War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City

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Here we saw the gruesome yet "famed"tiger cages and many old posters fromthe 70's proclaiming " Stop the War".There's lots of historical data although much of it seems to me one sided and leaning towards propoganda.One sided or not though it does the job of describing the horror of war and the devastation to all involved.

One floor is devoted to the devastation caused by "Agent Orange".Its too distrurbing for words and I couldn't bring myself to look at it all.

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War Remnants Museum

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Information
Name: War Remnants Museum
Attraction Type: Museum
Close to: City Center
City: Ho Chi Minh City
Last Visit: December 2010


My Photos
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Fifth photo: War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum remembers one of the bloodiest conflicts in world history. Here you get to see many disturbing photos of the events of those days to remind people of the horrible war. There are also a lot of military equipment such as tanks, aircraft and jeeps that were used by American forces. It's a quite sobering experience that makes visitors value the peace they have now.

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There is very obvious bias as there are no "records" of any unpleasant deeds having been committed by the North Vietnamese Army. However, despite it's obvious bias, there's also an exhibit on the third floor about the war journalists from all over the world who documented - and often disappeared or died in - the war.

opening hours: 7.30 - 12.00, 13.30 - 17.00

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The tour guide would give a brief explanation on the museum and you would have to explore the museum by yourself. Be fore-warned, the museum tells you a very different point of view of the Vietnam/American war.

This is the famous guillotine that was brought to Vietnam by the French in the early 20th century and used in a jail on Ly Tu Trong Street. During the Vietnam War with the US, it was transported to all of the provinces to decapitate Vietnamese patriots. The last man who was executed was Mr Hoang Le Kha, member of the Provincial Committee of the Vietnamese Workers' Party in Tay Ninh province in 1960.

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Part of this museum displays reproductions of the "tiger cages" in which the South Vietnamese government housed political prisoners. Each one measures 2.7m x 1.5m x 3m where between 5 to 14 prisoners were kept in each cage during the hot season, while only one or two were kept during the winter season.

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This is perhaps the most famous and popular museum in the city, chiefly because of its outside displays of American aircraft and weaponry and the horrific photos of prisoners inside. On display in the compound are a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter, an F-5A fighter, a BLU-82 "Daisy Cutter" bomb, M48 Patton tank, and an A-1 attack bomber.

But it's the displays inside that leave you questioning what really went on during the Vietnam War. Although the name of the museum has been changed from that of the Museum of American War Crimes, the Americans were the main perpetrators of the horrors you will see inside this museum. The museum has a large number of photos detailing atrocities from the effects of Agent Orange and other chemical defoliant sprays, the use of napalm and phosphorus bombs. Curiosities include a guillotine used by the French and the South Vietnamese to execute prisoners, last in 1960, and reproductions of the "tiger cages" in which the South Vietnamese government housed political prisoners. Very graphic which just leaves you questioning "why"?

Open: 7.30am-12pm & 1.30-5pm. Admission: 15,000 VND.