War Remnants Museum Among The Top’s 99 Best Tourist Destinations In The World

Ranking 61st, the War Remnants Museum is the only Vietnamese representative to be named in the list.

Located at 28 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3, the War Remnants Museum covers an area of 7,300 m2. It features both indoor and outdoor exhibition areas, displaying the devastation of the war between Vietnam and the United States from 1961 to 1975.

Photo: KT

The War Remnants Museum is one of the oldest museums in Saigon. It was first opened to the public in 1975, and established to show the real and brutal truth about the Vietnam War. Since then, the museum has undergone several changes and renovations in the process of normalizing relations between Vietnam and the United States.

For many years, the War Remnants Museum has been one of the most visited attractions in Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country. Through 45 years of establishment and development (1975 - 2020), it has welcomed more than 23 million visitors, including more than 11 million foreigners. Currently, the museum receives over 1 million visits each year.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

When coming through the front gate of the War Remnants Museum, you will see many large weapons used by the US Army, like heavy helicopters and airplanes of the US Air Force and armored tanks displayed in the yard. Besides, there are multiple kinds of weapons like rockets, bombs, and mines that were all active and have had their detonators removed before being exhibited here.

In the backside, you will find a small entrance leading to the Tiger Cages, a replicate of the real Tiger Cages used in the Con Dao Island prison. Tiger Cages were barbed wire cages used as a form of torture, where the Government of South Vietnam secretly kept and tortured their political prisoners in Con Dao. This area only showcases a small part of the original exhibit with a tiger cage on gravel, statues of malnourished prisoners inside two dark cells, torturing tools, a guillotine of the French, and various black and white photographs of that time. This exhibit never fails to give an aggressive glimpse of such sinister acts and war crimes against humanity.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

Suppose you come to the museum through the front door. In that case, you will immediately notice on your left, an area dedicated to Agent Orange-infected victims, called Victims of Agent Orange Overcome Difficulties. They make, sell their handcraft like keychains, lamps, and sculptures, and sometimes perform musical instruments here. It is a place where you can see the constant pain of the Vietnam War, but it is also a place where you can make small gestures to help these people have a better future.

Behind this, there is an area holding temporary exhibitions related to Vietnamese history and Vietnamese culture. The topic will change every once in a while, mostly covering stories during the Vietnam War.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

Across the room, next to the staircase, you will find a permanent exhibition topic, named ‘The World Supports Vietnam in its Resistance". There are 100 pictures and 145 artifacts that show how people all over the world support the Vietnamese in their resistance against the US Army and protest against the Vietnam War. The museum also exhibits some remnants that American soldiers presented to the museum to show their regret for having taken part in this unjust war in Vietnam. While some people said that the theme of the museum is subjective and one-sided from a Vietnamese standpoint, this topic displays and emphasizes the attitudes and points of view of people from all over the world at that time.

How to get there?

The easiest way to reach the museum is by taxi, which is available in all touristy areas. The trip will cost under VND 50,000 (about US$2) from District 1.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

If you want to save some money and feel adventurous, the bus would be a great option. Choose bus number 14 if you depart from Mien Dong bus station, bus number 28 if departing from Ben Thanh market, and bus number 06 if departing from Cho Lon bus station.

Getting a car or motorbike ride via the Grab and Uber apps is also a great option.

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