Motorbikes and buffalo carts, marching bands and xích lô.

It's a cliche at this point to remark on the rapidity of change in modern Saigon, but the introduction of new products, styles, trends and technologies isn't new. Rather, the city has been undergoing drastic alterations for decades. These photos taken in 1966 chronicle such transitions, exemplified by the variety of vehicles, clothing and even shopping experiences from different eras all occupying the same frame.

Tran Hung Dao-De Tham intersection.

Sergeant Peter "Rupy" Ruplenas was an official army photographer, and the American set his camera on a wide variety of subjects, including rural and urban daily life and the military presence. At the time, Saigon was home to wet markets and sleek pharmacies, the latest cars and rickety wooden homes perched precariously over waterways. They serve as a good reminder that the juxtaposition of modern and traditional we witness every day has long been a staple of the city.

Have a look at the photos below.

A market on Ton That Thiep Street.

Le Loi-Dong Khoi intersection.

Smiling for the camera.

A hamlet near Truong Minh Giang Bridge (now Le Van Sy).

Doing laundry at a public water pumping station.

Various items for sale.

Dai Loi building on Thoai Ngoc Hau Street in the distance next to the Dai Loi Theater.

Inside a pharmacy.

Funeral procession.

Attire for mourning.

Funeral band.

Working on a boat.

On the road out of town.

Kids doing kid stuff.

Rice fields on the outskirts of town.

Da Rang Bridge.

Countryside seen via a plane.

Members of an ethnic minority group gathered for a military ceremony in the Central Highlands.

[Photos via Flickr user Manhhai]