Saigon’s heritage wrecking ball is getting predictable, even boring. Pick a place with character and heritage, and the potential to enrich the city's cultural life - and there’s a good chance it’ll be demolished soon.
We recently bade farewell to Ba Son Shipyard (you can read the blog here) - a massive heritage space and a public and cultural asset that never was.
Last weekend, Cargo, a thriving event space in an old shipping warehouse that’s made a big impact on the city during it’s short life, closed its doors for the last time. Not because of a lack of love or demand, but because it’s to be demolished - we’re told for more apartments.
Some of my most enjoyable Saigon nights out in recent years have been at Cargo. I wasn't in Saigon for the farewell party but I’m gutted that it’s gone. And there’s a real loss for the city too.
Cargo’s been used for art exhibitions, fashion shows, rock concerts, dance parties, flea markets, tech talks, fundraisers and any number of commercial events. There is no comparable space in the city. But none of the city planners seem to have noticed that places like Cargo are vital assets in the city’s developing fabric.
Saigon’s bursting with creative energy. But there are no venues.
It sometimes feels like Saigon’s planners are experimenting with the radical idea of developing a world city with as little public space and cultural amenity as possible.
Here are some images that I shot at Cargo. They don’t demonstrate the breadth of what Cargo was offering, especially for Saigon locals. These were just some of the events I was at with a camera in hand.
The video also compiles some memories from great nights at Cargo.
Congratulations to Rod and Nhan and everyone that made Cargo such a great success. We wish you well in filling the gaping hole left by its closure.
Photo: Mark Bowyer Frank Turner plays Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Japandroids at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Japandroids at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Regurgitator play Cargo, Saigon
Photo: Mark Bowyer Steve Aoki, Cargo Saigon
Photo: Mark Bowyer DJ Steve Aoki plays cargo.
Photo: Mark Bowyer French folk tunes at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges plays Saigon.
Photo: Mark Bowyer Jagwar Ma, Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Flea Market at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Flea Market at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Dance party at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Dance party at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Dance party at Cargo
Photo: Mark Bowyer Night out at Cargo
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