My War Remnants Museum review: is it worth visiting?

I don’t usually go out of my way to visit war museums, but while travelling in Vietnam, I was keen to learn more about the country’s history, especially from the local point of view. If you’re wondering whether this museum is worth a stop during your time in Ho Chi Minh City, here’s my War Remnants Museum review after visiting as a curious, but not necessarily history-obsessed, traveller. No time to read it all? Jump to the quick summary!

Our visit to the War Remnants Museum was part of a full-day guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City, which also included the Independence Palace, the Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral in the morning, and the Cu Chi Tunnels in the afternoon.

First impressions and context

Our guide Felix (from TNK Travel) did a fantastic job of setting the scene. He was very honest and respectful, explaining that some visitors pointed out to him that this museum represents the Vietnamese perspective and doesn’t necessarily show the full story of the war. He encouraged us to visit it with that in mind, which helped to understand how the Vietnamese remember what happened and see their own history.

We were given about 1.5 hours to explore on our own. I appreciated the freedom to move at my own pace, but it also meant a lot of solo reading, no opportunity to ask questions, and not much storytelling beyond what was written on the walls.

What the museum is like

The museum is split over several levels and includes outdoor displays of military equipment (planes, tanks, etc.), with a number of exhibition rooms focused on different aspects of the war.

One thing that struck me straight away was how visually intense the museum is. It’s a lot to take in with a lot of photos, many of them deeply confronting. The Vietnam War was one of the first conflicts where photojournalism was widespread and played a part in shifting opinions, at a time when many people weren’t yet aware of being captured on camera. The result is a raw, almost voyeuristic portrayal of the horrors of war.

Much of the focus is on atrocities committed by American forces. Some rooms were too much for me. I skipped several displays with graphic images of torture and the devastating impact of Agent Orange, napalm and other chemical weapons. You don’t need to see everything to understand that what happened was horrific.

There was a small number of maps and statistics early in the exhibit, which I always appreciate. A key piece of information that stayed with me was that more tonnage of bombs was dropped on Vietnam than in all of World War II.

What’s missing

What’s not there is just as noticeable as what is. The museum focuses almost entirely on American atrocities, without touching enough on the motivations behind the war, namely, the global context of the Cold War and the ideological conflict between capitalism and communism. In the War Remnants Museum, I found that there were not enough explanations from the aggressor’s point of view about why the US got involved or why the South didn’t want unification under a communist regime.

As you move through the exhibits, it’s hard not to wonder why the United States stayed involved in a conflict that was so costly, prolonged, and widely criticised even within its own borders. But from what I learnt about it, the Vietnam War wasn’t just about Vietnam or just a civil war. The Americans justified it as an effort to stop the spread of communism (fearing the domino theory), even in a country that had chosen that path for itself (which, I realise, is a controversial topic!).

Some call the museum propaganda, but I wouldn’t go that far. Yes, it tells only one side of the story. Yes, it influences how you perceive the war. But what it shows is real: the victims, the trauma, the lasting damage. The crimes committed by the US military happened. The fact that the other side’s wrongdoings aren’t mentioned doesn’t negate the suffering that’s presented here.

As a French citizen, I’m aware that both France and the US also have their own biased interpretations of the war. Many Western nations still view communism in a negative light. That’s actually what could have made this museum visit so compelling for me: seeing how the Vietnamese described the Americans’ motives for the war. But in reality, it felt more like the Americans were simply portrayed as villains, without much effort to explain what they were fighting for, or against. So in the end, I found we don’t get a deeper understanding, just a strong condemnation of one side.

A few highlights

One section that stood out was the anti-war movement exhibit, which featured photos and clippings from around the world, including from within the United States. It was a powerful reminder that people shouldn’t be blamed for a war their government decides to fight. This global wave of protest and activism against war was one of the few hopeful parts of the museum.

Practical info and visitor tips

• You don’t necessarily need to join a guided tour to visit the museum. It is an easy walk from the city centre, or you can get there using Grab. We opted for a guided tour as we had very limited time in Ho Chi Minh City and wanted to maximise our itinerary.
• It was hot and noisy when we visited. There’s no air conditioning, only fans. Groups can make it hard to concentrate on reading, especially at the end of the exhibition. At one point, I literally had to cover my ears to be able to focus on the reading.
• The museum is not suitable for kids – the imagery is far too graphic.
• While some visitors spend up to three hours there, 1.5 hours was plenty for us to see the key exhibits and avoid emotional overload.
• The lack of interactivity made the experience more tiring than it needed to be. It’s mostly static displays with a lot of reading.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re open to a raw and confronting experience and want to see Vietnam’s perspective on its recent history. It’s not ideal for families (the content is too confronting for children) or travellers looking for a neutral or complete overview of the Vietnam War. I wouldn’t be surprised if American visitors find it particularly confronting, but it’s also a chance to understand that every war has more than one narrative.

This isn’t an easy museum to visit, and it doesn’t offer a complete or balanced account of the Vietnam War. But it’s an important place to begin understanding how the Vietnamese people have processed and remembered their past. Despite the horrors shown, we ended our visit on a note of resilience, thanks to our wonderful guide who reminded us: Vietnam is a country that hasn’t forgotten, but has forgiven, and today, it welcomes visitors from around the world without resentment.

Have you visited the War Remnants Museum? Share your experience in the comments below!

Where is the War Remnants Museum?

The War Remnants Museum is located in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City, not far from the central landmarks of District 1. It’s an easy walk from the Independence Palace and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The entrance is on Vo Van Tan Street.