Back Heritage » Saigon » [Photos] Wilbur's Vietnam: 1960s Saigon Through the Lens of a Famed National Geographic Editor

The 1960s witnessed an unprecedented influx of foreigners into Saigon and Vietnam. From soldiers to teachers to just intrepid shutterbugs, the visits of these camera-clutching characters resulted in a wealth of old photos taken in the city from the early 60s all the way until 1975.

At Saigoneer, we’ve featured dozens of such photo collections over time – captured during numerous occasions of the year and spanning just as many geographical landmarks – but the images below by notable National Geographic photographer Wilbur E. Garrett still remain our all-time favorite.

Garrett was one of the magazine’s most prominent picture editors, whose career-defining works cover historic moments such as the Korean War, Vietnam War and the cover photo depicting the famous and haunting “Afghan girl” by Steve McCurry. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2016 at age 85.

As an avid photographer and picture editor, Garrett’s involvement with Vietnam was prolific: he started making yearly trips to the country from 1960 to 1968. His time in the Southeast Asian country spawned an expansive archive of magazine-quality photos that might not look out of place in any editorial spread nowadays.

In this article, Saigoneer will feature some of the best shots of Garrett in Saigon from trips in 1961 and 1965. Feast your eyes on the famed photographer’s Saigon photos, courtesy of Flickr user manhhai, below:

Al fresco tables outside of the L'Imperial cafe (now Vietnam House restaurant) at the corner of Tu Do-Nguyen Van Thinh (now Dong Khoi-Mac Thi Buoi), 1961.

Looking from District 2 towards the Bach Dang Wharf and District 4, 1961.

A young couple dashing down a suburban street in 1961.

A temple in Cho Lon (left) and famous cải lương performer Thanh Nga in a play (right), 1961.

The Bach Dang Wharf in 1961.

A lady in a yellow áo dài, 1961.

Morning on Ton Duc Thang Street, 1961.

A lion dance performance in Cho Lon (left) and a lady riding a Velo Solex on Ton Duc Thang Street, 1961.

Two xích lô drivers taking a nap, 1961.

A freshly constructed Thu Duc Intersection, 1961.

Praying at Lang Ong Ba Chieu in Binh Thanh District, 1961.

Nón lá smile, 1961.

bánh mì stall in chợ cũ on Ton That Dam Street, 1965.

The crowds in a temple in Cho Lon during Tet, 1965.

A view of downtown Saigon from District 4, 1965.

A security post where the police pat down two bikers, 1965.

A porter in Cho Lon (left) and a roast chicken store in chợ cũ (right), 1965.

The Le Loi-Pasteur intersection, 1965.

A group of students practicing judo at the Quang Trung Judo Center on Pham Dang Hung Street (now Mai Thi Luu), 1965.

Rows of students praying at the Quang Trung Judo Center, 1965.

A suburban neighborhood (left); a vendor using his mouth to water branches of apricot blossoms during Tet (right), 1965.

Rows of bikes and bicycles in a parking lot on Nguyen Hue Boulevard, 1965.

The Tau Hu Canal, which links District 1, 5, 8 and 6.

[Photos by Wilbur E. Garrett via Flickr user manhhai]


Related Articles:

[Photos] An Egret's Eye View of Saigon in 1969

[Photos] 1969 Saigon: Snazzy Hairdos, Ao Dais and Vintage Cars Galore

[Photos] A Montage of Saigon's Street Life from 1964-1968


Related Articles

in Saigon

10 Old Photos Of Carriages In Saigon

Before motorized transportation was the norm in Saigon, horse-drawn carts were used to move both goods and people.

in Saigon

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...

in Saigon

10 Old Pictures of Art Deco Buildings in Saigon

Art deco is by far our favorite architectural style, one which luckily, Saigon has in spades. However, with each passing day, these buildings are being torn down to make way for modern structures whic...

in Saigon

10 Old Pictures of Cars in Saigon

Though cars have been present in the country since the turn of the 20th century, decades of war (1941 – 1975) and an economic stagnation (1975 – 1986) drastically reduced the number of automobiles in ...

in Saigon

10 Old Pictures of People in Saigon

We often look to old buildings in order reconnect with the past since they are clear and static reference points. Though useful, another important window into the past is the day-to-day lives of peopl...

in Saigon

10 Old Pictures of Workers in Saigon

As Vietnam's economy has become increasingly intertwined with the global free market over the past decade, some elements of Saigon's pre-war, western-oriented economy have reappeared - Factories aroun...

Partner Content