel
When filming the movie adaptation of Marguerite Duras’ 1984 autobiographical novel The Lover, French director Jean-Jacques Annaud made extensive use of Saigon locations. Here’s a run-down of the local landmarks to watch out for when you view the movie.
Vibrant Watercolor Paintings Take Us Back to Northern Vietnam in 1890
Way before colored photography appeared, generations of our ancestors had to rely on the finesse of painters to create visuals records of their everyday routines. This collection of watercolor paintings from the 1890s is a particularly vivid example of that, depicting lively scenes of Vietnam two centuries ago that are full of humor and personality.
From North to South: Memories of 1990s Vietnam via the Lens of a French Photographer
What do you miss most about the 1990s?
Tim Doling in Saigon
The Story of Quách Đàm, the Man Who Shaped Modern Chợ Lớn — Part 2
By the 1920s, the old Bình Tây Market and much of the surrounding land had belonged to Quách Đàm, so he proposed to the colonial authorities the demolition of the existing building and the construction, “on an area of not less than 9,000 square metres,” of a new and much larger Bình Tây Market, to serve as the new central market of Chợ Lớn. This is Part 2 of our miniseries on the origin story behind Chợ Lớn. Read Part 1 here.
[Photos] Saigon Street Life in 1965 by Bruce Baumler – Part 2
Continuing the visual spectacle of Saigon from part 1 of the collection, here are more candid shots of the city’s street life in 1965.
[Photos] The People of 1880s Indochina Captured in a Series of Striking Portraits
When French photographers Hippolyte Arnoux and Émile Gssel traveled to Indochina in 1880, they documented not only its landscapes, but also its people.
[Photos] Saigon Street Life in 1965 by Bruce Baumler – Part 1
Identifying streets and neighborhoods of Saigon based on old pictures might seem like a skill exclusively reserved for those who have lived through the eras, but at times it’s like a fascinating game ...
[Photos] An Eerie Tokyo in the 1970s by Canadian Photographer Greg Girard
Born in 1955, Greg Girard is well-known for his photography work in some of Asia's largest cities.
Tim Doling in Saigon
Saigon's Built Heritage Is Under Threat. How Do We Protect What's Left?
In an exclusive excerpt from his latest book, Exploring Saigon-Chợ Lớn: Vanishing Heritage of Hồ Chí Minh City, historian Tim Doling discusses the city's threatened heritage architecture and what the ...
[Photos] The Hustle and Bustle of Maritime Life in 1995 Quang Ninh
Just around 150 kilometers east of Hanoi, Quang Ninh Province is home to the world-famous heritage site Ha Long Bay and Vietnam’s largest coal reserves.
[Photos] Saunter Across Hanoi's Old Quarter Streets in 1896
Being alive today means seeing such an abundance of photos that they can become meaningless, yet these shots of Hanoi’s Old Quarter invoke a feeling that’s hard to define.
[Photos] The Mekong Delta on the Brink of a New Decade
Taken by Stewart Jackson, a member of the US Army in 1970, and archived in the gallery of the 6/31st Infantry in Vietnam, these photos depict life in Duong Diem Town, Chau Thanh, Tien Giang Province.
[Photos] A Visual Anthology of Life and Fashion of 1970 Saigoneers
One of Saigon's most compelling attractions has always been the people, and this collection of photos taken from the 1970s shows us just why Saigoneers are a fascinating breed.
[Photos] On Hanoi’s Streets in 1979: Trams, Bicycles, Buffaloes and Peace
Postwar-era Vietnam was a time of moving forward, regeneration and establishing a new normalcy.
[Photos] Hiding From the Heat at Cong Hoa Swimming Pool in 1965
Saigon’s most famous swimming pool is perhaps that of the Cercle Sportif Saigonnais, a huge sporting facility on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai that was built in the 1900s for the city’s rich to frolic in every...
[Photos] The Life Semi-Aquatic With 1968 Can Tho
When it comes to old photos of Vietnam, Saigon - as one of the country’s leading tourist destinations in the 1960s - always dominates in terms of volume and variety. That makes this set of photos of C...
[Photos] Take a Ride on Da Lat's Lost Railway
In the early 20th century, although Da Lat was little more than a fledgling hill station, a Swiss-built railway connected the town to the coast. With Thap Cham as its final destination, this 84-kilome...
Plan to Rebuild 134-Year-Old Nam Dinh Cathedral Sparks Public Outcry
One of the oldest, most impressive cathedrals in Nam Dinh Province is about to be rebuilt due to disrepair.
[Photos] On the Cusp of a Tourism Boom, a Pristine Sapa of the 1920s
During the last decade of the 19th century, French colonists occupying northern Vietnam (then Tonkin) decided to conduct a census survey on the region’s ethnic minorities. The first convoys reached La...
[Photos] A Child Wedding of Tay Ethnic Minority in Lao Cai in 1920s
The rare set of photos depict a wedding ceremony in the 1920s between young members of the ethnic minority Tay people in Bac Ha District of Lao Cai Province.
[Photos] Vintage Tourism Posters Showcase Past Vietnam's Natural Landscapes
If you’ve never been to Vietnam before, would these colorful vintage poster entice you to book a ticket?
[Photos] Striking Black-and-White Images of Hue's Imperial City in 1896
Just two weeks ago, we published some monochrome photos of Hue taken earlier this year. Yet in this series, we can browse another black-and-white selection of images from the city, this time from ...
[Video] Rare Newsreels From 1930 Show Harsh Realities of Life in Colonial Saigon
In an extremely rare collection of disjointed clips, Saigon in 1930 appears like the setting of a haunting fever dream.
[Photos] The Small-Town Placidity of Hue in 1966
Neat perpendicular lines of trees that make up the Imperial Palace grounds, the meandering Perfume River hugging central Hue, clusters of red-roofed houses like tiny Lego pieces scattered across a bed...
