City: Ho Chi Minh City
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The 9 Best History Museums in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam's bustling largest city sets the cultural and economic pace for the country. The former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic. Taxis are an option for seeing the sprawling city. The War Remnants Museum shows the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes. Don't miss the impressive Jade Emperor Pagoda. Go to the frenetic Ben Thanh Market for food, flowers or frogs. Tour through the Mekong Delta, past rice paddies and houseboats.
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1. War Remnants Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32,700 reviews
War Remnants Museum is a unit under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Chi Minh City. Located in the museum system of Vietnam, the museum for world peace and a member of the World Council of Museums (ICOM), the War Remnants Museum, the Museum of thematic research, collection , storage, preservation and display of the material, photographs, artifacts on the evidence of the crime and the consequences of the war that the invasion force has caused to Vietnam.Museum store more than 20,000 documents, exhibits and films, in which more than 1,500 documents, artifacts, films have been applied to introduce in eight thematic exhibition frequently. In 35 years, the Museum has welcomed over 15 million visitors at home and abroad. Currently with about 500,000 visitors each year, the War Remnants Museum is one of the only cultural tourism to attract high public credibility at home and abroad.
Reviewed By peteboonywilliams - Sydney, Australia
Definitely worth visiting if you have to stay in Saigon. The museum has three floors of incredible war artifacts and history relating to the French colonisation, Vietnamese attempts of democratic independence and the US occupation. The atrocities levelled upon the Vietnamese population since the French arrived until unification is just unbelievable. The affects of agent orange is even more heartbreaking. The horrors of chemical warfare in WW1 led to a ban on such weapons. The short and long term affects of agent orange far surpass any of the horrors of WW1. To think that a so called social responsible democratically elected government could cover half of Vietnam, swathes of Cambodia and Lao with such an incidious chemical throughout the 60s-70s is unfathomable. Especially when you consider civilians and US/allied troops were also knowingly sacrificed to the affects of agent orange as well. To this day Vietnamese only drink bottled water because of the presence of carcinogenic material from agent orange.
2. The Independence Palace
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 10,200 reviews
“From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868-1966” explores the century-long history of the building that once served as the seat of the French colonial government in Cochinchina. In 1954, this building was renamed Independence Palace. It subsequently witnessed many dramatic episodes in the rise and decline of the government of Ngo Dinh Diem, the founding leader of the Republic of Vietnam
Reviewed By AlanW717 - San Francisco, United States
This is a must see attraction and historic sight!! We loved taking an audio tour of this perfectly preserved government palace .... reflecting the beauty and grooviness of the 1960’s architecture and furnishings from the period. We learned a great deal about Vietnam and specifically South Vietnam history, which was communicated in a very interesting and accessible way and provided a context / understanding for our entire Vietnam tour.
3. Museum of Vietnamese History
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 919 reviews
This collection of historical treasures and artifacts is one of the few Vietnamese museums with helpful English explanations.
Reviewed By Travelbug291 - Bribie Island, Australia
There are 54 ethnic groups belonging to 5 ethnolinguistic families which make up approximately 86% of the population of Vietnam. This museum presents excellent exhibits of the craft, dress, arts and spiritual practices, as well as some habitats of the general population.
4. Ao Dai Exhibition
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Ao Dai Exhibition honours the proudful traditional beauty of the Vienamese national costume Through more than 100 original and restored artifacts exhibited formally, visitors have a thorough knowledge of the formation and development of the Vietnamese Ao Dai in each historical period. Ao Dai Exhibition is located at the 2nd floor of Saigon House, a cultural house on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street
Reviewed By janicevrjones - Melbourne, Australia
If you love costume, design and fashion this niche museum is the place for you. Ao Dai means "long dress". The pieces on exhibit are exquisite and feature silks and brocades in decorative patterns, embellised in beaded motifs or hand paintings by artists.The exhibition showcases the evolution of the Ao Dai from its traditional heritage to contemporary culture. Costume is couture.
5. Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 133 reviews
This building where some of Ho Chi Minh’s personal effects are on display was once a French customs house.
Reviewed By 760francineb - Calgary, Canada
Excellent museum recounting mostly the life of uncle Ho as he was nicknamed. Also the history of his efforts to liberate Vietnam from colonial powers and invasions, during the so many wars in indo China. Photos and artefacts with English explanations. Compare declarations from US, France, etc., and those by HCM regarding the sovereignty of people nations. This museum is dedicate to HCM for good reasons. He had his human faults, although his total dedication to his country is faultless. He is still reverted by many third and now developing countries. He is so respected as well in China where I visited extensively. One should view him as a great leader, highly intellectual and modest in his living. He was a dreamer for his people by being rooted in realities. Entrance fee is exceptionally priced for all to afford. Students are brought there to learn about their liberator and their past history. I suspect students leave with a sense of humility for the hardships they did not live. One to 2 hours to visit ad admire the grounds.
6. Ton Duc Thang Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By NguyenNhung892020 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
If you hvae no idea who Ton Duc Thang was and we do not know so much about him. Ton Duc Thang museum is the best place to go. First, it is totally free and so easy to find it. There is a lot of instructive information about Ton Duc Thang and history of the country's political past, communism.
7. Southern Women's Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By Perth1966
It's rare to get the women's perspective of history in a museum and this captured the role of women in the Vietnam war and in the union movement really well. It also covered aspects such as women's clothing across the centuries (beautiful) and work traditionally associated with women such as weaving. Beautiful and interesting.
8. Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum
9. South-Vietnamese Women Museum
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