When you’re looking into a first time trip to Ho Chi Minh City, the War Remnants Museum won’t escape you.
This is the main official war remnants museum in Vietnam and it will come up during any research around things to do and see in the city, but there’s a more intense feeling around this one compared to your average tourist-pushed museum, in fact it feels more like a kind of rite of passage and a show of respect to the country and its people to visit it, rather than a mere tourist activity.
War Remnants Museum
My visit was deeply sobering and educational to say the least.
I chose my first full day in Vietnam to visit, thinking it might help me look at the rest of my experience on the trip in a less superficial way. When I observed locals and their day to day lives I’d bear in mind what they and their elders may have gone through and might still be affected by, despite their impressive resilience.
Having spent almost a full day at the War Remnants Museum, for those who are interested, I’m glad I allocated a full day for this, without anything else scheduled to drag me away.
For the richest experience, you need to allow yourself the liberty of unrushed time to ponder and digest what you’re seeing and reading while you’re there, rather than rushing around and heading straight off out of the museum as it’s quite a heavy intake emotionally, with a lot to take in.
Some time to just sit and reflect while you’re there is much needed.
Tip: Avoid pre organised group tours for the War Remnants Museum and take yourself there independently and take your time, it’s best absorbed slowly. You want to be able to read information and ponder on the photography and remnants without trying to keep up with a (potentially disinterested) group on the move and listen to a guide rushing to keep to a set time schedule.
Indoors, the entrance area runs with a very strong theme of unity, peace, global support for Vietnam and a repulsion for war, before reminders of the consequences, suffering and horrors of war across the exhibitions upstairs.
Warning
Some of the smaller photographs in this post will probably be particularly upsetting/disturbing, hence keeping them smaller in size in this blog post, you can click on them to see them enlarged. This is a snapshot of the reality of what you’ll see when you visit the War Remnants Museum.
Agent Orange
To this day, the after effects of toxic chemicals used during the war are still impacting Vietnamese lives, along with unexploded land mines across Vietnam.
Bed headboard carved by a man using only his feet due to deformities caused by chemical weapons.
Thank you, Cherryl. Indeed, sobering.
War, of any kind, is horrific and sickening. And now we have the American President proudly proclaiming another war of annihillation. What is wrong with the world?
I find any visit to museums of ‘this type’ deeply sobering and educational. There are few righteous wars – I can only think of one, and that was still unnecesary and sick. Even though a student of history, like many others I thought mankind was moving on from wars often started by old men, twisted and/or frightened by ideology, greed, a desire for power. I was wrong – they’re still at it. I don’t know enough about the Vietnam War, but I do know enoght to know it was wrong. And it is right to take your time; it would be disrespectful to rush.
A thoughtful post on this horrendous part of Vietnam’s past. It is so important to keep these events in our memories, but somehow political leaders prefer war. I agree to seeing these musuems independently and taking your time. Maggie
We emigrated to Australia in 1964 when I was eleven. I had not heard of the Vietnam War and did not understand what it was about – and still don’t. If I had had older brothers they could have been conscripted. ‘All the Way with LBJ.’ Australia was grateful for help in WW2, so they followed the USA into Vietnam. Just reading about the massacre reignites my memories of the whole terrible war and why I have never respected the USA since, or ever seen them as leaders of the free world. It took so long for the protesters, the good people of the USA to be heard. Of course I now know that any soldier from any country can be capable of war crimes. Foot soldiers are sent into terrifying situations, without any idea why they are there and probably little moral guidance. It is good you gave the museum the time and respect it deserves.
I found it touching how and why you began your trip with a full day museum visit. It really does add gravity and weight to the rest of your trip and contextualize the past with the present. Thank you for sharing your experience and photos with us!
This sounds like a deeply moving and thoughtful travel experience. The War Remnants Museum seems to offer much more than historical information—it creates space to pause, reflect, and understand how deeply war can affect ordinary people and generations.
I particularly liked your observation about taking time to sit, absorb, and reflect rather than rushing through the exhibits. That is perhaps the difference between simply visiting a place and truly experiencing it.
It is hard to understand how seeing the destruction and harm to innocent people and humanity doesn’t seem to deter political leaders from continuing to inflict harm on others through mass bombings. One would think in a modern world that they would have learned how to properly negotiate and settle difference and compromise. Seeing your photos is heartbreaking. As difficult as it is to look at them, they are a stark reminder that humans are the most destructive and greedy creatures on the planet. It is heartbreaking to witness again and again.
Thank you, Cherryl for the somber reminder of this troubled time. Unfortunately, in the USA the media is controlled by the billionaires and those who finance these wars because no matter how much they have, it is never enough. It is a frightening time for the world. I hope people wake up before it is too late.
So true, I honestly believed when Vietnam was over no major country would interfere in other wars again… How different are ordinary citizens who are never listened to from those in power.
You’re right Cherryl, The War Remnants Museum is not your typical touristy museum but rather a rite-of-passage space in understanding this tragic time in Vietnam’s history. And you absolutely need to take your time and go independently. There’s a lot to take in. Great snapshots and write up and a must do when visiting Vietnam.