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.
Rare Black-and-White Album Depicts a Historic Flooding in 1952 Hanoi
The extreme weather patterns in recent years might make you worry that Vietnam’s drainage network is buckling under the pressure of rapid urbanization, but looking at these rare photos taken of a flood in Hanoi over half a century ago provides strange comfort that our soggy reality today might not be all that bizarre.
[Photos] Abandoned Nam Dinh Church Being Swallowed by the Sea
Nam Định Province is full of beautiful churches, but while many remain in good condition, the Heart Church, located on Xương Điền beach, has seen better times. With each passing day, the now aban...
30 Color Photos Of Peaceful 1956 Saigon
1956 was the calm before the storm of violent conflict that would characterize the next 2 decades and transform Saigon into a militarized city, plagued by bombings and overcrowded by war refugees.
Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 128 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai
In the early 20th century, the colonial villa at 128 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai (the former rue Chasseloup-Laubat) was home to one of Saigon’s best-known Corsican families, the Canavaggios.
26 Old Photos Of Hanoi’s Majestic Long Biên Bridge
Described by one writer as “a misshapen but essential component of Hà Nội’s heritage,” the Long Biên Bridge has seen better days. These 17 photos show the beloved Bridge during its golden years.
Icons Of Old Saigon: The Hotel de L’univers
Contrary to what many tourist websites would have us believe, the Grand Hôtel Continental was not Saigon’s first up-market hotel.
[Photos] The Streets of 1970 Saigon Captured by Jerry Bosworth
Saigon has come a long way from 1970 when it was truly feeling the effects of war. During this time, much of the government’s funds were going towards military equipment, leaving little for infrastruc...
[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Part 1
We’re back with a new series of “Then and Now” photos of Saigon featuring the Continental Hotel, the city’s former opium refinery and a few other iconic places you may recognize.
Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 39 Trần Quốc Thảo
One of District 3’s grandest old colonial mansions, the Quận ủy (District council) building at 39 Trần Quốc Thảo (the former rue Eyriaud-des-Vergnes) was once the plush managerial residence of the Lyo...
[Photos] The People of 1880 Indochina
When French photographers Hippolyte Arnoux and Emile Gssel (who would eventually become the first commercial photographer in Saigon) traveled to Indochina in 1880, they visually documented not only it...
Hue Citadel’s 'Colosseum': Where Tigers and Elephants Battled to the Death
A unique, yet rarely visited monument in Huế’s ancient citadel is Hổ Quyền Arena, a stadium where tigers and elephants once fought till their last breath for the royal family’s entertainment.
38 Beautiful Illustrations Of Hanoi Street Vendors And Their Melodic Cries
These days, the melodic cries of Hanoi’s street vendors are drowned out by the city’s constant buzz of activity. But 85 years ago, these songs, which announced a seller’s goods or services, made up th...
[Video] A Walk Through The Streets Of 1975 Saigon
Earlier this week, we posted a video of 1975 Saigon filmed from a low-flying helicopter. This piece, made in the same year, takes you from the city’s skies to its streets.
[Photos] This Is What Vietnam Looked Like In 1880
By 1880, when photographers Hippolyte Arnoux and Emile Gsell traveled across Vietnam, the French had just begun to solidify control over their new colony.
[Video] Take A Helicopter Ride Through 1975 Saigon
In 1975, an American news crew boarded what was presumably a military chopper as part of their report on Saigon.
Old Saigon Building of the Week: St. Paul’s Convent
Occupying a large, leafy compound on Tôn Đức Thắng street in District 1, the Convent of Saint-Paul de Chartres is another rarely-visited haven of peace in busy Hồ Chí Minh City.
[Photos] Inside A 1960s Saigon TV Station
In the mid-1960s, Saigon was one of the most modern cities in Asia and part of this technological prowess was manifested in its telecommunications and TV equipment.
17 Old Photos Of Women In Saigon
Happy Vietnamese Women's Day! Chúc các bạn nữ một ngày 20/10 thật vui!
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
A Look at Vietnamese Currency Through History
Like Vietnamese history, the country's currency has undergone significant changes over the past century.
These 17 Old Photos Show Life in Vietnam 100 Years Ago With Vivid Color
The last century has been one of immense change for Vietnam. It has been one full of occupation, liberation, war and peace. This set of vivid color photos taken between 1914 and 1917 by Leon Busy is t...
Tạ Dương Minh – Thủ Đức’s Founding Father
Built in 1879-1880 by the French, the historic Thủ Đức Market has in recent years become an increasingly popular destination for Hồ Chí Minh City residents wishing to stock up with the delicious local...
