Can Tho City in 1960s and 1970s

Again, I was impressed to see photos of my city – Can Tho – almost 40 years ago. These photos were taken when I wasn’t born yet. How different it is! Hardly to recognize any corner if you just stay or live in Can Tho in a short time.

Almost 26 years living in the town, I know how fast and incredible my town has developed. On the one hand, I like this development. It brings a lot of chances for my town, my people, for everyone in Mekong Delta. On the other hand, I do not like this. It fades my countryside city away. No more streets full of shadow. More and more high modern building. More traffic. More pollution. Well, I cannot stay out of this development cycle. I am a part of it. I accept and am glad to experience the change of my town.

These photos I got from http://www.cantho-rvn.org again. I am happy to find out this page. Many thanks to the creators, the photographers of this page.

One part of the town. Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73. <now it is Tran Phu Street>

Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

I have no idea which street in in the current time

a fountain front of People Committe – Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

The fountain on Hoa Binh Blv. If turning on the left, it leads you to Ninh Kieu Quay

A Buddhist Temple and School. The symbol is not used here as a Nazi Swastika. It has been used by the Buddhist religion and many other ancient cultures long before Hitler and the N.S.D.A.P (Nazi) made it Germany’s national symbol and drove its meaning to relate to holocaust. My dictionary states the Buddhist symbol was in the opposite direction, like the Navaho symbol, but I tend to believe the Buddhist monks know more about their symbols than our American dictionaries. (Joe) Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

Vietnamese Pagoda on Hoa Binh Blv.

A part of Can Tho – Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

on a street in Can Tho – I cannot know which one is

Floating Restaurant – Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

This is on Ninh Kieu quay. You can see a bright boat – a karaoke boat – every night on Can Tho river.

Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

This is on Nhi Kieu bridge

Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

Along the Nhi Kieu Channel. I think one of the houses there belonged to my mother’s friend

1969 BEN XE MOI street in Can Tho. Photo by: Phillip Tyson 1969

Bus Terminal – which is the old now. It is near my house

Lambrettas doing the pylon course in Ben Xe Moi for their licensing. 1968-70. Photo by: Jeff Fozard

One street in Can Tho – Photo by: Robert Payette

I still cannot remember which street is, but it looks very familiar

Photo by: Robert Payette.

It is Ngo Quyen Street now. On the left side, the furthest point, it is Nam Bo restaurant – my office is right next to it

Mekong Restaurant downtown, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

This board of the restaurant Mekong now is on Hai Ba Trung street. It is still there

Shop posters on the streets of Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

I think it is Ninh Kieu Cinema now

The French Memorial in Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

I cannot find that French Memorial now in Can Tho. Maybe I do not know where it is or maybe they destroyed it.

Crowded street in Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Night scene by tailor shop in Can Tho, 1965. The Nghinh-Long tailor shop owner, Mr. Long was Miss Tuyet’s uncle. Photo by: Robert Payette

I do  not know where these shops are. Maybe in the current Can Tho downtown

Lambretta transportation, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

A very popular transport in Can Tho at that time. We call it ‘xe lam’ – use the first 3 words on lambretta.

Street salute, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

I do not know where it exactly is now but I strongly believe it is on Ngo Quyen street, maybe right next to Nam Bo restaurant

White mice ARVN & Civilians, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

It is Ninh Kieu park now. Everything changes a lot.

RVN Skyraiders in tight Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

It is also on Ninh Kieu Park now.

Market scene in Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Ninh Kieu Park of 40 years ago – very simple, country and poor

Walled in, Looking down from hotel billets, 4th floor to street below in Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

It is Phan Dinh Phung street now.

The USO club in Can Tho, 1970-71. Photo by: Donald Gramm Jr.

Yes, as the photo said “the USO Club”. The club… where was it?

Main street Can Tho from highway to MP station. Check the ‘57 Chevy. Must have been brought in by the French. 1968-70. Photo by: Jeff Fozard

It is Hung Vuong street now.

Market day along the river in Can Tho. 1968-70. Photo by: Jeff Fozard

It is Hai Ba Trung street now.

KHAI TRI, A Catholic school. 1970-71 Photo by: Donald Gramm Jr.

Now it is Tan An II middle school.

U Turn, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Rooftop from downtown office in CanTho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Storm clouds, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

It is Hoa Binh Blv. You can see the Vietnamese pagoda

Residential section of Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Residential section French Influence, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Taxi stand, downtown Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Intersection downtown Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Small park, downtown Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette

Can Tho 1969-70. Photo by: Thomas Ostrognai

Cambodian Pagoda on Hoa Binh Street

Can Tho 1969-70. Photo by: Thomas Ostrognai

It is Cai Khe bridge

Can Tho 1969-70. Photo by: Thomas Ostrognai

Two Vietnamese girls in Ao Dai dresses go to Ben Xi Moi. Photo by: Joe O’Donnell

I think it is Nguyet Trai street. These two girls were on Cai Khe bridge

Local movie; in Vietnamese with French subtitles (‘67-’68). Photo by: Dave Callahan

The name of the movie in English is “the last shoot”

On the road between Can Tho and airfield (1967). Photo by: Dave Callahan

Now it is Cach Mang Thang 8 street

Example of the ancient architecture visible around Can Tho. 1967. Photo by: Ron O’Laughlin

It is a Cambodia Pagoda on Hoa Binh Blv.

Cyclo taxi drivers in Can Tho. 1967. Photo by: Ron O’Laughlin

It is Hai Ba Trung street now

the old French Bank Building in Can Tho. 1967. Photo by: Ron O’Laughlin

Now it is State Bank on Ngo Gia Tu street

Black market street vendors usually had more cigarette brands to offer than the PX. 1968. Photo by: Ron O’Laughlin

Town area, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Roy Cole

The bridge on the way to the jet airfield, 1965. Photo by: Roy Cole

Temple, Can Tho, 1965. Photo by: Roy Cole

A Chinese pagoda – Chua Ong – on Hai Ba Trung street

Can Tho University after TET 1968. Photo by: Bob Murphy

View of the Ben Xi Moi area in Can Tho, 1968. Photo by: Bob Murphy

Street scene in downtown Can Tho, 1968. Photo by: Bob Murphy

downtown in Can Tho, 1968. Photo by: Bob Murphy

Downtown Can Tho, Steam Bath and Massage, 1968. Photo by: Bob Murphy

1968 Bassac river, outside the base. Photo by: David Nelson

Ferry ride across the Bassac river, Can Tho. Photo by: Mark Johnson

Photos of Can Tho in 1990s and 2000s

The Mekong Hotel. The tents are typist stands for typing documents, 1993. Photo by: Joe O’Donnell 1993

Crowded street in Can Tho, 1993. Photo by: Joe O’Donnell 1993

Mekong Hotel from large avenue at corner. Notice the Vietnamese grade school on the left, formerly Vietnamese American Association school where many GI’s from the 13th Avn. Bn. taught English to the Vietnamese. Photo by: Joe O’Donnell 1993

That was Tan An I Elementary School on Hoa Binh Blv.

are pictures of the approach to, and main gate of the old Can Tho Airfield, 2001. Photo by: Joe O’Donnell 2001

It is the headquarter of 9th Army Zone on Cach Mang Thang Tam street – a part of National Highway

Close-up of the main gate area above in picture 33. 2001 Photo by: Joe O’Donnell 2001

views of the Mekong Hotel undergoing complete downsizing and renovation. The hotel was reduced from 5 stories to 3 stories and will be a government radio office. Photo by: Joe O’Donnell 2001

Well, no conclusion here. I do not know how to arrange these photos. They remind me of many things.

I hope you all like them.

~ by Angela HUYNH on April 10, 2009.