Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s

Saigon, hailed the "Pearl of the Far East", was home to streets and luxurious villas. Notwithstanding the flashy appearance, there were still corners where poverty and destitution prevailed. Below are some rare color photos of poor people's daily life in the 1960s taken by the American photographers Thomas W. Johnson and Eddie Adams.
October 09, 2020 | 11:37
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Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

Makeshift houses were erected above the water. This was where a small group of Saigonese used to live their life every day.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

Some poor residents left destitute during the war. They had to leave their house and hometown, started a new, contemporary life in a far-off place, and scarped by day by day in the cramped concrete sewers.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

Cho Lon slums seen from the plane. The slum with hundreds of makeshift houses erected from raw materials was the home of thousands of poor people.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

Temporary houses on the banks of Ben Nghe canal.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

People in poor villages in Saigon did a large number of jobs on the streets to earn a livelihood, including selling flowers, sugar canes, etc.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

Even old ladies worked as janitors, trying to bring home the bacon.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

A ferryman carries passengers across the Saigon River.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

A homeless mother and child lying in an old, torn hammock on the sidewalk of a street in Saigon/

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo AP / Eddie Adams/ via Thoi Xua)

Two boys rolled a plank and a steel drum to the cemetery where they lived with their family in April 1968.

Having nowhere to go, many households whose income placed at the bottom of the income bracket had to build a small house in the local cemetery.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

Children play cockfighting in the area of ​​Ma Lang.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Eddie Adams/ via Thoi Xua)

Curious kids looked at photographer Eddie Adams in the eyes.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

A group of boys playing by the cemetery in 1968. The place was scattered with rubbish.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

A boy selling ice cream at Nguyen Cu Trinh - Cong Quynh Street.

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

A corner at local wet market

Precious color photos of Saigon in the 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Thomas W. Johnson/ via Thoi Xua)

A girl held her little sister in her hands and smiled at the photographer. The photo was taken in April 1968.

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