War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh: Explore Vietnam History

War Remnants Museum, where our military and people’s struggles to advance towards days of peace and independence are vividly recreated. Along with ranking 61st and being the only representative from Vietnam in the list of the world’s 99 most popular tourist attractions by Stasher, The War Remnants Museum deserves to be one of the destinations to visit at least once in a lifetime. Follow Deluxe Group Tours to explore this landmark.

Navigating the War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is at 28 Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. It will be one of the captivating destinations for you with its exhibitions showcasing, collecting, preserving, and displaying documents, images, and artifacts depicting the devastating consequences of the war in Vietnam. The opening hours are from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM every day (The ticket counter closes at 5:00 PM), and the museum remains open on holidays and during Tet, so you have flexibility in planning your visits during vacations.

The ticket to the War Remnants Museum is 40,000 VND per person. With priority policies, you will be exempt from the entrance fee if you are under 6 years old, disabled, or from a poor household. Alternatively, you may receive a 50% discount if you fall into categories such as children from 6 to under 16 years old, students, seniors, revolution contributors, mountainous and remote area residents, etc.

Visiting the War Remnants Museum, you will sense the spirit of the fight and struggle for national independence, freedom, and the preciousness of peace and friendship among nations. The museum promises to be a destination that takes you on a journey to experience the hardships of our ancestors during wartime.

Documenting the Formation of the War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is under the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City. As part of the system of Vietnamese museums advocating for global peace, it is also a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The museum opened its doors in 1975 with the name “Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes.”( Nhà Trưng bày tội ác Mỹ – Ngụy) Its purpose is to preserve the evidence of war, from the resistance against French colonialism to the resistance against American aggression. Subsequently, it was renamed Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression (Nhà trưng bày tội ác chiến tranh) in November 1990, and on July 4, 1995, it officially became the War Remnants Museum.

In 2002, the War Remnants Museum experienced comprehensive modernization and expansion, which offered better service to visitors. On April 30, 2010, the renovation and repair process was completed. The museum added new exhibition areas, expanding the collection of artifacts, documents, and films depicting the periods of French and Japanese invasion and the post-war nation-building era.

The museum currently houses over 20,000 documents, artifacts, films, and more than 1,500 items regularly displayed in eight thematic sections. Over its more than 50 years of operation, the War Remnants Museum has welcomed over 15 million visitors from domestic and outside the country. Until now, the museum has been awarded the Third-class Labor Order in 1995 and the Second-class Labor Order in 2001 by the Nation.

Revealing the Exhibition Themes in War Remnants Museum

The museum consists of 3 floors, with a total of 8 specialized exhibition zones, which each floor displays different images and themes. The exhibits at the museum are not organized chronologically but mainly follow the sequence of issues related to the community. Join Deluxe Group Tours to explore the various exhibitions at the War Remnants Museum.

Exhibition “The World Supports Vietnam in Its Resistance War to the U.S.”

The museum’s ground floor is devoted to the show “The World Supports Vietnam in Its Resistance War to the U.S.” It consists of 100 photos and 145 types of materials, presenting the demonstrations, protests, conferences, and seminars worldwide opposing the invasive war by the United States and supporting the Vietnamese people in defending national sovereignty. It reflects the historical period from 1954 to 1975.

Here, you will also explore the exhibition “Imprisonment System During the Vietnam War,” including 40 photos, 14 display boards, maps, and 21 artifacts introducing a system of over 200 prisons built by the U.S. and the Saigon government to suppress patriotic Vietnamese, particularly highlighting some notorious prisons like Con Dao with “Chuong Cop” (Tiger Cages) as a form of horrific torture…

The area outside the ground floor is especially dedicated to the exhibition of weapons and military means used by the U.S.

“Chuong Cop”(Tiger Cages)

Confronted with these authentic images and cruel torture methods, you cannot feel deeply moved and emotional about war atrocities.

Exhibition ” Aggressive War Crimes” and “Agent Orange Consequences”

This is about two exhibitions on the first floor of the museum. The exhibition titled “Aggressive War Crimes” includes 22 documents, 243 artifacts, and 125 highlighted photos depicting the atrocities during the resistance against the United States and the painful consequences that our people had to endure.

The exhibition titled “Consequences of Agent Orange” consists of 100 photos, 10 documents, and 20 artifacts focusing on illustrating the devastation caused by Agent Orange. Through this, you will clearly understand the severe effects of Agent Orange, which brought to our people and country.

Additionally, the first-floor area also provides visitors with a detailed insight into the My Lai massacre in Son My, Quang Ngai. The most famous piece of art is the photograph “Napalm Girl” by journalist Huynh Cong Ut (Nick Ut).

Napalm Girl  – by journalist Huynh Cong Ut (Nick Ut).

Exhibition “Historical Truth”, “Requiem”, “Vietnam War And Peace”, and “Agent Orange During The Vietnam War”.

The museum’s second floor will host exhibits related to these subjects. They include the exhibition “Historical Truths,” with 66 photos, 20 documents, and 153 artifacts, prompting reflections on the colonial atrocities of the French and American empires. Beside this is the “Requiem” display, which consists of 275 images captured by reporters who were killed on the battlefields Indochina War.

The second floor of the War Remnants Museum also showcases the exhibition “Vietnam War and Peace,” consisting of 123 photos by Japanese photographer Ishikawa Bunyo, and “Agent Orange during the Vietnam War,” featuring 42 photographs taken by Japanese photographer Goro Nakamura. These moving photojournalistic pictures emphasize the enormous sacrifices made in order to bring about peace and offer a deep insight into our people’s life throughout the conflict.

Exploring Emotions Amidst War Remnants

Dr. H.T.Sangliana, a member of the Indian Parliament also felt the severe devastation and consequences of the war when he wrote that in his trip on 26/03/2007: “ Why war? Let war never erupt again in the future of this world. Egoism, ideological differences, pride and jealousy are the seeds of war and they should all denied room in the heart of mankind. Let God’s love prevail all over the earth and let people love one another sincerely rom now on. I wish the museum all success in making people hate war in furure.”
A tourist also expresses her feeling that: “What are you doing with this museum is so powerful. I am 20 years old form the United States and have never had such a profound and deep learning experience. I had no idea the level of strocity and genocide that came with this war. Understanding the inhumanity and aggression that is shown through the picture in this museum brings us together as one people. We must never forget that we are all human and all deserve the right and liberties associated with that. Human dignity rights and human right must be preserved through the international system of world order. We must learn from connected and united global population. Thank you for opening my eyes.”

“Make peace

Not war

Never again!!!”

This is also the thinking of another tourist after visiting the Museum.

War Remnants Museum Travel Tips

• There is no dress code when visiting the War Remnants Museum. You merely need to wear polite and respectful attire.
• Maintain order during the visit, and do not eat within the museum premises.
• Do not touch the exhibits without permission.
• Do not carry weapons or prohibited substances, and refrain from smoking within the museum.
• Follow the instructions of the security and staff throughout the visit to the War Remnants Museum.
• If you are part of a large group, contacting in advance to purchase tickets and avoid long waiting times is advisable.
• You have to park your vehicle at the museum’s side entrance on Le Quy Don street if you are traveling by bicycle, car, or motorbike.
• Keep the ticket sticker visible on your body or attire.
• Although the museum is small, there are numerous images and objects to see. Make sure you allow enough time for your travels so that
• you can see the full museum.