If planes, tanks and weapons always fascinated you, then War remnants Museum at Saigon is the place to be. A one of its kind museum, it sure knows how to portray history in an interesting manner. It almost lets you relive the era gone by, as it narrates the story of the Vietnamese war with the remains of the battle that took place in the 20th century.

Formally known as the Saigon’s Exhibition House of American War Crimes, the War Remnants Museum was established in September 1975 in the Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam.  Located in Saigon, the place is spread across 7.300 square meters. The museum has brilliantly captured the memories of the war that took place for 30 long years, where the Vietnamese struggled for their freedom.  A popular tourist attraction, the museum many a times is not the way people expect it to be like.

Here is what you can find at the museum

When visiting the museum, it is not important to have the knowledge about the war, but in case you are already aware of it, it will certainly help as you will connect well with it. The museum has a vast collection of real objects, paintings and photographs that reveal the ugly side of the battle. It will give you a complete account of the entire war, right from the beginning to the end. There is plenty of information provided that helps you know more about the past. You can also find signboards with quotes from people who were affected during the unrest.

As you enter the campus, you spot tanks and planes displayed outside. Once you step inside, you will be awestruck by the sight as there are numerous rooms showcasing the artillery and gears used during the battle. The models and photographs kept at the museum also reveal some of the important events that occurred during the conflict.

‘Tiger cadge’ the prison in Con Dao Island where the Vietnamese were treated cruelly by the French and Americans is also on display. There are several other massive weapons and air fighters from US exhibited in this unique museum.  They also have documents that speak about the mass killing and other horrifying incidents of torture that took place during the war. Out of all the things on display, the most attractive part of this unique exhibition is the photo gallery. There are numerous pictures that show pain, blood, dead bodies and other horrendous situations.

Besides the information put up there, the self explanatory photographs speak thousand words of the cruel warfare.  As a tourist, keep in mind that all the information provided here is from the Vietnamese point of view and American visitors may just feel uncomfortable as they are portrayed in a negative manner.

The museum is an intellectually stimulating exhibition and certainly surpasses several other museums in terms of quality and structure.

The museum is open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.