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Fascinating Vintage Photos Show Life in the 1960s Vietnam

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During the 1960s, Vietnam was a battleground for the war between capitalism and communism. The National Liberation Front of Southern Vietnam (Viet Cong) was becoming stronger and stronger. They took control of villages, rural areas and assassinated local officials. In August 1964, the US government launched full-scale military operations. President Lyndon Johnson authorized a series of bombing campaigns and sent thousands of US troops to fight. He concealed the extent of the military escalation from the American public.

Here below are some fascinating color photos that will take you back to 1960s Vietnam. They offer a glimpse into the everyday life of Vietnamese people.

#1 Rhade tribe children in one of the remote mountain villages, 1961.

Rhade tribe children in one of the remote mountain villages, 1961.

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#2 Peasants in the Rice Fields of North Vietnam, 1960.

Peasants in the Rice Fields of North Vietnam, 1960.

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#4 Children of Buen Enac line up outside their new school, 1960.

Children of Buen Enac line up outside their new school, 1960.

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#5 A group of young men bear a portrait of Ho Chi Minh, 1960.

A group of young men bear a portrait of Ho Chi Minh, 1960.

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#6 A market-place in South Vietnam, at the junction between a small railroad track going from the South to the frontier, 1960.

A market-place in South Vietnam, at the junction between a small railroad track going from the South to the frontier, 1960.

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#7 Boat girl rowing passenger-carrying sampan across Perfume River, 1961.

Boat girl rowing passenger-carrying sampan across Perfume River, 1961.

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#8 Traditional dancers performing in the once Imperial city, 1961.

Traditional dancers performing in the once Imperial city, 1961.

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#11 The harbour of Nah-Trang, not far from Saigon, 1960.

The harbour of Nah-Trang, not far from Saigon, 1960.

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#12 Rhade tribesmen in mt. village putting roof on new ‘long house’, 1961.

Rhade tribesmen in mt. village putting roof on new 'long house', 1961.

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#14 Musicians of a Chinese burial in Cholon, Saigon, 1961.

Musicians of a Chinese burial in Cholon, Saigon, 1961.

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#20 Volunteer Verle Lanier (center R) buying bananas at market, 1961.

Volunteer Verle Lanier (center R) buying bananas at market, 1961.

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#21 Viet Cong prisoners captured in southern territory, 1961.

Viet Cong prisoners captured in southern territory, 1961.

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#25 Chief of Kien Hoa province Col. Ngoc Thao Pham visting temple, 1961.

Chief of Kien Hoa province Col. Ngoc Thao Pham visting temple, 1961.

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#26 Self-defense post in territory infiltrated by Viet Cong near Truc Giang, 1961.

Self-defense post in territory infiltrated by Viet Cong near Truc Giang, 1961.

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#28 South Vietnamese farmer using flock of ducks to eat inscets infesting his rice fields, 1961.

South Vietnamese farmer using flock of ducks to eat inscets infesting his rice fields, 1961.

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#29 Rice farmers struggling to build dam to contain flood waters, 1961.

Rice farmers struggling to build dam to contain flood waters, 1961.

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#30 Saigon main street, formerly Rue Catinat, renamed Tu Do, 1961.

Saigon main street, formerly Rue Catinat, renamed Tu Do, 1961.

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#31 Traditional dancers performing in the one-time Imperial city of Hue, 1961.

Traditional dancers performing in the one-time Imperial city of Hue, 1961.

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#34 Rice farmers building improvised dam to keep floodwater from their rice fields, 1961.

Rice farmers building improvised dam to keep floodwater from their rice fields, 1961.

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#38 A woman carrying stools home on a bicycle rickshaw in Saigon, 1962.

A woman carrying stools home on a bicycle rickshaw in Saigon, 1962.

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#39 Mrs. Dinh Nhu Ngo surveying ruins of Palace bombed by Vietnamese insurrectionists, 1962.

Mrs. Dinh Nhu Ngo surveying ruins of Palace bombed by Vietnamese insurrectionists, 1962.

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#40 Locals at the market of Ban Me Thout in the province of Dak Lak in the highlands of South Vietnam, 1963

Locals at the market of Ban Me Thout in the province of Dak Lak in the highlands of South Vietnam, 1963

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#41 People gathering in the street to watch a film, Vietnam, August 1963

People gathering in the street to watch a film, Vietnam, August 1963

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#42 People praying for Vietnamese Buddhist monk Guang Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, June 1963

People praying for Vietnamese Buddhist monk Guang Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, June 1963

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#43 Students at the School of Sciences and Pedagogy holding a protest demonstration against the repressive measures of the Diem government, 1963.

Students at the School of Sciences and Pedagogy holding a protest demonstration against the repressive measures of the Diem government, 1963.

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#44 Mrs. Henry Cabot Lodge, wife of US Amb., giving money to a boy, 1963.

Mrs. Henry Cabot Lodge, wife of US Amb., giving money to a boy, 1963.

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#45 Demonstration by high school students against the Diem government, 1963.

Demonstration by high school students against the Diem government, 1963.

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#46 Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu waving from the stairs of an airplane, 1963.

Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu waving from the stairs of an airplane, 1963.

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#47 Students from Saigon’s Gia Long College vist soilders wounded in Cong Hoa Military Hospital, 1963.

Students from Saigon's Gia Long College vist soilders wounded in Cong Hoa Military Hospital, 1963.

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#48 People during the deposing of President Ngo Dinh Diem in Ho Chi Minh City, 1963.

People during the deposing of President Ngo Dinh Diem in Ho Chi Minh City, 1963.

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#49 A Vietnamese soldier with a machine-gun is lying in ambush behind an abandoned lorry, 1963.

A Vietnamese soldier with a machine-gun is lying in ambush behind an abandoned lorry, 1963.

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#50 South Vietnamese refugees taking bath outdoor, Vietnam, 1964

South Vietnamese refugees taking bath outdoor, Vietnam, 1964

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#53 South Vietnamese refugee gatherings, Vietnam, 1964

South Vietnamese refugee gatherings, Vietnam, 1964

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#54 48 hour strike in Saigon sponsored by the Council of Unions, 1964.

48 hour strike in Saigon sponsored by the Council of Unions, 1964.

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#56 Student demonstrations in Saigon against the dictatorship of premier Nguyen Khanh, 31st August 1964.

Student demonstrations in Saigon against the dictatorship of premier Nguyen Khanh, 31st August 1964.

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#57 During a Buddhist funeral for 2 young Buddhist killed in Buddhist -Catholic rioting, 1964.

During a Buddhist funeral for 2 young Buddhist killed in Buddhist -Catholic rioting, 1964.

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#58 Ann Sidney (Miss world) Shopping at Market in Saigon, 1964.

Ann Sidney (Miss world) Shopping at Market in Saigon, 1964.

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#59 Buddhist Bonze and leader of the Buddhist revolt, Thich Tri Quang leads a rally in Da Nang, Vietnam January 1965

Buddhist Bonze and leader of the Buddhist revolt, Thich Tri Quang leads a rally in Da Nang, Vietnam January 1965

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#60 Vietnamese Army personnel interrogate villagers during a drive against the Viet Cong, 1965.

Vietnamese Army personnel interrogate villagers during a drive against the Viet Cong, 1965.

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#61 In a street in Saigon, two Vietnamese children shine the shoes of a black man, in front of the window of an Air France agency.

In a street in Saigon, two Vietnamese children shine the shoes of a black man, in front of the window of an Air France agency.

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#62 A man playing a white electric guitar and two young women, wearing turquoise minidresses, playing the tambourine and another guitar, performing on a stage, Vietnam, 1965.

A man playing a white electric guitar and two young women, wearing turquoise minidresses, playing the tambourine and another guitar, performing on a stage, Vietnam, 1965.

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#63 Vietnamese Buddhists pray on January 22, 1965 in Saigon.

Vietnamese Buddhists pray on January 22, 1965 in Saigon.

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#64 Young Vietnamese children search a garbage dump to try to find something to sell or eat, July 30, 1965

Young Vietnamese children search a garbage dump to try to find something to sell or eat, July 30, 1965

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#65 In Cholon, Saigon’s working-class neighborhood, a woman prepares and sells food on the street, July 1965.

In Cholon, Saigon's working-class neighborhood, a woman prepares and sells food on the street, July 1965.

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#66 View of civilians and their belongings as they wait to evacute, as part of Operation Cedar Falls, from the Iron Triangle village of Ben Suc, Vietnam, 1967.

View of civilians and their belongings as they wait to evacute, as part of Operation Cedar Falls, from the Iron Triangle village of Ben Suc, Vietnam, 1967.

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#67 A woman putting voting-paper into the ballot-box in elections, 1969.

A woman putting voting-paper into the ballot-box in elections, 1969.

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#68 Women walking in the port at the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, 1968

Women walking in the port at the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, 1968

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#69 On the edge of the Perfume River, women do laundry in Hue, Vietnam on April 12, 1968.

On the edge of the Perfume River, women do laundry in Hue, Vietnam on April 12, 1968.

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#70 Audience watching a theater dance performance, Vietnam, April 1969.

Audience watching a theater dance performance, Vietnam, April 1969.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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