in Hanoi

The Rickety Last Days of Hanoi's Tramway System in the 1990s

Vietnam residents are rightfully celebrating recent advances in public transit.

in Vietnam

How the National Lottery Reflects Vietnam's Socio-Economic Realities Through Time

For nearly a century, lottery tickets and their strings of lucky numbers have occupied a special role in Vietnamese society: both as a lifeline for dreams of better fortune and as a mirror reflecting the socio-economic realities of the times.

in Vietnam

The Vintage Charm of 1995 Vietnam on Kodachrome Film Slides

While editing a retrospective of my recent work from Vietnam in the summer of 2019, I discovered 50 yellow boxes of Kodachrome slides in my basement that were shot in 1995. The images were from my first trip to Vietnam.

in Saigon

The Forgotten History Behind Saigon's CEE Colonial Substations

Woven into the fabric of modern-day streets, the aging electrical substations of Saigon stand as quiet witnesses to a historical era shaped by the complex legacy of French colonialism.

in Hanoi

Hanoi's Soviet-Style Khu Gia Binh and Life Amid Vietnam's Growing Pains

Hanoi is often known in Vietnam as the land of a millennium-old civilization, a living archive of past Vietnam life. Each tiny alley within the capital can evoke a strong sense of nostalgia in visitors, as those locations encapsulate both wartime memories and charming quotidien moments. There’s one special place in Hanoi that has contributed to the city’s languid pace of life amid the nation’s rapid developments — khu gia binh.

in Vietnam

A Flight Over Đà Lạt in 1968–1971 Before the Tourism Boom

If you’ve taken a trip to Lâm Đồng within the last few years, these scenes seem like a distant dream of a sparsely populated and verdant Đà Lạt that’s engulfed by nature.

in Saigon

The City That Never Sits Still: Traffic in 1994 Saigon via Photos by Ed Kashi

In Saigon on Wheels, American photojournalist Ed Kashi managed to capture the pulse of a simpler Saigon.

in Saigon

With Unchecked Destruction, Saigon's Heritage Shophouse Architecture Is in Danger

The colonial shophouse, one of Saigon’s most iconic forms of architecture, is in imminent danger of extinction.

Back Heritage

in Heritage

[Video] A Tour of Saigon in the 1900s

Saigon has always been a source of inspiration for shutterbugs and artists to craft some of their most captivating work. However, while it’s easy to come across photographs of the city's past, video c...

in Heritage

[Photos] 1960s Saigon: Fruit Vendors, Honda Cubs and Bò Bía Galore

It's as true today as it was in the 1960s: to experience Saigon life, head to the streets.

in Saigon

Street Cred: Nguyen Du, Father of Vietnamese Literature

Even if you’re in need of a refresher on Vietnamese history, chances are you know the name Nguyen Du. The 19th-century statesman and poet is often known as the father of Vietnamese literature, and his...

in Vietnam

[Photos] Serviceman’s Photos Offer a Glimpse of Sleepy 1967 Phan Thiet

As we’ve seen before, photos taken by American military personnel during the war often help to paint a picture of mid-1960s to early 1970s Vietnam. Such is the case with Bob Kelly’s album of 1967 Phan...

in Heritage

[Photos] Saigon Xua: A Touch of Hat Tuong in the Land of Cinemas

There’s no doubt that Vietnamese in the past were avid patrons of the arts.

in Asia

[Photos] From Fishing Village to Metropolis: Tracking the Evolution of Tokyo

The following images – dating from 12th century to the 1950s – show the evolution of Tokyo, which means Eastern Capital, from a provincial center to major city, particularly following Emperor Meiji’s ...

in Vietnam

Hanoi Considers Getting Rid of Wartime Loudspeakers

Hanoi residents might have to say goodbye to the city’s wartime loudspeakers, or loa phường.

in Asia

[Photos] A Glimpse Into 1950s Cambodia and Laos

Over the past month or so, we’ve come to love the stunning 1950s photography of Frenchman Raymond Cauchetier.

in Vietnam

[Photos] Take a Tour of Da Nang in 1954

A collection of pictures compiled on Flickr shows what life in Da Nang looked like way back in 1954.

in Heritage

[Photos] Saigon's Charm Through the Lens of an American Air Force Officer

Saigon has always been a muse for artists, musicians, poets and writers, inspiring some of their greatest works of art. However, the southern metropolis seems to be especially lively when seen through...

Khoi Pham

in Vietnam

Street Cred: Phan Boi Chau and Phan Chu Trinh, the Yin and Yang of Vietnam's Insurgency in the 1900s

In today’s Saigon, Ben Thanh Market’s eastern and western entrances are joined by Phan Chu Trinh and Phan Boi Chau Streets, respectively. While the two short, cozy roads never intersect, the fate of t...

in Vietnam

[Photos] 1950s Ha Long Bay in Black and White

It will come as a surprise to no one that Ha Long Bay was much quieter in the 1950s than it is today.

in Vietnam

[Photos] The Many Faces of 1950s Vietnam

In this collection of black-and-white snapshots, a famed French photographer finds beauty in tumultuous 1950s Vietnam.

in Asia

[Photos] A Guide to Traveling 1910 French Indochina

In the days before every backpacker wandered the streets of Saigon with a guidebook in hand, one turn-of-the-century French travel firm advertised Indochina as an adventure destination for European tr...

in Saigon

[Photos] How Saigoneers Enjoyed Christmas in the 60s and 70s

With Christmas just around the corner, Saigoneer takes a look at how past city dwellers enjoyed the holiday season.

in Vietnam

[Photos] Early 1980s Hanoi on the Brink of Doi Moi

The early 1980s were a complicated time for Vietnam. Still reeling from the end of a war within the country – not to mention border conflicts with Cambodia and China in the later 1970s – Vietnam was j...

in Vietnam

[Photos] On the 1990s Tourist Trail in Hanoi

Packed with traffic, skyscrapers and a growing number of four-wheeled vehicles, today's Hanoi is a world apart from its 1990s incarnation.

in Saigon

Notre Dame Cathedral to Undergo Major Roof Renovation

With the recent approval of the municipal government, Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral will begin a major roof renovation project as early as next year.

in Heritage

[Photos] Saigon's 1955 Cityscapes From Above

Even without photographic evidence, it’s a safe bet that 1955 Saigon was a world apart from the frantic energy of today’s mammoth metropolis.

Khoi Pham

in Vietnam

Street Cred: The Tragic Demise of Vietnam's Most Loyal Family

Through several eras of colonization and numerous wars against foreign powers, history has shaped Vietnamese culture in a huge way. In today’s Saigon, much of this rich history is retained in an ...