Vietnam’s swift pace of development might render a neighborhood unrecognizable in the span of just a few months. Thus, imagine how much change could occur in local metropolises over the duration of more than a century.
This collection of black-and-white shots of Vietnam is a rare find as it reveals the spartan look of Saigon and Hanoi in 1890. It’s probably safe to assume that the photographer was French, judging by the barely legible script under some of the images. French Indochina was officially established in 1887, so what you’re seeing in the snapshots here is Vietnam – which was three separate protectorates at the time: Annam, Tonkin and Cochinchina – just a few years after being part of the Indochinese Union.
Have a look at Vietnam in 1890 below:
[Photos via Flickr user manhhai]
