Tour of Saigon

Photo and Audio Gallery

Work by Russell J. Coughlin

Curation by Ryan J. Kraus

In 1970, Russell Coughlin was a United States Navy journalist stationed in Saigon, Vietnam. For a year, he carefully documented the city’s history through photography and audio recordings. Tour of Saigon presents over 60 images alongside a three-hour audio component that Coughlin recorded in Saigon that same year.

In 2024, Ryan Kraus began preserving Coughlin’s photographs and cassette recordings, uncovering a rare glimpse into this period of history. Through the archival process, Kraus discovered cassette tapes that correspond to twenty of the images. All 60 photographs have been printed on 2x4-inch paper, and the cassettes will be played in sequence with the images.

Unlike many well-known images from the Vietnam War—such as Phan Thi Kim Phuc, often referred to as “Napalm Girl”—Coughlin’s work presents an alternative perspective. His photographs do not depict a joyful side of war but instead offer a nuanced view of the time and place he was fortunate to witness.