When I first set foot in Vietnam back in 2006, the only thing that came to mind about this country was everything related to the Vietnam War—what I had seen in movies, documentaries, and little else. My mind was filled with images from Apocalypse Now, Platoon, and a handful of other films.
Fortunately, I had the chance to discover everything else Vietnam has to offer. For one incredible month, I was able to push thoughts of the war into the background…
But a war should never be forgotten—at least, not if we hope to prevent such conflicts and the atrocities they bring from happening again, anywhere in the world.
That’s why I believe that a visit to the Ho Chi Minh War Remnants Museum is a necessary reminder of the past and should be a must for anyone visiting this city.
You can visit the museum on your own or as part of a city tour that includes this and other fascinating sites.
The Ho Chi Minh War Remnants Museum (Bảo Tàng Chứng Tích Chiến Tranh in Vietnamese) is one of the most popular museums in Vietnam, attracting approximately half a million visitors each year. It features a series of themed rooms across multiple buildings, along with military equipment displayed in a walled courtyard.
In fact, the first thing you see upon entering is a collection of heavy war machinery, including helicopters, fighter jets, tanks, bulldozers, mortars, and more. A grim showcase of inventions designed solely for destruction and bloodshed.
The museum’s main building houses several exhibition rooms displaying weapons used by U.S. forces (such as pistols, bazookas, and mortars), war propaganda posters, and photographs from journalists who covered the war.
Among the most haunting exhibits are heartbreaking images of the war’s consequences and evidence of atrocities committed during the conflict, including the infamous My Lai Massacre.
One room deserves special mention, the exhibit showcasing the effects of Agent Orange on the population. This herbicide, used by the United States, had devastating consequences, affecting not only those exposed but also future generations, as it caused severe birth defects in unborn children.
You can find a harrowing documentary about Agent Orange on YouTube or read an article detailing how, even 40 years later, its deadly effects continue to claim lives.
Beyond its focus on the Vietnam War, the museum also houses a significant collection of artifacts from the First Indochina War, which involved the French colonialists.
One of the most striking exhibits is the imposing guillotine displayed in another room, along with a recreation of the cells where the South Vietnamese government imprisoned political dissidents.
It’s a place that, while deeply unsettling, serves as yet another reminder that wars are completely unnecessary and only bring out the worst in humanity.
