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It has taken Kha, a resident of Binh Thanh District, three years to craft nearly 50 models of the "old" Saigon. |
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In a shop at 292/30 Binh Loi Street, Ward 13, Binh Thanh District, Kha and his friends make old Saigon models every day, both according to customers' orders and to the group's own preferences. |
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On this shelf is a display of a series of Saigon models of the 90s including a traditional medicine store, canal house, record renting store, pho noodle stall, and street vendors. These products are for display and not for sale. If clients order a model, Kha will remake a duplicate one. |
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The first model of a rustic rice shop with a thatched roof and bamboo walls is from 2018. |
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The Ben Thanh Market model is one that Kha and friends spent the most effort on. This took more than a month to complete. |
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A bustling street corner about 30 years ago was inspired by an old market on Ham Nghi Street in District 1. |
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This model of the Ba Thien Hau Pagoda on Nguyen Trai Street in District 5 is sold for VND19 million ($826). The client who bought this model was a couple who wanted to recall the memory of their first meeting more than 30 years ago. |
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A corner of Notre Dame Cathedral in the evening was made specially for a client who wanted to recall memories of when his group of friends often hung out there. |
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In the 1990s, temporary houses made of scrap and wood could be found around canals and channels in Saigon. These working-class houses, built in long lines, were quite shabby. They were called ‘the canal slum’. Next to that is a typical traditional medicine store on the Chinese street. |
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This is a close-up look at a tape rental shop. The tapes and posters from old movies such as 'Journey to the West' and 'Dat Ky Tru Vuong' bring back memories of movies of the 80s - 90s. |
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A sugarcane juice stall in the old days was made of wood and the juice was squeezed out by rotating the wheel on the side with hands. Today, machines do the job. |
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One popular attraction is the model of Saigon street vendors. Kha and his team work the most on such models. The prize depends on the size and details, but it costs at least VND500,000 ($22). |