Dozens of aircraft, tanks and weapons used in the Vietnam War are displayed outside the museum on Vo Van Tan Street, District 3.
The museum opened in 1975 to exhibit the crimes and consequences of the French and U.S. wars on Vietnam. It now houses a vast collection of more than 20,000 historical documents, artifacts, photographs and films.
Glynis from Belgium inspects a U-17 aircraft used by the U.S. in Vietnam. She was visiting the museum for the first time earlier this month after "it was recommended to me by friends."
A foreign woman observes exhibits in the prison area, which includes recreations of a prison built by the French on Con Dao Island in 1940. The prison used its famous "tiger cages" until the end of the Vietnam War.
Once dubbed "Hell on Earth," each prison cell here is only around five square meters. There are no beds or windows, only chains and tools for torture.
A tourist takes photos of a guillotine with a 50-kg blade brought by the French to Vietnam in the early 1920s.
Hundreds of guns and other items are exhibited at the museum, some alongside photos of how they were used during wartime.
Kira (3rd from left) from Scotland observes remnants of bombs dropped by the U.S. in Hanoi in 1972. "I've read about the Vietnam War. Here I've got to see many images and items to have a more realistic point of view," she said.
USAID signed an agreement with the museum earlier this month to open an exhibit that focuses on mine/UXO removal, environmental remediation, and support for persons with disabilities. The exhibit is expected to open in 2025, to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, and the 50th anniversaries of the end of the war.
Huy Tran (C), a tour guide, gives an introduction to a group of foreigners before letting them explore the museum on their own.
The 34-year-old said he takes foreign tourists to the museum around 20 times a month, most often between November and April when western tourists take winter escape tours.
"Most foreign tourists know about the Vietnam War. They want to come here for a visual tour. They also want to know how Vietnam sees the war," Huy said, adding that the museum is an indispensable part of any visit to Saigon.
