From North to South: Memories of 1990s Vietnam via the Lens of a French Photographer

What do you miss most about the 1990s?

Just barely a decade after opening its market to the world, Vietnam in the 1990s was still riddled with hardships and scarcity, but there was much hope from everyone about a brighter future. Vietnam joined the ASEAN block in 1995; the first KFC in the country opened in Saigon in 1997; and South Korean TV series brought in the first inklings of Hallyu in the same decade as well.

French photographer Michel Troncy captured some glimpses of Vietnam during his 1990s visit, from north to south, presenting a collage of multifaceted local cultures. Nature and ethnic minority members, urban street styles, and wildlife captures — these handfuls of shots showcase a diverse Vietnam full of life and intrigue.

Have a look below:

Mê Linh Square in Saigon from across the Saigon River.

A H'Mông family in Hà Giang.

Plucking silver hair on the sidewalk.

Freshly baked bánh mì in Chợ Lớn.

Traveling by xích lô in Hanoi.

Captive wild animals in a market in Phụng Hiệp, Cần Thơ.

Jars of snake wine in Cần Thơ.

Young Mekong men at a neighborhood cock fight.

Saigon high school students going to school by bike.

After a full harvest day.

A traditional junk in Hạ Long Bay.

A Dao woman weaves dividers out of bamboo strips.

Selling nón lá in Điện Biên, Lai Châu Province.

A woman from the Dao ethnic minority.

[Photos by Michel Troncy via Reds VN/Getty Images]