Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer visitors, but since our stay was short, we had to make some carefull choices about how to spend those days. We decided to visit two museums. Both deals with the Vietnam War (1954-1975). To get a background and better understanding of Vietnam and the impact this war has had on the country and its civilians, it's essential to visit the War Remnants Museum. To see the photographs of human suffering makes war real. Photos of children with severe burns from US napalm bombing is an experience that left us deeply moved. The Reunification Museum is of historical significanse as well. That was where the surrender happened in 1975, resulting in a united Vietnam and the end of war.
The Vietnam War, also referred to as the American War, was a long lasting conflict between the government (communist) in North Vietnam against the South Vietnamese government (democratic). The north had allies from other communsist countries. The ally of South Vietnam was the United States. The effect of this war was the death toll on civilians (2 millions) and the devastations caused by chemical weapons.
We started with a visit to the War Remnants Museum which is documenting not only the Vietnam War, but also other conflicts in Asia. The outdoor exhibition in front of the building itself, concists of a selection of US armoured vehicles, bombs, weapons, planes etc. We associate all these constructions with war, which is bad enough, because we know what they can do when it comes to destruction, but to see the the photos on display of human sufferings was heartbreaking.
When we came to the tiger cages and the guillotine, a more eerie feeling came creeping. The tiger cages were used by the South Vietnamese. This was one of the ways they tortured political prisoners. I just didn't want to use my imagination here...
This sign gives some numbers on how much toxic chemicals were used during the war.
The sign below the picture says: "This man was old and trembling so that he could not walk. He looked like he wanted to cry. When I left him I heard two rifles shots".
Once inside the museum building we started at the ground floor. This part of the exhibition is devoted to supporting the anti-war movement internationally, with a collection of photographs. The horrors of war became real when we got upstairs to the second floor. The photos shows bodies blown to pieces, corpses of children, areas destroyed by chemical weapons. There is no way you can walk past all the photos without getting affected.
Before and after spraying with herbicide
This iconic photo was taken on June 8, 1972 when troops dropped napalm bombs in the district of Trang Bang, causing destruction of houses and the death of civilians. The village was bombed because it was suspected that Viet Cong forces (they supported North Vietnam) were hiding in the area. Instead, they hit their own civilian population. If you get napalm on your body, skin and flesh will melt and you get severe burns. During the attack this 9 year old girl got badly burned. The reporter Huynh Cong Ut took the award winning photo of these fleeing children screaming in pain. His photo has become a symbol of thecruelties of war.
The cost of the war in human lives
As we walked though the museum I noticed how everyone became very quiet. We let the photos speak for themselves, as we worked our way to the end. Even it was quite a painfull experience, I think it was both important and necessary to pay the museum a visit. We need sometimes to be reminded of the consequenses of war.
Independence Palace / Reunification Palace
The next morning we went back in order to visit the The Independence Palace, also called the Reunification Palace. It’s only a short walk from the War Remnants Museum, so it’s possible to visit both on the same day. It will be a good idea to visit the War Remnants Museum first.
This building was rebuilt in 1966 for the purpuse of serving as a presidential palace. Inside you will be see furniture in different rooms that still looks like the day the building was abandoned. The war was over on 30th of April 1975. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) surrendered on this day, when the North Vietnam tanks drove into town and straight towards this building.
These rooms were used for planning the military operations. It was a very special experience to walk throug rooms in such an accomplished style of the 1960s. You really get the feeling that people went on the day and everything was left, just like when it was in use. A visit that stands in stark contrast to the first museum, but definitely a historical gem.
"War is Hell"- These words are written on a soldiers helmet. I saw a photo of the soldier somewhere….
Sources:
Information in the museums
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
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