Sunday 30 September 2012

War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam

 
The War Remnants Museum is a major tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was opened in September 1975 and is run by the Vietnamese Government,

On a recent visit to Vietnam I went to the Museum and explored the the three levels of exhibits to view the numerous artefacts, photographs and pictures

The first level of the museum shows propaganda material used during the war. There are posters of different languages, including German and Japanese. This level also has the Children's Painting Collection, the International Support for the Vietnamese People Pavilion (mostly communist countries like Cuba, China, the then Soviet Union, North Korea and prominent western communist leaders), and assorted hand held weapons used in the war enclosed in glass panels.
 
The second level of the museum displays photos and descriptions of the effects on the descendents of those involved in the war of Agent Orange and other chemical defoliant sprays, napalm and phosphorus bombs.

The third level of the museum has write-up accounts and photographs of the war experiences from various photographers involved in the war. This is a powerful collection of photographs taken by 134 international journalists who were killed during the Vietnam War. Another room on this level contains photographs, propaganda, news clippings, and signboards from the war, and another the Vietnam post-war recovery efforts.

Outside, there are displays of some vehicles and tanks used during the Vietnam War, including a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter, an F-5A fighter, a BLU-82 "Daisy Cutter" bomb, M48 Patton tank, an A-1 Skyraider attack bomber, and an A-37 Dragonfly attack bomber. Several display aircraft (F-5, A-37) have non-standard markings indicating "U.S. Air Force," but are in fact former South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) aircraft. Outside there is also a display of prisons and torture chambers. These included the "Tiger Cages", small cages used to kept the prisoners-of-war, and a guillotine.

Address - 28 Ð Vo Van Tan
Phone - 08 3930 5587
Price - admission 15, 000d
Hours - 7.30am-noon & 1.30-5pm

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