EXPLORING VIETNAM WAR HISTORICAL SITES IN HO CHI MINH CITY
One of the most amazing parts of visiting Vietnam, is being surrounded by the remnants of the country’s history, both recent and ancient.
Vietnam has had a history full of complicated fighting and turmoil. If it was not the Americans in the 1960s into the 70s, it was the French from the late 1800s up until the 1950s. If it was not the French in the 1800s into the 1950s, it was the Japanese in the 1940s. That history did not discriminate throughout the country, from Hanoi in the north all the way down past Saigon and everywhere in between, a majority of the country has seen fighting at one point in time.
Though traces of this history is found all over, I am going to write about Ho Chi Minh City, (formally Saigon), one of my favorite cities in the world. If you are interested in visiting some good historical spots during your visit in the city, I hope that this is of some help to you. Enjoy.
The War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City
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22 LÝ TỰ TRỌNG STREET (PITTMAN APARTMENTS)
At first glance, 22 Lý Tự Trọng Street (formally 22 Gia Long Street) is just an ordinary apartment building that you would probably miss if you didn’t know what you were walking by, but when you see its rooftop from across the street below you might recognize it. This building was where the photo of the last Americans fleeing Saigon on the rooftop was taken.
It was originally reported that this was the rooftop of the former United States Embassy, but these apartment buildings were actually home to many CIA workers that were living in the city during the war.
Air America Helicopter Evacuates Refugees During The Fall Of Saigon. (Hubert Van Es, 1975)
You are able enter the apartments, the building looks exactly the same on the inside as it did 100 years ago.
Along with some really cool history, the building is now home to lots of really cute stores, my favorite is ‘The Balcony’ thrift store, a big vintage store with a beautiful cafe out on the balcony with a perfect view over the city especially during sunset.
You can even go up to get a different view of the landing spot, find the external staircase on the top floor. I can’t imagine what the walls of this building has seen especially on April 30th, 1975 during the Fall of Saigon.
THÍCH QUẢNG ĐỨC (THE BURNING MONK) MEMORIAL
The Burning Monk, Malcom Browne, 1963
One of my favorite photos of all time is ‘The Burning Monk’ taken in Saigon by Malcolm Brown, in 1963.
This photo is extremely well known, not only because it is so raw and shocking, but because when this photo made its way to the west, people saw and started to become aware of what was happening across the world in South East Asia, especially Vietnam.
Thích Quảng Đức was the name of the protesting monk, he engaged in such a public act of self-immolation as a statement of protest against the South Vietnamese government and their repressive acts against Buddhism under Ngô Đình Diệm, known as the Buddhist Crisis.
This intersection where the pictures were taken is marked by two beautiful monuments for Thích Quảng Đức, where some people were sitting, praying, and paying respects when I visited.
Visit the intersection and memorial here: 185 Đ. Cách Mạng Tháng 8, Phường 6, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
THE INDEPENDENCE PALACE
After being damaged by bombing during the 1950s, the palace was replaced and renovated, starting in 1962, and finished in 1966. Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, the president of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975, lived in the palace until the fall of Saigon when the North Vietnamese tanks broke through the gates and took over the palace-winning the war.
It is absolutely insane sitting there and seeing it in real life after seeing so many photographs from that day so often.
The Independence Palace is open to the public to visit everyday from 8am to 3:30pm, and ticket will cost 40,000 Dong ($1.62 USD)
Visit the Independence Palace here: Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM
A must hit in the city, the War Remnants Museum is really, really, heavy but incredibly interesting and so important to see. Formally named the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes, this museum runs through everything that led up to the Vietnam War-or the American War as they call it-all the way to the lasting effects of the war that we still see today. There are a number of different rooms in the museum with all different exhibits.
My favorite room was the photojournalism exhibit, showcasing the photos that made such a huge difference in how the west viewed the war, and the stories of the photographers behind the photos.
Visit The War Remnants Museum here: Phường 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000
CU CHI TUNNELS
About a hour and a half outside of the city (because of the traffic), the Cu Chi Tunnels were once a part of the large underground tunnel system all around the country that the Viet Cong had used during the War, now turned museum that is open to visitors-showcasing where these people hid and lived for weeks, and months during the fighting.
The tunnels that visitors are allowed to crawl through were even widened for tourism that what they were enduring in the 1970s-insanity.
The entrance fee to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels is currently 90000 Dong ($3.63).
You can independently visit the tunnels, but I highly recommend taking a tour to learn much more than you would walking around alone. I did my tour through Mobylette Sai Gon Hostel, where I stayed. If you do not stay there, you can book the same tour here.
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