Linh Phạm in Hanoi
Street Cred: Pháo Đài Láng, Home of Ông Voi and Where the War Began
More often than not, a country’s independence is won with guns. The location where the first shots were fired for Vietnam is memorialized to this day.
Buôn Ma Thuột's Thriving Elephant Culture in 1957
In the not-too-distant past, elephants were an important part of highland lifestyles, including use in cultural activities, agriculture.
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.
129-Year-Old Nam Dinh Church Destroyed by Fire
On Saturday night, a 129-year-old church in Nam Dinh province caught fire, damaging one of Vietnam’s oldest religious structures.
[Photos] A Nostalgic Look at Da Lat Market Through Time
Built in 1929, Da Lat’s central market is not only a buzzing commercial center, but also an important historical landmark of the sleepy resort town.
Khoi Pham in Saigon
Street Cred: The Ill-Fated Power Couple of Vietnam's Literary Scene in the 1980s
It’s been almost three decades since that fateful day in 1988 when, in a blink of an eye, Vietnam’s literary scene was robbed off two most beloved talents. Luu Quang Vu and Xuan Quynh’s death was some...
Old Saigon Building of the Week: Hotel Majestic Saigon
The 92-year-old Hotel Majestic has seen many incarnations, most notably becoming the first Vietnamese managed five-star hotel in Saigon. But the rest of the building’s nine-decade existence has been j...
[Photos] Gia Long High School and 100 Years of Female Education
Before becoming the prestigious Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School of today, this District 1 institution used to be home to Gia Long, once Saigon’s most well-known school for girls.
[Photos] Take a Stroll Down the Streets of Saigon in 1970
The streets of today's Saigon were considerably different from what they were in 1970: fewer cars and motorbikes, and more live pythons.
[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Chợ Cũ
In today's Saigon, Chợ Cũ on Ton That Dam Street might appear like a derelict wet market, but in its heyday, the street used to be home to a bustling commercial area where merchants from all over...
[Video] A Rare Look Into Indochina From the French Perspective
It’s not particularly difficult to seek out a good collection of old Saigon photos, as the city has always been a muse for photographers from all walks of life. However, old video footage of the count...
Saigon Notre Dame Basilica Set to Receive $4.4m Makeover
Though there is not yet an official start date, Saigon's Notre Dame Basilica is set to undergo a major renovation in future.
[Photos] Vietnam’s Last Imperial Wedding
The wedding of Emperor Bao Dai, Vietnam’s final monarch, and Empress Nam Phuong was one for the ages.
[Photos] The Vibrant Past of Saigon's Quach Thi Trang Roundabout in the 1960s
From the city’s early days until recently, Saigon’s Quach Thi Trang roundabout has always been a muse for traveling photographers.
[Photos] Vintage Postcards Capture the Beauty of Vietnam Through the Eras - Part 1
From this eclectic set of postcards, one can learn a lot about Vietnam’s progress through the eras.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Street Cred: The Tumultuous Life of Dinh Tien Hoang
Dinh Bo Linh – also known as Dinh Hoan or Dinh Tien Hoang – was a sterling emperor who is one of the main figures in Vietnam’s long history of struggle against occupying Chinese forces. In today'...
[Photos] A Rare Glimpse of Life in Hanoi in 1959
It’s hard to imagine what life was like in a motorbike-free Hanoi.
The Great Hanoi Rat Massacre: The Capital's Brief Stint With the Plague
France left a diverse legacy in Indochina: colonial buildings, flushing toilets and even the bubonic plague.
[Photos] Before the Bitexco Financial Tower, There Was The Old Market
Most Saigoneers today know chợ cũ – the city’s beloved Old Market – as a bustling commercial area spanning a block’s worth of Ton That Dam Street. However, not many are aware that the trading hub used...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Street Cred: Ly Thai To, the Emperor Who Created Hanoi
Ly Thai To – founder of the Later Ly dynasty, Vietnam’s first stable empire – is one of Vietnam’s most important historical figures, so it’s no surprise that his name appears on one of Saigon’s most v...
[Photos] A Trip From Downtown to Rural Saigon in 1970
Have you ever wondered why, while there are plenty of photos of downtown Saigon in the past, one almost never come across snapshots of Go Vap, Thu Duc or even sections of District 5 other than Cho Lon...
After Failed Demolition Attempt, This 100-Year-Old Saigon Villa Is in Disrepair
Remember this beautiful century-old villa? It’s now largely a pile of rubble.
[Photos] 24 Photos of 1968-70 Saigon
How many iconic landmarks can you spot?
