In 2005, the French Consulate in Saigon commissioned a publication called Saigon 1955 – Ho Chi Minh City. As the title suggests, the book compares well-known Saigon locations from photos by French photographer Raymond Cauchetier in 1955 to their 2005 counterparts. While a bit old, the book does an awesome job of showing how Saigon has changed – or stayed the same – over the years.
Here are some of our favourite then-and-now photos, courtesy of Reds.vn:
Before motorized transportation was the norm in Saigon, horse-drawn carts were used to move both goods and people.
The Saigon Opera House (aka the Municipal Theatre) is one of Saigon’s oldest buildings and one of the city’s best examples of classical French architecture. Constructed at the turn of the 20th century...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
For years, Saigon residents have watched the Hilton Saigon slowly rise and gain shape, the impressive building taking a prominent place in the skyline overlooking the river surrounded by historic Dist...
Pause + Savour is a new series of Chefs' Table events that will celebrate the diverse international cuisine that Saigoneers crave via collaborations with premier international chefs visiting Le M...
For many of us living in Saigon, leaving the city for its hinterlands can be an important pilgrimage, best made regularly to achieve spiritual balance. While fresh air and open space are part of the r...
A World-class IB Family of schools with 175 years of exceptional education in the UK, Korea, Dubai, Singapore, and Vietnam invites families to join.
Bright lights illuminate the intricately carved facade of the famed Saigon Opera House in the background, its elegant statues bathing in the cool night air while cars rush past Lam Sơn Square, a blur ...
While curriculums have evolved and learning philosophies have progressed, the biggest changes in education in recent decades involve technology.
