Sác-Lô in Hanoi: How a Pre-Industrial Vietnam Captivated Charlie Chaplin in 1936
About 90 years ago, Modern Times was released. Its title carried a warning. The film railed against the new industrial age and the misery it inflicted on workers amid the Great Depression. Yet a film about the dangers of modernity was being told through an almost-silent medium, nearly a decade into the era of sound. Charlie Chaplin, who wrote, directed, produced, and scored the film, in addition to starring in it, was deliberately resisting Hollywood's shift into the future.
The Story of Cà Mên, Vietnam’s Living Fossil From the Wartime and Subsidy Eras
During lunchtime at work, I spot a few aluminum cà mên that my coworkers bring from home to keep their lunch warm. Cà mên was once an indispensable item in my family too, but now it’s rarely used; it's limited to the few occasions when my grandparents or parents pack lunch for the kids.
In 1992 Vietnam, the Streets Were Brimming With Love and Life
How has your life been transformed in the past 30 years? Changes might materialize overnight, but some tend to creep up on you at a glacial pace. Through this collection of images from 1992, mull over how Vietnam as a country has grown with every 12-month cycle.
Tim Doling in Saigon
A Brief History of Saigon's Art Deco Eye Hospital, Formerly the Clinique Saint-Paul
For those condemned to a long daily commute along that busiest of city arteries, Điện Biên Phủ Street, the clean, elegant lines of the Hồ Chí Minh City Eye Hospital offer a refreshing contrast to the surrounding urban clutter. The compound was formerly known as Clinique Saint-Paul, so many older Saigoneers still refer to it by the name Bệnh viện Xanh-Pôn.
Tuyết Nhi in Saigon
Exploring Chợ Quán Asylum, Saigon’s Oldest Prisoner-of-War Camp
In a secluded corner of Saigon’s Bệnh viện Nhiệt đới, or Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a prison continues its century-long existence hidden from public memory and discourse.
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.
Vietnam's 1969 Street Fashion Story as Told Through Honda Cubs
The very definition of cool was established decades ago in Vietnam, and it was badass women in áo dài dashing on the street in slick sunglasses.
From D4's Village Past to Now, History Keeps Wanting to Widen Nguyễn Tất Thành Street
A century before today's bulldozers, colonial planners were already wrestling with the same congested waterfront corridor — and the same promises of transformation.
Tim Doling in Saigon
Ancient Tombs of Saigon: The Lâm Tam Lang Tomb
Described by one local expert as “a rare surviving vestige of its era,” the tomb of Lâm Tam Lang and his wife in Tao Đàn Park is one of the city’s abiding mysteries.
15 Nostalgic Photos of Life in 1990s Saigon
When she arrived in Saigon in 1990, Catherine Karnow was introduced to local legends such as General Vo Nguyen Giap by her father, historian Stanley Karnow. Over the past 25 years, she has continued t...
Tim Doling in Saigon
In Search Of Saigon’s US Vestiges: Part 2
As the international media descends on the city for the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, travel companies report a growing demand from returning American veterans for tours which point out the ...
Tim Doling in Saigon
In Search Of Saigon’s US Vestiges – Part 1
As the international media descends on the city for the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, travel companies report a growing demand from returning American veterans for tours which point out the ...
[Photos] This Is What Life in Vietnam Looked Like 100 Years Ago
When photographer, Charles Peyrin, visited Vietnam in the 1920’s, he snapped dozens of candid shots that offer a rare glimpse into the daily life of locals and French colonists.
Tim Doling in Saigon
What Does The Future Hold For Petrus Ky’s Mausoleum And Memorial House?
Not yet recognised as a heritage site, the Mausoleum and Memorial House of Pétrus Ký, one of Việt Nam’s greatest intellects, has fallen into a state of disrepair.
[Video] Public Transportation In Old(er) Hanoi
While the last streetcar disappeared from Saigon’s streets in 1959, Hanoi held on to theirs until 1989. By the time service ended, the city’s light rail system was completely dilapidated aft...
Tim Doling in Saigon
Date With The Wrecking Ball: 606 Trần Hưng Đạo
The grand old villa at 606 Trần Hưng Đạo, one of Chợ Quán’s few remaining heritage buildings, is currently threatened with redevelopment.
[Video] Inside A 1972 Saigon Áo Dài Beauty Pageant
This short video was filmed at an áo dài beauty contest that took place in Saigon on November 27, 1972 to raise funds for the Vì Dân Hospital project.
16 Rare Photos That Show Life In Saigon After Japanese Surrender (1945)
These rare photos, taken by John Florea in October 1945, show what life was like in Saigon as Japanese forces laid down their arms following four years of occupation.
Tim Doling in Saigon
Date With The Wrecking Ball: Ba Son Shipyard
According to a recent article in Thanh Niên newspaper, the Ba Son Shipyard – Saigon’s oldest and most important maritime heritage site, recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1993 as...
Tim Doling in Saigon
Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 32 Hàm Nghi
Notwithstanding its 1939 makeover, the flat iron building at the corner of Hàm Nghi and Hồ Tùng Mậu street is still one of the city’s most attractive colonial relics.
Tim Doling in Saigon
Old Saigon Building of the Week: The Former Grall Hospital
One of the oldest hospitals in Asia, the Children’s Hospital 2 (Bệnh viện Nhi đồng 2) at 14 Lý Tự Trọng began life as a French military hospital.
These 25 Pictures Show What Life Was Like in 1990 Hanoi
These photos, taken just as the effects of “Đổi Mới” reforms were kicking in, show a Hanoi transitioning from an impoverished capital city into one embarking on a path towards the free market.
Tim Doling in Saigon
Old Saigon Building Of The Week: The Municipal Theatre
Built by the French at the mid-point of historic rue Catinat, the Municipal Theatre is one of Saigon's most iconic landmarks.
[Photos] Inside The Pages Of “Saigon Roundup”
Saigon Roundup was a weekly, English-language digest and advertising magazine published by International Publicity Agent during the 1960s. While its pages may not hold particularly stellar examples of...
Tim Doling in Saigon
Icons Of Old Saigon: The Canal Bonard
Though now little more than a rat-infested sewer, the former canal Bonard was once a busy waterway which made an immense contribution to the economic prosperity of Chợ Lớn. As work begins to restore t...
[Video] Rare Footage Of 1945-1954 Hanoi
This six-minute compilation of footage offers a rare view of life on the streets of Hanoi prior to 1954.
Tim Doling in Saigon
Icons Of Old Saigon: The Église Sainte-Marie-Immaculée
The Sun Wah Tower at 115 Nguyễn Huệ stands on the site of Saigon’s first Roman Catholic cathedral.
28 Old Pictures of Tet in Saigon
Whether street vendor or office worker in Saigon, Tết traditions, such as gathering with family, praying to the kitchen gods, giving crisp banknotes as lì xì and washing down bánh chưng with beer...
