Street Cred: Dauntless Antiwar Icon Nguyễn Thái Bình and His Tragic Death
If one were to see the streets of Vietnam as a tangled network of people whose names they took, every city would resemble a messy collection of historical fragments.
Linh Phạm in Hanoi
Street Cred: Pháo Đài Láng, Home of Ông Voi and Where the War Began
More often than not, a country’s independence is won with guns. The location where the first shots were fired for Vietnam is memorialized to this day.
Buôn Ma Thuột's Thriving Elephant Culture in 1957
In the not-too-distant past, elephants were an important part of highland lifestyles, including use in cultural activities, agriculture.
A Collection of Scenes in 1964 Saigon, Bến Tre, Biên Hòa on Film
In 1964, Saigon’s Phù Đổng Roundabout didn’t feature the towering bronze statue of folk hero Thánh Gióng. Instead of the congestion hot spot the intersection is known as today, it was actually spacious and airy, with nary a shop or bubble tea parlor in sight.
Vauban Architecture: The Foundation of Central and Northern Vietnam's Citadels
In our previous article on Vietnam’s southern citadels , we covered a mix of ancient structures and those constructe...
Unearthed: Tracing the Past Citadels of Southern Vietnam
Although the forces of modernization encourage constant progress and leaving behind the pre-modern past, the trails of yesterday never fail to leave our presence.
10 Rare Illustrations Offer Glimpses Into Life in Tonkin in 1923
What’s your typical Sunday routine? If your answer includes grabbing some noodles on the street, getting your earwax removed and mustache shaved, and maybe smoking some opium to take the edge off, congratulations, you might be living in 1923 Tonkin.
Tim Doling in Vietnam
Revisit 1990s Saigon in 'L’Amant,' the Film Adaptation of Marguerite Duras' Famous Novel
When filming the movie adaptation of Marguerite Duras’ 1984 autobiographical novel The Lover, French director Jean-Jacques Annaud made extensive use of Saigon locations. Here’s a run-down of the local landmarks to watch out for when you view the movie.
[Photos] Views of a Saigon in Transit in 1945 by John Florea
1945 was yet another time of drastic change in Saigon overseen by foreign powers.
[Photos] On the Road in 1965 Quy Nhơn
Imagine Quy Nhon before the arrival of tourism.
The Hustle and Bustle of Hanoi Streets in the 1950s
Chaotic streets and bustling markets, Hanoi in the 1950s was not much different than it is now.
[Photos] Glimpses of Saigon, Dong Ha and Hue in 1967
Time for a trip to 1967 Vietnam.
[Photos] Landmarks of 1966-1967 Saigon in Black and White
Sometimes the backstory behind a photograph is key, while other times simply observing an image is better.
[Photos] A Shopping Trip in Ben Thanh Market in 1938
Dried fish? Pomelo? A chicken? Heels? Plates? Perhaps a fizzy soft drink or simple meal on the street? What is on your shopping list when you go to Ben Thanh Market?
An Early View of a Barely Developed Saigon in the 1860s
Dropping a modern Saigoneer into the 1860s version of the city would be a wildly disorienting experience.
D3 Heritage Mansion to Reopen as Dining Destination in 2022
One of Saigon's great remaining heritage buildings is nearing its public debut.
The Neo-Baroque Opulence of the Norodom Palace in the 1920s
Few people remember seeing with their own eyes the facade of the building at the site of the former Independence Palace, let alone its interior.
[Photos] 15 Film Photos of Saigon in 1971 by Vincent Yip
Even within a year, the facade and personality of Saigon can undergo significant change. Favorite haunts move, new buildings materialize, and once-recognizable corners take on completely novel identit...
Nguyen-Era Mandarin Cap Purchased at Auction in Spain for EUR600,000
You could buy approximately 35,000 modern baseball caps for the same price.
Hue to Spend $20m to Restore 5 Historical Sites From Nguyen Dynasty
Five sites in the ancient capital will be restored at a total cost of over VND460 billion (nearly US$20.2 million) over the next five years.
What Happened to the Saigon Tax Center's Moroccan Mosaic Staircase?
Exactly five years ago this week, construction workers began tearing apart the Saigon Tax Center building to make way for a new development project.
[Photos] A Day Trip to 1968 Vung Tau
Time for a trip to the coast.
[Photos] On the Road in 1971 Vietnam, From Saigon to Da Nang
This week's collection of old film photos comes from an American service member named Terry Nelson, who covered quite a bit of ground in Vietnam in 1971 and 1972. These shots include colorful depictio...
Govi Snell in Vietnam
Nguyễn Thị Định, the Major General Leading Bến Tre's 'Long-Haired Army'
Hidden down an alley in Saigon’s District 3 is the house that was given by the government to Vietnam’s first woman general, Nguyễn Thị Định, after the country’s reunification in 1975.
[Photos] Downtown Saigon in 1972: Same Same, but Different
What if all the core images, sounds and smells you know of a place were intact, but altered, tweaked or reworked the way songs can be? In some ways, this is what it feels like to gaze at photographs o...
[Photos] A Visual History of Saigon's Rainy Season Through the Eras
Oh, rain.
[Photos] Memories of Hue, Quang Tri in 1967 Through the Lens of Edward Palm
Empty streets, lines for food, shuttered shops: the last few weeks have certainly provided some strange scenes for Saigon residents.
[Photos] Napping in Saigon Through the Decades
Can you hear the snores?
