War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is located near to Diamond Plaza & the Cathedral, in a very nice part of the city. This museum is open from 7:30am to 12:00pm then 1:30pm to 5:00pm and the entrance fee is a mere 15,000đ. I have visited several times but I never bore of the exhibitions & items on display here. I also noticed that there is more foliage here now. The huge trees have grown, as one would expect, and there are now more large potted plants throughout the grounds. This gives the place a nice feeling and I think it’s fair to say that the shock factor is reduced.

In the grounds, there are numerous vehicles and planes. There are several tanks, boats and helicopters alongside defused bombs & missiles. It is great to be able to get up close to these, especially if, like I, you are a transportation enthusiast. Also in the grounds there’s a few souvenir shops selling trinkets, books, postcards & so on.

To the left are the ‘Tiger Cages’. This is part of the original prison & indeed it is quite harrowing to see the guillotine & the way prisoners were confined. The main building houses a collection of documentary photos taken by journalists during the war. These are of a documentary nature & certainly impact the viewer, it is amazing to see some of these pictures up close. Additionally, there is ‘DOVE’ which is a children’s education centre, possibly a perfect place for younger visitors to see.

I enjoy going here, it may sound grim but I believe awareness is crucial. This is highly recommended and definitely worth a visit, the War Remnants Museum is undoubtedly worthy of 5 stars.

The War Remnants Museum has become perhaps the most popular museum in HCMC. No matter which side of the political fence you stand on, the museum is well worth a visit to know more about the American War a.k.a. the Vietnam War.

If you want to find a relaxing place to visit, you should not come this museum. When I came here the first time, I felt as if it was a haunted museum with too many shocking photos. The photos may make you shudder, but it is a way to learn how terrible a war is. Many photographs which illustrate war atrocities are from US sources, including photos of the notorious My Lai Massacre. Even those who adamantly supported the war will have a difficult time not being horrified by photos of innocent children mangled by US bombs, napalm and artillery shells. There are also images of torture scenes and genetically deformed babies who were affected by chemical bombs.

In the front yard, US armored vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs and infantry weapons are on display. The museum is open from 7:30 to 11:45 am and 1:30 to 4:45 pm daily. Entry costs 15,000đ.