The War Remnants Museum -- Ho Chi Minh City

My last day in Vietnam, I spent in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).  My goal was to visit the War Remnants Museum, which displayed the history and many pictures of the Vietnam War.

In the courtyard of the museum are old American fighter jets and tanks.

I expected a balanced and fair history (in retrospect...what was I thinking?) of the war.

It became pretty clear after the first exhibition that what I was to read and see was very one-sided.

The most powerful exhibit were the photos on those affected by the US use of Agent Orange.

What I did take from the museum was a clearing up of the outline of who was who, the names of the major players and a general outline of the war.  What was the difference between North and South, what was the Tet Offensive, who were the Viet Cong and who were the communists in South Vietnam; these were some of the names that mean more to me now.  What I learned was that there were many parties and actors.....and that in essence the US got mired in what was a civil war in Vietnam.

The Presidential Palace Museum

In this room, in the Presidential Palace, the president of South Vietnam resigned in the knowledge that a few days later, South Vietnam would fall to North Vietnam and the reunification of Vietnam would be complete.

The "war" room where the generals of South Vietnam kept account of the events of the war.  These were not nearly as detailed as the maps in the bunker of the presidential palace.  I was entranced by those.

I thought this was the site of the famous picture of Americans on the ladder trying to get into a helicopter in 1975.  (The US war effort ended with the 1973 Paris Peace Accords, but were present in South Vietnam until it fell in 1975.)  However, that picture was taken from the roof of the US Embassy.  These helicopters were on standby for use by the president of South Vietnam.

The Presidential Palace remains as it was in the 1970's......straight out of the "Partridge Family!"

Oh and as I left Vietnam....one last Banh My from here in HCMC!  It didn't compare to the best ones I ate were from off the street in Hoi An.  Toasted bread, lightly buttered and the best pate I've ever eaten.  10,000 Vietnamese Dong = 50 Cents US.