Cover Saigon has been captured through shifting cinematic lenses from post-war recovery to contemporary life, charting the city’s transformations and trials along the way.
Saigon has been captured through shifting cinematic lenses from post-war recovery to contemporary life, charting the city’s transformations and trials along the way.
1 / 1
From The Deserted Field (1979), directed by Nguyen Hong Sen, to The Godfather (2021) by Tran Thanh, Saigon has been captured through shifting cinematic lenses.
Since 1975, Saigon has been reshaped dramatically—from a war-ravaged landscape to a vibrant urban centre in an era of integration. Among the most compelling ways this metamorphosis has been recorded is through film. Vietnamese directors have not only documented the city’s changing skyline but have also explored evolving social structures, human connections and collective memory throughout different periods in history.
From The Deserted Field (1979), directed by Nguyen Hong Sen, to The Godfather (2021) by Tran Thanh, Saigon has been captured through shifting cinematic lenses—from post-war recovery to contemporary life—charting the city’s transformations and trials along the way.
Read more: Legacy 50: April 30 legacy through the memoirs of diplomat Nguyen Thi Binh
Saigon in the post-war years—ruins and resilience
The Deserted Field stands among the earliest films to convey Saigon’s bleak aftermath in 1975. Deserted streets, crumbling facades and a population grappling with a new reality are the film’s backdrop. Through this, the scars of war and the lingering unease of its aftermath are brought into sharp relief.
Above The Deserted Field stands among the earliest films to convey Saigon’s bleak aftermath in 1975
The Deserted Field stands among the earliest films to convey Saigon’s bleak aftermath in 1975
1 / 1
In those years, Saigon had yet to find its footing—its spirit clouded, its future uncertain. The iconic silhouettes of Ben Thanh Market and the city centre remained, but much of the architecture bore the weight of conflict. The Deserted Field is more than a tale of war; it is a quiet study in perseverance, a cinematic portrait of a city beginning to stir from its ruins, as its people seek to reclaim purpose and vitality.
Saigon in the subsidy period—a city awakening
The 1980s marked the beginning of change, though not yet pronounced, as the city navigated the constraints of a subsidised economy. Architectural landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office endured, but around them lay sprawling working-class quarters, open-air markets, and timeworn dwellings. Films like Funny Soldiers (1986) and Criminal Police (1992) transported viewers into the bustling labyrinth of narrow alleyways and humble homes, where everyday life unfolded amidst clear societal divides.
Read more: Legacy 50—The “Miss Saigon” of a bygone golden era
Above Buffalo Wool Season evokes the spirit of subsidy-era Saigon through its measured, evocative imagery.
Buffalo Wool Season evokes the spirit of subsidy-era Saigon through its measured, evocative imagery.
1 / 1
Though Buffalo Wool Season (2004), by director Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh, is set in the southern countryside, it nonetheless evokes the spirit of subsidy-era Saigon through its measured, evocative imagery. The city appeared at once modest and dynamic—its rural undertones still visible in the vibrant wet markets, winding alleys and unembellished structures. These cinematic vignettes offer a lens into a city marked by the past, yet quietly gestating the social and cultural shifts that would soon follow.
Modern Saigon—From poverty to prosperity
As the 21st century unfolded, Saigon gradually transformed. Modern developments began to rise—high-rises, newly built neighbourhoods and glittering commercial centres reshaped the city’s profile. Among the films that capture this evolution with striking clarity is Tran Thanh’s The Godfather (2021). Here, Saigon bursts into life—its streets teeming, its skyline glowing with towers and neon. But beneath this prosperity, the story remains complex. Poverty persists. Family tensions simmer. Not every conflict has a solution. This is a city awash with colour and energy, yet shadowed by unease and stories left untold.
Above The Godfather’s Saigon is not simply a tale of progress; it acknowledges what lingers in the margins of modernity.
The Godfather’s Saigon is not simply a tale of progress; it acknowledges what lingers in the margins of modernity.
1 / 1
What makes the film compelling is its refusal to look away from Saigon’s hidden corners. The glossy cityscape is offset by glimpses into cramped alleyways, modest lives, and the friction between generations. The Godfather’s Saigon is not simply a tale of progress; it acknowledges what lingers in the margins of modernity. The buildings may have changed, but beneath the surface, age-old struggles continue to stir.
Cinema—urban memory and a cultural space of the past
Beyond chronicling the city’s architecture, Vietnamese cinema captures the shifting cultural landscape of Saigon—especially through its cinemas. Names like Dai Dong, Rex, Eden and Galaxy Nguyen Du once stood as landmarks of urban life, where audiences gathered for stories and shared experiences.
Though the practice of cinema-going endures, the setting has shifted. Traditional theatres are slowly eclipsed by sleek multiplexes nestled inside shopping centres—venues where film becomes one of many entertainment offerings. At the same time, the rise of digital streaming brings cinema directly into homes, diversifying the cultural diet of urban dwellers.
This evolution marks more than just a change in viewing habits. Memories of theatres like Rex or Dai Dong still evoke a particular kind of nostalgia. These spaces were places of collective memory, vibrant with the spirit of a city that once lived and breathed cinema.
Above More than just a visual record, cinema preserves the city’s soul
More than just a visual record, cinema preserves the city’s soul
1 / 1
Through film, Saigon emerges not only as a city, but as a journey unfolding across decades of social, economic and cultural change. From The Deserted Field to The Godfather, and stories built around familiar landmarks, cinema has traced the city’s arc from its post-war chapters through the subsidy era, into its modern-day dynamism.
More than just a visual record, cinema preserves the city's soul. It gathers people’s stories, societal shifts and fleeting memories into something lasting. When viewers return to Saigon through these films, they don’t just witness progress. They see memories layered beneath the surface, unresolved questions lingering in the present, and hopes that still await their moment.
NOW READ
Legacy 50: When Vietnamese fine dining restaurant recreates subsidy period dishes
Legacy 50: Saigon—City of “firsts”
Legacy 50: People’s Artist Kim Cuong—a life, a stage, a legacy
