Saigon10 Old Pictures of Saigon Cyclo DriversEven though Saigon has gone through many changes over the last century, there are certain characteristics of the city that have endured. Before the age of the motorbike, cyclos were one of the most common modes of transportation for locals and foreigners alike.By Brian LetwinSep 23, 20131 minRead story →
SaigonOld Saigon Picture of the Day: Check Out This BadassIn the time before Ducatis and Yamaha FZ16s were the hottest things on two wheels in Saigon, the Honda Cub 67 reigned supreme with local cool kids. Even though many of the old 67's are still around, the guy in this image not only perfected today's hipster look but made some badass improvements to the bike itself.By Brian LetwinAug 14, 20131 minRead story →
SaigonOld Saigon Picture of the DayWhen Saigon was the city of bikes.By Brian LetwinJul 30, 20131 minRead story →
Saigon8 Old Pictures of Cars in Saigon Bentleys, BMWs and Mercedes are all over Saigon these days. 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 vintage automobiles in Vietnam. One will sometimes see an old Ford Mustang or VW Bug around town but they are very rare and often imported. For many, it’s hard to imagine sweet old Citroens and ’57 Chevys puttering about town. That’s why we’ve put together this awesome slideshow of Saigon’s vintage transportation methods!By Brian LetwinJun 26, 20131 minRead story →
SaigonAn Early View of a Barely Developed Saigon in the 1860sDropping a modern Saigoneer into the 1860s version of the city would be a wildly disorienting experience.By SaigoneerAug 10, 20262 minRead story →
Tàu Cánh Ngầm: The Curious Case of Saigon’s Lost Soviet HydrofoilsNot long ago, hulking “creatures” glided atop the waters between Saigon and Vũng Tàu. Like the dinosaurs that came before them, they slowly disappeared, until all that was left were their skeletons.Aug 7, 20252 min read
Vauban Architecture: The Foundation of Central and Northern Vietnam's CitadelsIn our previous article on Vietnam’s southern citadels , we covered a mix of ancient structures and those constructed just before the dawn of French colonization of Indochina. In particular, we focused on Gia Định Citadel, a hulking structure that once stood in what would become Saigon’s city center. Undertaking a similar exercise for Vietnam’s central and northern regions is less practical, given the sheer quantity and variety of citadels in those regions. So, for the second part of our citadel series, we instead will focus on a unifying feature across such fortifications — Vauban architecture.Jun 11, 20259 min read
Unearthed: Tracing the Past Citadels of Southern VietnamAlthough the forces of modernization encourage constant progress and leaving behind the pre-modern past, the trails of yesterday never fail to leave our presence.Jun 3, 20257 min read
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