Introduction of the War Remnants Museum
About the War Remnants Museum
This is one of the most famous museums in Ho Chi Minh City. The War Remnants Museum is now a member of the Museum for World Peace System and the Council of World Museums. (ICOM). Here, more than 20,000 documents, over 1,500 artifacts, and films have been collected, the research is included in eight periodic exhibitions. This evidence demonstrates the crimes and consequences of the war that the invading powers brought to Vietnam. Besides, the museum also conveys the message of the spirit of the struggle to defend independence, the sense of anti-war, the maintenance of peace, and the creation of friendship among peoples.
The War Remnants Museum is one of the historical places that attracts tourists to visit. After 48 years of establishment and development, the Museum welcomes nearly 1 million visitors each year.
The History of War Remnants Museum
On April 30, 1975, the war of the Vietnamese people was completely won: peace, independence, sovereignty, and the entire territory of the Fatherland were restored.
To save the heroic vestiges of the Vietnamese people in the war against the invading forces, and at the same time to denounce the crimes and highlight the cruel consequences of the war of aggression, April 4 September 1975 Exhibition of American crimes – Camouflage was opened to serve the company. After that, the American-Nguy Evil Gallery was renamed the War Crimes House of Aggression (November 10, 1990) before returning to the War Museum (July 4, 1995).
The War Remnants Museum appears as a historic destination that attracts visitors. Through more than four decades of development and existence (1975-2023), the museum has welcomed more than a million visitors. With a total area of more than 3,000 square meters, it features more than 1,500 historical artifacts, while serving educational and discovery purposes.
For its achievements, the War Remnants Museum was awarded the 3rd-class Labor Medal (1995) and the 2nd-class Labor Medal (2001) by the State.
Exhibits include weapons, military essays, historical material, photographs, and all the evidence related to the tragic periods of the war. The events at the War Evidence Museum demonstrate dedication to the spirit of fighting for the defense of the country, honoring the sense of resistance to aggression, reinforcing faith in peacekeeping, and a spirit of friendly solidarity among the nations of the world.
Featuring a historical period of suffering and tribulation, the Museum is an attractive tourist destination. It is also an opportunity for visitors to gain a better understanding of the cultural and historical formation of Vietnam while honoring the brave soldiers who contributed their lives in the fighting.
Introduction video: War Remnants Museum
The interior layout of the museum
With its unique architecture and emotional historical stories, the museum attracts visitors with a genuine re-enactment of a turbulent historical period of the nation. On each floor of the museum, there will be different themes related to the war and there are images that will make viewers uncomfortable. Visitors should consider and prepare mentally before watching because the images of war are very harsh and painful.
The War Remnants Museum has a modern three-story design with a floor area of 4.522 sqm, as well as several auxiliary works and an outdoor exhibition space of 3.026m2. The museum’s exhibition system is extremely diverse with more than 20,000 documents, artifacts, and films stored. On the regular exhibition space, there are nine thematic and short-day exhibitions and mobile exhibitions, reception, meetings, and public interaction with war witnesses divided by region. If you follow the route you have to start the tour from the first floor to the second and then finally to the ground floor.
Visitors should go from floor to ground to fully understand Vietnamese history when visiting the museum. Tourists should visit from the 2nd floor to the 1st floor and then to the ground floor to better understand Vietnamese history., On the 2nd floor, tourists will witness each historical theme as historical facts, and reminiscences about past wars, see images of war and peace, images of Agent Orange, and the education room. for kids. On this floor, tourists will be introduced to history and listen to explanations about the Vietnam War. After going down to the first floor, there will be images of war crimes. This image may cause discomfort and pain for some visitors, but these are the ones that expose the cruelty of war to the people. Vietnam. The war left psychological scars and many Vietnamese people, especially children, were victims severely affected by Agent Orange. Finally, when visiting the ground floor, there will be a gallery, meeting room, and outdoor exhibitions of the tiger cage – where Vietnamese prisoners were held in the past.
Floor 2
On the 2nd floor, visitors will explore the War Remnants Museum with the themes of how the collections of images involving warriors during the ancient war were magnificent. Let’s find out.
Room 1: Theme: Historical Truths
In this room, the theme of the exhibition is: “Historical facts” consisting of 66 photographs, 20 documents, and 153 artifacts depicting the French colonial process, and the US military conducting the war of invasion of Vietnam. The theme is about the invasion of Vietnam by the French colonists and the American Empire.
Again, the almost 100-year war of the brave Vietnamese people won the August Revolution of 1945, crushing the French colonial arms. However the French colonists, with financial and arms assistance from the US administration, continued to conspire to restore dominance in Vietnam. But when the French colonists failed, the US military intervened directly, undermining the Geneva Agreement, and waging a war of aggression in both South and North Vietnam. It was because of this that the US mobilized a huge military force of over 6 million troops, and over 14 million 300,000 tons of bombs, spending $767 billion. That’s why the entire people of Vietnam have been plunged into the cruelty of the pain of being away from their families and suffering from poverty.
Room 2: Remembrance
At the War Remnants Museum, the Memorial Room is a collection of photos of the Vietnam War by two journalists, Tim Page and Horst Faas, with the help of the Viet Nam News Agency. The photo collection consists of 275 photographs of 134 journalists, of 11 nationalities, who died while serving on the battlefield in Indochina.
Especially here, the camera of Japanese journalist Taizo Ichinose who was shot by a bullet is seen as a symbol of the “birth of the mortal profession“. Every photograph taken is a precious gift because journalists have to trade their lives. So every picture here is precious and patriotic.
Room 3 and 4: “Vietnam War and Peace” and “Agent Orange During The VietNam War” in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War and Peace consists of 123 photographs taken by Japanese photographer Ishikawa Bunyo himself because he wanted young Vietnamese people to see clearly what his father did to protect peace, and the value that peace brings.
On the theme “Agent Orange in the Vietnam War” at the War Remnants Museum, there are 42 photographs taken by Mr. Goro Nakamura. The photo collection provides insight into the life of wartime, as well as the efforts of the Vietnamese people towards peace. And especially about the orange poison disaster caused by the U.S. military in Vietnam. He also took pictures of the effects of Agent Orange on victims in the United States and South Korea.
Room 5: White pigeon
The room was built by the museum in collaboration with 20 Japanese volunteers. This is part of the “White Pigeon Symbol of Peace” project, undertaken by Vietnam and Japan.
Like Japan, Vietnam went through many wars and it took a long time to recover. Empathy and admiration helped the founder to convey the message of peace through paintings of white pigeons flying. Not only that, but the White Pigeon room is also a place where volunteers from the two countries are connected, helping the two people to get closer together.
Floor 1
After visiting the 2nd floor, the first room with historical recordings, the 1st floor at the War Remnants Museum is the room recording the consequences of the Vietnamese people’s suffering.
Room 6: War crimes
The theme consists of 125 photos, 22 documents, and 243 artifacts presenting evidence of crime and the consequences of the war of aggression on the country and the people of Vietnam.
A re-enactment of the images and weapons that the U.S. Army has carried out on inter-ethnic Vietnamese, such as the persecution, torture, and shooting of civilians and prisoners, including mass killings. In addition, the army uses means of war that are strictly prohibited by international conventions, such as ballast bombs, polymers, chemical toxins, especially dioxin agent orange toxins.
Room 7 – 8: The consequences of agent orange in Vietnam
The theme consists of 100 photos, 10 documents, and 20 artifacts in rooms 7 and 8 of the War Remnants Museum. Presentation of images, material, and artifacts of the effects of chemical poisoning caused by the US military and the surge of victims of Vietnamese orange/dioxin poison
More than 100 million liters of chemical poison were sprayed in Vietnam, 65% of which is Agent Orange containing 386 kilograms of highly toxic dioxins, poisoning an area of 2.6 million hectares, causing serious health damage (causing cancer, birth defects, and series of other dysfunctions) to 2.1 million to 4.8 million people and generations of offspring. The spread of orange poison also caused severe damage to American soldiers and troops from U.S.-dependent countries who were involved in the war.
Room 9: Conference Room
The meeting room is a place for senior leaders to discuss strategy and is a rather private place.
The ground floor
Next, you can move and tour the ground floor to get a better understanding and end the tour at the War Remnants Museum.
This includes rooms 10, 11, 12, and an outdoor exhibition (13).
Room 10: The World Supports Vietnam Resistance
The theme consists of 100 photos and 145 artifacts showcasing the movement of the people of the world (including the American people) united in support of the Vietnamese people’s resistance to the war of aggression.
The images showed the audience demonstrations, conferences, and seminars taking place across continents, highlighting the opposition of the US administration to the invasion of Vietnam, while also showing support for the legitimate struggle of the Vietnamese people. In this space, many cartoons, banners, flags, and symbolic objects representing solidarity and friendship with the people of Vietnam are displayed, contributed by individuals and organizations from all over the world. This demonstrates a strong bond with the people of Vietnam.
Besides, visitors will be able to witness the significant artifacts that American veterans of the Vietnam War gave to the War Remnants Museum. These artifacts symbolize respect for the people of Vietnam and also express regret for participating in a war that lacks legitimacy.
Room 11: Temporary exhibitions
This is the room for the short exhibitions of the day. It was organized in the form of a day with a fixed timetable on the theme of war records. But usually, these exhibitions are set for two to three months, depending on the program.
Room 12: Imprisonment system during the Vietnam War
The theme consists of 40 photos, 14 tables, maps, and 21 artifacts showcasing the system of 200 prisons, built by the United States and the Saigon government to suppress patriot Vietnamese. The theme also introduces some of the typical prisons of cruelty, known as the earthly hell, such as Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Chi Hoa, Tan Hiep, Thu Duc… The audience was introduced to several methods, and extremely barbaric instruments to suppress the torture and torture of political prisoners and inmates.
Guillotine the head-cutting instrument of the people sentenced to death was widely used by the French colonists and was sent to many places by the Government of Ngo Dinh Diem to terrorize the spirit of the patriots.
Room 13: Open-Air exhibition
The outside area is a large-scale artifacts exhibition, containing traces from the war period. In particular, visitors are also invited to visit a presentation on the theme: “The prison regime during the Vietnam invasion”, which includes prison models built by the United States and the Saigon government to impose on revolutionary warriors. This is a space where visitors experience many emotions, as they are exposed to images and artifacts associated with manifestations of torture, and the prison scene is depicted as a state of earthly hell.
Activities at the War Remnants Museum took place in 2023
In addition to its regularly exhibited collections, the War Remnants Museum also regularly hosts mobile exhibitions and educational programs, discussions, and workshops on history. Here are some of the highlights that make a special highlight, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the past through diverse experiences:
The House of Representatives in the Air – 50 Years Back
Exhibition: Finding Memories
Exhibition: Resurrecting Dead Countries
Exhibition: The Paris Agreement on Vietnam – the door to peace
Moving Exhibition: Vietnam – War and Peace
Moving Exhibition: Vietnamese women’s coats go through the smoke of war.
Moving Exhibition: The Sea of Vietnam Islands: Beautiful and Peaceful
Several other exhibitions are also very attractive to patriots and visitors who want to learn about Vietnam’s history.
Experience of visiting the museum
The ideal time to visit the War Remnants Museum
The climate in Ho Chi Minh is divided into two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season usually starts around May to November, the climate is hot and humid, with lots of rain and flooding. The dry season will be from December to April next year, with dry, hot, sunny weather.
Therefore, if you want to go to the Museum of Remnants here, you should go during the dry season to make it easier to visit the outdoor area. And if you are unlucky enough to go during the rainy season, you can still visit the housekeeping areas.
Opening times and ticket prices to visit the Museum
– Opening hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Open all days of the week including Holidays and New Year.)
– The War Remnants Museum has a ticket price of 40,000 VND/person. The policy of exemption and reduction is based on the official letter of the State. Don’t forget to bring your citizen ID, student, and student card to enjoy the discount! Currently, the Museum applies several preferential policies, including:
– Students; People with disabilities; and veteran revolutionary cadres. Discount from 50% to 100% of ticket price.
– Veterans; families of martyrs; children under 6 years old, children in remote areas, and the elderly. Free sightseeing tickets.
Rules of War Remnants Museum
When visiting the War Remnants Museum, please refer to the experience and note the following museum regulations:
SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Courteously dressed, and behaved properly when entering the museum.
- Keep the car in order. Keep it in order, and clean.
- Order the ticket, put the logo on the shirt, and show the key to the controller before entering the tour.
- Send back your large luggage (if any) to the reception room and keep your money private.
- Follow staff instructions and instructions during the tour.
- Do not bring weapons, toxins, substances prohibited, or flammable/explosive substances into the Museum.
- No smoking in the gallery; no writing or painting on artifacts.
- Any recording, recording, or other activities are subject to the permission of the Museum.
- Contact our staff for support if you need to sign up for a tour guide, have questions that need to be answered, or have other needs.
- Responsible for any damage to the Museum.
Especially to avoid risks when visiting scenic places like this, you should choose the Tour to have a more profound experience through each location, artifact, and image.
Transportations to visit the War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Mịnh City is about 9.4km from the city center and about 6.6km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Therefore, you can choose many different ways of transportation to get to the museum. Specifically:
– Bus: From Mien Dong bus station you can take bus line 14 or from Ben Thanh market there is bus line 28, from Cho Lon bus station there is bus line 06 going through the museum.
– Taxi, motorbike: If you have already traveled to Saigon and want to visit the war remnants museum, you can take Cong Hoa Street for about 18 minutes or Truong Chinh and Cach Mang Thang Tam Streets for about 22 minutes to get there.
Some other notes are that when visiting the War Remnants Museum you need to note that the museum is very large and divided into many different areas. Therefore, first, you need to learn about the museum map and choose the most suitable areas to visit. To save time and not need to worry too much about transportation, you can contact Saigon half-day city tour by scooter. On this city tour, you will avoid having to line up to buy tickets because if you buy tickets in a group, it will take quite a bit of time to wait. In addition, tourists can be guided from A-Z if they follow a tour with the best service. After visiting the museum, tourists will be guided to visit famous nearby places such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Quang Duc Monument, and a long-standing coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City.
Book tour at: Saigon half-day city tour by scooter
Tourist attractions nearby
The War Remnants Museum, built in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, has been named the leading cultural and entertainment center of Vietnam. Saigon brings in itself many attractive destinations, meeting every desire of tourists and entertainment. So, besides visiting the War Remnants Museum, consider exploring many other interesting destinations such as:
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral which is officially called the Holy Cathedral. Located in the heart of District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City), and stands out for its ancient Fa architecture, and spacious space from the outside to the inside of the cathedral. Similar to the symbol of Ho Chi Minh City, Notre Dame Cathedral is one of Saigon’s unique architectural works. Through many years of wind and fog, this place retains its ancient architecture and impressions.
It has a total length of 91m, and a width of 35.5m, with the main roof curve 21m high and two adjacent bell towers about 57m high. The architectural style of the Notre Dame Cathedral is a classic French style, built on the design of architect J. Bourard. With its open and airy space from the outside to the inside of the sanctuary, this place has become a symbol of Saigon. This is a place that visitors should not miss when visiting the traditional Ho Chi Minh City.
Location: Cong Xa Paris Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Central Post Office
Ho Chi Minh City, a vibrant and modern city, is known for its dynamic and diverse activity. However, you can also explore an ancient Saigon and settle in small gates and ancient, historical buildings. One of the most notable works that can’t be missed is the Central Post Office.
The city post office is essential in Ho Chi Minh City, offering a wide range of services: mail transfers, money transfers, or postal mail. In addition, the city post office has become a popular stop, attracting tourists when they visit Saigon. This unique building impresses with its classic architectural style, with its subtle patterns, and its distinctive yellow colors.
Location: Ho Chi Minh City Post Office
The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument
The monument originated 60 years ago when the Monastery of Thich Quang Duc (born in 1897, from the province of Khanghoo) carried out a self-incineration at the intersection of Le Van Duyet and Phan Dinh Phong roads (now the junction of the Revolution of August and Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3, HCM). This action is a reflection of the desire for equality and peace in the homeland
The self-incineration of the Thich Quang Duc Monument has created an event of great significance, which has shaken the world and awakened the spirit of humanity. As a Vietnamese Buddhist, in a situation in which the country is in trouble inining the law and separation, you have shown an act that is not only far-reaching but also courageous and discreet.
The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument has left a great mark in history with its unceasing dedication to the service of the law and the homeland. It’s not just the people in Vietnam who visit all the time, it’s a lot of tourists who have to visit once. Therefore, if you are a fan of Vietnamese beauty, you should not miss this attraction.
With AN Tours Vietnam explore the war museum and the magnificent beauty that the surrounding locations in Ho Chi Minh City bring.
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