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.
From North to South, a French Photographer's Glimpses of 1992 Vietnam
How much of Vietnam have you explored? For many of us with a busy life and working schedule, one or two trips a year might be as much as our time and money can afford, and even so, at times, visiting a location only involves staying at an all-inclusive resort to recuperate from work stress.
From Quảng Nam to Gwangju: Confronting the Bloody History of South Korea's 'Vietnam'
In her novel Human Acts, the renowned South Korean author and Nobel Prize recipient Han Kang writes about the May 18 Democratization Movement, also known as the Gwangju Uprising. That month, student-led demonstrations broke out in the city of Gwangju following army general Chun Doo-hwan’s coup d'état, and his military government responded with a violent crackdown and an indiscriminate massacre of civilians.
How Did Vietnam Start Celebrating International Women's Day on March 8?
In the hyper-commercialized world we now live in, it might be impossible to associate anything but overpriced flower bouquets and corporate sponsorships with International Women’s Day (IWD), but the widely celebrated occasion actually has a rich history of over 100 years of the women’s rights movement.
Life on the Streets of 1978 Hanoi in Black and White
In August 1978, I visited Hanoi as part of an educational tour organized by a professor from La Trobe University in Melbourne. I was a high school history teacher at the time and an avid photographer. I walked the streets of Hanoi and took many photographs of everyday life in the city, and until now, these photographs have remained unpublished.
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?
Tim Doling in Saigon
Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Me Linh Square
The square known today as Quảng Trường Mê Linh has been home to five different monuments since its inception in the 1860s.
[Photos] The Glory of Hue in the Early 20th Century
Dated from 1928 to 1936, these rare black-and-white photos offer a glimpse into the opulence of Hue when it was still the capital of Vietnam and the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Vietnam
Street Cred: The Brothers From Tay Son
Flip through the history books and you’ll find a recurring character trait in many national heroes. From the Trung sisters to Ngo Quyen to Vo Thi Sau, Vietnamese history is full of badasses. While sev...
[Photos] 25 Rare Photos of Cho Lon in 1925
It’s fascinating to see how the Cho Lon area has been developing over the years from a mere trading hub in 1925 to an important center of Chinese heritage in today’s Saigon.
Emperor Bao Dai’s Rolex Just Became the World's Most Expensive Watch
Emperor Bao Dai’s Rolex made history this weekend as the most expensive watch ever sold at auction.
[Photos] A Black-and-White Look at Hoi An from 1930 -1950
It appears that flooding in Hoi An is a common phenomenon that dates back to at least the 1930s.
[Photos] 1969 Saigon: Snazzy Hairdos, Ao Dais and Vintage Cars Galore
In this collection of old photos, a brisk walk down Dong Khoi Street – known as Tu Do Street in 1969 – meant clean, empty sidewalks and stylish shopfronts, instead of a tourist circus like it is today...
[Photos] Tan Xa Palace: The Oldest Building in Saigon
The oldest building in Saigon is now over two centuries old.
[Photos] The Beauty of Vietnam's Landscapes in the Late 1940s
Through the eras, Vietnam has seen many drastic changes. Therefore, it’s always fascinating to come across photo archives from decades ago, when the majority of the country’s provinces were still larg...
[Video] Trading Places: The Story of 42 Nguyen Hue
With 42 Nguyen Hue facing an uncertain future, RICE and Saigoneer set out to share the stories of residents of one of Saigon's most popular "cafe-apartment" buildings.
[Photos] The Children of 1967 Vietnam
Some of these kids could be our moms and dads.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Vietnam
Street Cred: Duy Tan, The 8-Year-Old Emperor
When the French first enthroned Duy Tan, the youngest emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, their expectation was that a boy, at the ripe age of eight, would not take much interest in imperial rule.
[Photos] Life in 1973 Saigon - Part 2
Life in Saigon in the early 1970s wasn’t easy, but that didn’t stop the city’s residents from adopting a positive outlook and happy-go-lucky approach to living.
[Photos] Life in 1973 Saigon - Part 1
You will never be as cool as the ladies of Saigon in 1973.
[Photos] The Serene, Laid-Back Vibe of Hanoi in the Mid-1990s
Hanoi in the mid-1990s was a city of rich traditions and a laid-back lifestyle.
A 100-Year-Old French Villa Was Recently Bulldozed in Hue
You might want to sit down for this: a 100-year-old building in Hue has been bulldozed due to poor maintenance.
[Photos] The Sleepy, Small Town Vibes of Central Vietnam in the Early 1960s
Before it became the modern metropolis it is today, Da Nang used to be a sleepy fishing village.
[Photos] 1972 Saigon, a City of Style
Based on this collection of black-and-white snapshots, there’s no doubt that Saigon was – and still is – a city of style.
