The American Embassy in Sàigòn

These pictures were taken in August or September of 1970.

1.  Embassy, the standard news shot

2.  A slightly more interesting shot of the busted tree.  This is not the tree that got taken down during the final hours in April 1975.

3.  Embassy Entrance on 4 Thống Nhât street in downtown Sàigòn.  Notice that the guard’s shoes are not on his feet.

4.  This photo was taken as we were leaving the driveway of the embassy.  Just up the street, you can see the cathedral: The street is Thống Nhât, which was later (after 1975) renamed to Lê Duẩn Street.  The American Consulate now is at the same address, 4 Lê Duẩn Street, but in an entirely new building and compound.  In the picture at the right edge, you can see the portico for the French Embassy, which was next door to the American Embassy.

5.  Nhà Thờ Đức Bà Sàigòn; I don’t have pictures from 1970 showing the front in full height.

6.  Rear, Nhà Thờ Đức Bà Sàigòn, which you can also see in picture 4, above.

7.  Another rear view of Nhà Thờ Đức Bà Sàigòn.

“Đức Bà” translates to “Our Lady,” which is why it is generally referred to by Americans and French as “Notre Dame.”   “Nhà Thờ” is “church,” while “Nhà Thờ Lớn” (lit. “church big”) is “cathedral.”  Looks like a cathedral to me.  You can find out more at http://catholic.org.tw/vntaiwan/vnchurch/vnchurch.htm, or at least that’s one place to start.“

8.  Priest near Nhà Thờ Đức Bà

9.  The Presidential Palace, dead center in the distance.  This one and the next are the only photos I have from 1970 of the presidential palace.

10.  The Presidential Palace again, with a cyclo stopped at the light.

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More pictures of downtown Sàigòn.