in Saigon

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.

in Vietnam

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. 

in Vietnam

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. 

in Vietnam

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.

in Hanoi

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streets of Hanoi and took many photographs of everyday life in the city, and until now, these photographs have remained unpublished.

in Hanoi

A Rare Album by Photographer Bruno Barbey Brings Us Back to Tết in 1994 Hanoi

What do you remember most about the 1990s? Do you remember the fashion, the old-timey technology, or the lack of traffic? And if you were just a wee child, do these memories stay with you?

Khôi Phạm

in Vietnam

The First Asian in Space Was Vietnamese. He’s Still Alive Today.

Most Vietnamese schoolkids grew up learning about Phạm Tuân as the first Vietnamese in space, but few know that he was also the first Asian person to clinch the honor.

Back Heritage

in Asia

Japanese Emperor, Empress to Meet With Vietnamese Families of WWII Japanese Soldiers

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Vietnam this week, meeting with the Vietnamese wives and children of Japanese soldiers stationed in the country during World War II.

in Heritage

The End of Ton That Dam's Chợ Cũ

As Saigon quickly transforms into a modern metropolis, some of the city’s beloved old relics are fading away with the pressures of development.

in Heritage

The Ongoing Evolution of Quach Thi Trang Square

Over the weekend, Saigon’s iconic Quach Thi Trang Square disappeared behind a wall of blue fencing in preparation for further metro construction.

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.

Dana Filek-Gibson

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.