Tim Doling in Saigon
How Bách Tùng Diệp Became a Saigon Park From Earmarked Consulate Land
In 1927, after being abandoned for more than 60 years by its Spanish owners, the “Jardin d’Espagne” — known today as Bách Tùng Diệp or Lý Tự Trọng Park — seemed set to become the new home of the British Consulate General in Saigon… but it was not to be.
Grab a Cold One: The Thirsty Colonial History of Ice Production in Vietnam
Walking through Saigon nowadays, you will notice that ice is so omnipresent, it’s part of the scenery. From trà đá, cà phê sữa đá to sinh tố, every drink is consumed with ice in order to combat the intense heat. Before the French brought ice factories to Vietnam, in hot, tropical cities like Saigon, you wouldn’t expect to find ice. Controlling the cold chain is now an important part of our logistics, be it for healthcare or food storage, opening the door for any cuisine to expand with new ingredients. A few centuries ago, however, it was once a thriving business catering to French colonists.
Khôi Phạm in Vietnam
What Does the ‘Tower of Hanoi’ Puzzle Have to Do With Vietnam?
What is the Tower of Hanoi? While this official name might sound mysterious, if you’re an avid consumer of adventure media and role-playing games or just simply a curious former child, it’s likely that you’ve seen or even played this game without knowing what it’s called.
From Kiều's Snowy Skin to K-Beauty's Glow: Delving Into Vietnam's Love for Fair Skin
The preference for light skin is widespread in Vietnam. It is discernible from the mere sight of Saigon’s streets during the day, when the majority of riders are covered up — in hoodies, jackets, jeans, pants, and masks — for protection against UV radiation, but also to prevent tanning under the blistering sun. Especially more so for women, light skin is often associated with beauty and social status, so protection against the sun has become more than a health concern.
Tim Doling in Saigon
The History of Saigon General Hospital, the Clinic Funded by a Doctor's Generosity
The Saigon Hospital at 125 Lê Lợi was originally built in the late 1930s as the Polyclinique Dejean de la Bâtie. The French named it after French doctor Théodose Déjean de la Bâtie, who devoted his life to treating members of the Vietnamese community.
Tim Doling in Saigon
From WWI Monument to Ancestor Temple: The Story of Saigon's Hùng King Temple
The Hùng King Temple at 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm was originally built in 1927–1929 under the name Temple du Souvenir Annamite (Annamite Temple of remembrance), primarily to honor the memory of Vietnamese soldiers who died while fighting in World War I.
Tim Doling in Saigon
A Brief History of the Saigon-Mỹ Tho Line, Indochina’s First Railway
Inaugurated on July 20, 1885, the Saigon–Mỹ Tho line was the first railway line in French Indochina.
Wilbur's Vietnam: 1960s Saigon Through the Lens of a Famed National Geographic Editor
The 1960s witnessed an unprecedented influx of foreigners into Saigon and Vietnam. From soldiers to teachers to just intrepid shutterbugs, the visits of these camera-clutching characters resulted in a wealth of old photos taken in the city from the early 60s all the way until 1975.
Street Cred: Trinh Cong Son, the Voice of a Generation
Earlier this week, Hanoi officials announced the conversion of the capital’s narrow Trinh Cong Son Street into a pedestrian zone featuring artistic performances as well as snacks and souvenirs.
[Photos] Saigon’s Colonial-Era Shipping Line Brought the World to Vietnam
During the French colonial era, the Messageries Maritimes shipping line, established in 1851, permitted thousands of men and women to traverse the seas in order to visit French colonies. It had an esp...
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...
