How Did Vietnam Start Celebrating International Women's Day on March 8?
In the hyper-commercialized world we now live in, it might be impossible to associate anything but overpriced flower bouquets and corporate sponsorships with International Women’s Day (IWD), but the widely celebrated occasion actually has a rich history of over 100 years of the women’s rights movement.
Life on the Streets of 1978 Hanoi in Black and White
In August 1978, I visited Hanoi as part of an educational tour organized by a professor from La Trobe University in Melbourne. I was a high school history teacher at the time and an avid photographer. I walked the streets of Hanoi and took many photographs of everyday life in the city, and until now, these photographs have remained unpublished.
A Rare Album by Photographer Bruno Barbey Brings Us Back to Tết in 1994 Hanoi
What do you remember most about the 1990s? Do you remember the fashion, the old-timey technology, or the lack of traffic? And if you were just a wee child, do these memories stay with you?
Khôi Phạm in Vietnam
The First Asian in Space Was Vietnamese. He’s Still Alive Today.
Most Vietnamese schoolkids grew up learning about Phạm Tuân as the first Vietnamese in space, but few know that he was also the first Asian person to clinch the honor.
The Year of the Horse Gallops into The Grand Ho Tram
Inspired by the spirit of the horse, The Grand Ho Tram encourages you to have a year of success, confidence, and new horizons. Traditional Tết performances and activities alongside special feasts and opportunities for revelry will usher in a year of remarkable achievements and memorable moments.
My Great-Great-Grandfathers Were in Indochina in the 1880s to Build the Railway
We often see archival images of old Hanoi, but these photos are different — they are personal. The following shots, which come from a collection of five photo albums, are the only surviving record of my two great-great-grandfathers’ presence in what was then Indochina.
Paul Christiansen in Vietnam
An Indie Archival Project Dreams of Time Travel. How? Lots and Lots of Vietnam Maps.
Its entrances flanked by ATMs and adverts for international airlines, the Sun Wah Tower on Nguyễn Huệ today appears to be another nondescript testament to the global economy and Vietnam’s enthusiastic place within it. However, on those same grounds only 150 years ago, a guillotine was set up to decapitate people on order of the colonial authorities at the Justice de paix.
Marc Dinh in Vietnam
A Brake Failure and 200 Victims: Remembering Vietnam's Deadliest Rail Accident
About 55 kilometers from Saigon, in the small commune of Tây Hoà rests the 17/03/1982 Railway Cemetery. It currently houses 85 unidentified graves of victims of the Train 183 Disaster, the deadliest railway accident in Vietnamese history.
[Video] A Rare Look Into Indochina From the French Perspective
It’s not particularly difficult to seek out a good collection of old Saigon photos, as the city has always been a muse for photographers from all walks of life. However, old video footage of the count...
Saigon Notre Dame Basilica Set to Receive $4.4m Makeover
Though there is not yet an official start date, Saigon's Notre Dame Basilica is set to undergo a major renovation in future.
[Photos] Vietnam’s Last Imperial Wedding
The wedding of Emperor Bao Dai, Vietnam’s final monarch, and Empress Nam Phuong was one for the ages.
[Photos] The Vibrant Past of Saigon's Quach Thi Trang Roundabout in the 1960s
From the city’s early days until recently, Saigon’s Quach Thi Trang roundabout has always been a muse for traveling photographers.
[Photos] Vintage Postcards Capture the Beauty of Vietnam Through the Eras - Part 1
From this eclectic set of postcards, one can learn a lot about Vietnam’s progress through the eras.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Street Cred: The Tumultuous Life of Dinh Tien Hoang
Dinh Bo Linh – also known as Dinh Hoan or Dinh Tien Hoang – was a sterling emperor who is one of the main figures in Vietnam’s long history of struggle against occupying Chinese forces. In today'...
[Photos] A Rare Glimpse of Life in Hanoi in 1959
It’s hard to imagine what life was like in a motorbike-free Hanoi.
The Great Hanoi Rat Massacre: The Capital's Brief Stint With the Plague
France left a diverse legacy in Indochina: colonial buildings, flushing toilets and even the bubonic plague.
[Photos] Before the Bitexco Financial Tower, There Was The Old Market
Most Saigoneers today know chợ cũ – the city’s beloved Old Market – as a bustling commercial area spanning a block’s worth of Ton That Dam Street. However, not many are aware that the trading hub used...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Street Cred: Ly Thai To, the Emperor Who Created Hanoi
Ly Thai To – founder of the Later Ly dynasty, Vietnam’s first stable empire – is one of Vietnam’s most important historical figures, so it’s no surprise that his name appears on one of Saigon’s most v...
[Photos] A Trip From Downtown to Rural Saigon in 1970
Have you ever wondered why, while there are plenty of photos of downtown Saigon in the past, one almost never come across snapshots of Go Vap, Thu Duc or even sections of District 5 other than Cho Lon...
After Failed Demolition Attempt, This 100-Year-Old Saigon Villa Is in Disrepair
Remember this beautiful century-old villa? It’s now largely a pile of rubble.
[Photos] 24 Photos of 1968-70 Saigon
How many iconic landmarks can you spot?
Tim Doling in Saigon
Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Me Linh Square
The square known today as Quảng Trường Mê Linh has been home to five different monuments since its inception in the 1860s.
[Photos] The Glory of Hue in the Early 20th Century
Dated from 1928 to 1936, these rare black-and-white photos offer a glimpse into the opulence of Hue when it was still the capital of Vietnam and the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Vietnam
Street Cred: The Brothers From Tay Son
Flip through the history books and you’ll find a recurring character trait in many national heroes. From the Trung sisters to Ngo Quyen to Vo Thi Sau, Vietnamese history is full of badasses. While sev...
[Photos] 25 Rare Photos of Cho Lon in 1925
It’s fascinating to see how the Cho Lon area has been developing over the years from a mere trading hub in 1925 to an important center of Chinese heritage in today’s Saigon.
Emperor Bao Dai’s Rolex Just Became the World's Most Expensive Watch
Emperor Bao Dai’s Rolex made history this weekend as the most expensive watch ever sold at auction.
[Photos] A Black-and-White Look at Hoi An from 1930 -1950
It appears that flooding in Hoi An is a common phenomenon that dates back to at least the 1930s.
[Photos] 1969 Saigon: Snazzy Hairdos, Ao Dais and Vintage Cars Galore
In this collection of old photos, a brisk walk down Dong Khoi Street – known as Tu Do Street in 1969 – meant clean, empty sidewalks and stylish shopfronts, instead of a tourist circus like it is today...
