SaigonOld Saigon Picture of the Day: How to Arrive at Your Wedding in StyleThe tradition of covering your wedding car with flowers and regalia is not new in Vietnam. Today, most couples who can afford it, opt for a middle-of-the-line Toyota or Kia while those with deep pockets enjoy the luxury of a BMW or Mercedes.By Brian LetwinSep 27, 20131 minRead story →
SaigonThe Lost History of Germans in SaigonThough it was a French colony, companies from all over Europe were engaged in trade and production in Indochina, especially in Saigon. Germans in particular played a major role in the city’s turn-of-the-twentieth-century economic growth. But as World War I engulfed the Continent, changing geopolitics spread to Saigon and the city’s German population was deported, almost overnight.By Brian LetwinMay 20, 20143 minRead story →
SaigonFrom Botany Institute to Amusement Park: The Evolution of Thao Cam Vien Sai GonLocal parks such as the Jardin d’Espagne and Jardin de la Ville, now Tao Dan Park, were a focal point of Saigon’s early urban development. But no green space carried such significance as the Jardin Botanique et Zoologique de Saïgon, the colonial moniker for Thao Cam Vien Sai Gon.By Brian LetwinMar 16, 20193 minRead story →
SaigonLê Văn Tám Park - The Former Massiges Cemetery - Part ICleared in 1983 to create the Lê Văn Tám Park, the former Massiges or European Cemetery (Cimetière Européen) was the most famous French cemetery in Saigon. To coincide with the release of hitherto unseen pictures of the cemetery taken in 1970 by Frederick P Fellers (Indianapolis, USA), Tim Doling takes a look at the history of this old Saigon institution.By Tim DolingSep 15, 20145 minRead story →
Saigon20 Pictures of Cho Lon From Before You Were BornCho Lon is one of Saigon’s oldest and most interesting neighborhoods. Spanning much of Districts 5 and 6, this predominantly Chinese area has been an integral part of Saigon’s economy since its establishment in 1778. When Cho Lon was incorporated as a city in 1879, it lay 11km from Saigon.By Brian LetwinAug 5, 20141 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
Brian LetwinBrian Letwin
Brian LetwinWriterBrian LetwinView profile →
