The Rickety Last Days of Hanoi's Tramway System in the 1990s
Vietnam residents are rightfully celebrating recent advances in public transit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brian Letwin in Heritage
[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Part 4
We’re back with another set of our “Then and Now” photos which contrast old images of Saigon with their present day counterparts. For a much larger collection, head over to the Saïgon-Chợ Lớn The...
Take A Walk Through Saigon’s 150-Year-Old Sewers
Before Saigon begins to demolish the 150-year-old French-built sewers that lie under the streets of District 1, it looks like the city is allowing select camera crews into the leaky, cockroach-infeste...
A Second Chance For Tân An Communal House
With so many old buildings being destroyed in the name of development, it's encouraging to learn that one of the city's oldest communal houses, the Đình Tân An at 26 Bis Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm in Đa Kao, h...
[Photos] How Saigonese Flew In 1965
These photos taken by American photographer, Bill Eppridge, in 1965 capture a day in the life at Tan Son Nhat Airport’s civilian terminal. The original airport, little more than a landing strip, was b...
The 'Leaning Cathedral' Of Saigon
Soon after its completion, Saigon’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral developed an embarrassing tilt.
Old Saigon Building of the Week: 136 Ly Tu Trong
Owned during the colonial era by the Roman Catholic Church, the two-storey French villa at 136 Lý Tự Trọng in District 1 is one of just a handful of surviving French villas on that busy street.
[Photos] This Is What Saigon Looked Like 150 Years Ago
These rare photographs are the work of Émile Gsell, the first commercial photographer based in Saigon.
A Train Ride From Saigon To Nha Trang (1952)
During his short time in Vietnam, Swiss photojournalist, Werner Bischof, captured rarely seen slices of life on a train from Saigon to Nha Trang in 1952.
Ancient Tombs of Saigon: Phan Tan Huynh Tomb
Hidden away at the end of an alley in Phu Nhuan is the forgotten tomb of Marshal Le Van Duyet’s deputy, Phan Tan Huynh.
Ancient Tombs of Saigon: The Lâm Tam Lang Tomb
Described by one local expert as “a rare surviving vestige of its era,” the tomb of Lâm Tam Lang and his wife in Tao Đàn Park is one of the city’s abiding mysteries.
15 Nostalgic Photos of Life in 1990s Saigon
When she arrived in Saigon in 1990, Catherine Karnow was introduced to local legends such as General Vo Nguyen Giap by her father, historian Stanley Karnow. Over the past 25 years, she has continued t...
In Search Of Saigon’s US Vestiges: Part 2
As the international media descends on the city for the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, travel companies report a growing demand from returning American veterans for tours which point out the ...
In Search Of Saigon’s US Vestiges – Part 1
As the international media descends on the city for the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, travel companies report a growing demand from returning American veterans for tours which point out the ...
[Photos] This Is What Life in Vietnam Looked Like 100 Years Ago
When photographer, Charles Peyrin, visited Vietnam in the 1920’s, he snapped dozens of candid shots that offer a rare glimpse into the daily life of locals and French colonists.
What Does The Future Hold For Petrus Ky’s Mausoleum And Memorial House?
Not yet recognised as a heritage site, the Mausoleum and Memorial House of Pétrus Ký, one of Việt Nam’s greatest intellects, has fallen into a state of disrepair.
[Video] Public Transportation In Old(er) Hanoi
While the last streetcar disappeared from Saigon’s streets in 1959, Hanoi held on to theirs until 1989. By the time service ended, the city’s light rail system was completely dilapidated aft...
Date With The Wrecking Ball: 606 Trần Hưng Đạo
The grand old villa at 606 Trần Hưng Đạo, one of Chợ Quán’s few remaining heritage buildings, is currently threatened with redevelopment.
[Video] Inside A 1972 Saigon Áo Dài Beauty Pageant
This short video was filmed at an áo dài beauty contest that took place in Saigon on November 27, 1972 to raise funds for the Vì Dân Hospital project.
16 Rare Photos That Show Life In Saigon After Japanese Surrender (1945)
These rare photos, taken by John Florea in October 1945, show what life was like in Saigon as Japanese forces laid down their arms following four years of occupation.
Date With The Wrecking Ball: Ba Son Shipyard
According to a recent article in Thanh Niên newspaper, the Ba Son Shipyard – Saigon’s oldest and most important maritime heritage site, recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1993 as...
