A glimpse of Saigon life 50 years ago through a French photographer’s lens

An outdoor market in Saigon, with vendors in conical hats sitting with baskets filled with vegetables and fruit.

Bertrand’s works are on display at the “Giao Diem Viet Nam” (Vietnam’s Intersection) exhibition being held from Nov. 1 to 30 at 57 Tran Hung Dao Street in Hanoi.

Rows of xe lam (auto rickshaws) lined up along a street.

A family carrying their belongings on a motorbike in 1975.

The photos were taken by Bertrand while he worked at the French Cultural Center in Da Lat and Saigon from 1970 to 1975.

Houseboats in a Saigon canal.

Organizers of the exhibition said the works are being displayed for the first time and provide a peek into Vietnam’s history.

A street snack stall in a traditional market.

A girl sleeping besides coconuts.

A laborer resting under the sun.

A street corner with vendors and cyclos moving through the crowd.

Bertrand’s collection of 27 photos are displayed on the walls outside the French embassy in Hanoi.

The exhibition also presents black-and-white and color works by Daniel Roussel and Lily Franey depicting postwar daily life in Vietnam.

“Giao Diem Viet Nam” is part of the Photo Hanoi’25 program organized by the city government and the French embassy. It features 22 exhibitions by Vietnamese and international photographers, film screenings, workshops, panel discussions, book launches, and art tours.

The event runs from Nov. 1 to 30 at various venues across the city to promote its culture and tourism and encourage exchanges between photographers.