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.
A Palatial Path to Wellness at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai
Wellness is a word deeply entrenched in the hospitality industry with many resorts using it as a core element of their branding and services. But some resorts take it a step further. When implemented most effectively, wellness results in the feelings enjoyed at a resort transcending the stay and influencing one’s life long after leaving. The entire guest experience at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai revolves around this goal as supported by several activities and services.
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.
Back in Time to the 1990s, When Vintage Renault Goélette Roamed Vietnam
A sturdy, stately vehicle roamed Vietnam's city streets and rural roads not too long ago.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
10 Old Pictures (and History) of the Saigon Opera House
The Saigon Opera House (aka the Municipal Theatre) is one of Saigon’s oldest buildings and one of the city’s best examples of classical French architecture. Constructed at the turn of the 20th century...
This is What Saigon Looked Like in 1881
When this picture was drawn in 1881 by a ship captain known as Favre, the French were 22 years into their occupation of Saigon. In this short time, the city took on a decidedly colonial feel both in t...
10 Old Pictures of Advertisements in Saigon
Before 1975, large advertisements were commonplace in Saigon. But after the American War and the fall of capitalism in the South, ads were considered a vestige of the old order and were heavily regula...
9 Old Pictures of Saigon Street Vendors
The buildings and streets of Saigon can change in the blink of an eye. Gone are the streetcars, French street names and ox-drawn carts. As the economy continues to develop, the old Saigon is being rep...
Fun with Old Saigon Maps (1790)
Even before the French formally occupied Saigon in 1859, they were active players in Vietnamese politics as early as the 17th century. Their influence can be seen in this 1790 map in the form of the m...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Looking Up (1966)
This striking image was taken from above Saigon's streets in 1966. It's images like this that make one wonder where their subjects are today.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Umbrella for a Sunny Day (1966)
Just a beautiful picture captured on Saigon's streets in 1966.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Colorful Old Map of Saigon
Though we can't pinpoint the exact date for this map, we're sure it's from before 1954. This was the year when the French ceded control of Saigon and south Vietnam in accordance with the Geneva Accord...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Video: Saigon in 1945
1945 was a tumultuous year for Vietnam. After the Japanese were defeated by the Allies in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence from France, unaware that Allied leaders had agreed at the ...
The Story of Saigon's Floating Hotel
There was a time, not too long ago, when Saigon wasn’t full of tourists and backpackers. In the late 1980s, Vietnam had just opened its doors to the west and was rushing to renovate its decrepit colon...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Cho Lon Opium Den
Have you ever been stuck in Saigon traffic and wished that you were on comfy couch in Cho Lon, chilling with some Chinese guys 'chasing the dragon' instead? Yeah, probably not (but for those who answe...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: How to Arrive at Your Wedding in Style
The tradition of covering your wedding car with flowers and regalia is not new in Vietnam. Today, most couples who can afford it, opt for a middle-of-the-line Toyota or Kia while those with deep pock...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Before Bridges and Tunnels
Think it's inconvenient having a car in present-day Saigon? As many of the French living in Saigon during the first half of the last century were fairly well off, they often brought with them the com...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Cho Lon Streetcars
From Cho Lon to Ben Thanh Market, streetcars were once a common sight on Saigon's main thoroughfares. While their tracks have long disappeared, their memory lives on in old photographs like the one a...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
10 Old Pictures of Saigon Cyclo Drivers
Even though Saigon has gone through many changes over the last century, there are certain characteristics of the city that have endured. Before the age of the motorbike, cyclos were one of the most c...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Water Delivery!
In the days before indoor plumbing and bottled water were the norm, like most of the world, Saigonese relied on wells to provide water (and in many areas still do). During the early 20th century, wat...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Colonial Corner
Just as it is today, Dong Khoi St. (formerly Rue Cantinat under the French and Tu Do from 1954 - 1975) has long been of Saigon's busiest and most important boulevards. Due to it's history, the street...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: City of Bikes
A slower mode of transportation for a slower time.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Chợ Bà Chiểu - Past & Present
Chợ Bà Chiểu, located on Bach Dang St., has been the central market for Binh Thanh District since 1942. While it's been upgraded and expanded numerous times, most recently in 1987, you can still...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
How Vietnam Got its Name
Le Minh Khai, a researcher of SE Asian history, found that there was a lot of misinformation on the interwebs relating to the origin of Vietnam’s name, especially in English sources. Khai jumped into ...
