The center of town on an afternoon in March (or April) 1965. The iconic water tower at the right. National route 1, the main North-South road in Vietnam, crossed the river on the bridge.

At left residential and commercial buildings, including a nuoc mam factory. The street in the photo at right was the town's market area in the morning hours.

Looking toward the river on Tran Hung Sao Street at left. Note the Texaco gasoline station. At right on the same street,  the Tien Duc High School. This building is still standing, now a government office.

Oxcart and manpower delivery services in Phan Thiet. At right shops offer motorbikes, bicycles and fish sauce. Nuoc mam was commonly sold in large earthenware crocks. The International "Scout" vehicle belonged to the police advisor, a civilian employee of USOM (United States Operations Mission), later known as USAID. The "handshake" logo can be seen on the door. A lone cyclo driver waits for a customer in the afternoon sun.