A Day at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City

If you’re travelling to Vietnam or simply passing through Ho Chi Minh City, the War Remnants Museum is an absolute must-see. 

As Saigon served as the headquarters of U.S. military operations in Vietnam during the Second Indochina War (Vietnam War), it’s rich with history and sobering reminders of what most consider to be an unnecessary war. The War Museum can be done in just a few hours, so it makes for a great spot to check out without having to commit to a whole day of walking or tours. 

Let’s take a look at how to get to Ho Chi Minh’s War Museum, several of the exhibits, and their operating hours.

Getting to the War Museum in Saigon

Located at 28 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh, the War Museum is very straight-forward to get to, and once in the area, it’s hard to miss. 

Their website provides several bus routes you can take (No. 14, No. 28, No. 06) to get there, however, I generally recommend taking a Grab or walking (if in distance). 

Walking to the Vietnam War Museum From Nguyen Hue 

I’ve been the War Museum in Saigon several times now, and every time I go, I’ve typically met a friend or two at Nguyen Hue Street in District 1 (Walking Street). From Nguyen Hue, it will take a brisk walker just about 15 to 20 minutes to get there (roughly 1.8km or 1 mile). 

Be ready to sweat, as Saigon can get extremely hot. 

There are two routes you can take from Nguyen Hue Street (Walking Street). 

Nguyen Hue and Pasteur 

1. Walk northwest on Nguyen Hue towards City Hall – the beautiful Colonial building with a yellow hue
2. Take a left onto Le Thanh Ton
3. Cross the sidewalk and turn right up onto Pasteur
4. Walk up Pasteur (you will encounter a Coffee Bean on your right)
5. At Han Thuyen or Le Duan Street, take a left (you can also cut through the park diagonally as well) onto Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street)
6. Continue on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street until you reach Vo Van Tan Street and take a left 
7. Follow Vo Van Tan Street until you will see the War Remnant’s Museum on your right

Nguyen Hue and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

This is almost the same route, however instead of turning right at Pasteur Street, continue on to the next intersection, where you’ll take a right at Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street. From there, take Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street until you reach Vo Van Tan Street. Once again, follow Vo Van Tan Street until you see the War Remnant’s Museum on your right.

Or, maybe you’ve checked out my article on my favorite brunch spots in Ho Chi Minh and ended up dining at Au Parc – you’re then looking at less than a 10 minute walk – just cross over to Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street and you’re almost there!

Take a Grab or Taxi to the War Museum   

Simply enter the name of the War Museum, or its address, and you’ll be well on your way to getting there. I recommend taking Grab if you’re looking to beat the heat. 

Make sure to properly enter the address, as it’s not uncommon for an unrelated result to show up as the first result when using Grab in Vietnam.

By taxi, make sure you have the address pulled up on your phone to show the driver. Rides from District 1 should cost no more than VND $60,000 (USD $2.60). 

What to Expect: War Remnants Museum Exhibits

This is an extremely serious museum and with that comes some very disturbing images and descriptions of the War. However, I personally believe sometimes gruesome reminders are essential for educating and repeating past mistakes. Saigon’s War Museum is extremely powerful. 

War Museum Ticket Prices

To start, ticket prices are a reasonable VND $40,000 (USD $1.70) per person. Visitor students, students, armed forces, veterans, and senior officials will enjoy 50% off the ticket price (VND $20,000), while disabled veterans and children under 6 years of age will enjoy a free visit.  

If you’re interested in a guided tour and want to inquire about the price, you can contact the number provided on the War Remnants’ website at (84-4) 39392112 or email them at warrmhcm@gmail.com,  

About the Vietnam War Museum

Keep in mind that the War Remnants Museum was formerly known as the ‘Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes’, and built in furtherance of exposing horrific war crimes perpetrated not only by the French by the U.S.. The name was later changed to the ‘Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression’, which were subsequently dropped once diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam improved in 1995. 

Do note that due to its original creation and intentions, the museum will likely feel propagandist and selective in how information is presented.

The exhibits start before you even enter the actual Museum, with military helicopters, airplanes, turrets, and other equipment on display out in their walled yard. For me, this was a favorite, due to never having truly understood the size of the actual aircraft used. After taking your time in the open yard, exhibitors typically then move to the “tiger cages” on the left side of the yard. The tiger cages are where the South Vietnamese kept political prisoners. The last guillotine used by the South Vietnamese and French to execute political prisoners is also on display here.

Inside, exhibits include extremely graphic photographs tackling the effects of Agent Orange, notable war atrocities (ex. My Lai Massacre), and pictures of the Paris Peace Accords. All exhibits support texts in English, Vietnamese, and Japanese. 

An exhibit that specifically stood out to me is the War Museum’s ‘Requiem’ photo gallery, which consists of countless photographs taken by war journalists killed during the war – from both sides.

One thing that really stood out to me at the War Remnants Museum were the countless Vietnamese I saw with their children and teenagers, explaining the significance of the war, Vietnam’s history, and more.  

War Remnants Museum Hours

One of the best things about the War Museum in Saigon is that it is open all days of the week, including holidays. The doors open at 7:30AM and close at 6PM. Don’t worry if you’re a bit late getting there, as the museum is easily do-able in just a few hours. 

• Hours: 7:30-6PM Daily (Including Holidays)

I would generally recommend setting aside at least 2 hours for the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh. 

You can find more information about the exhibits, directions, and general questions on the Vietnam War Museum’s website here. 

If you have any questions about the War Remnants Museum, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible! I’d love to hear about your experience.