According to the renowned US-based science and exploration magazine National Geographic on 31/7, Vietnam has developed rapidly since its liberation 50 years ago. However, the country also cherishes its past, evident in the museums and monuments erected to commemorate the contributions of previous generations. Many locations are popular with history buffs, and a visit can be a profound experience for the upcoming National Day on 2/9.

Ho Chi Minh City

Tourists visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Photo: Quynh Tran

War Remnants Museum

The museum documents the harsh realities of war crimes inflicted on the Vietnamese people, including the My Lai massacre. Exhibits focus on the consequences of Agent Orange used by the Americans during the war. Another highlight is the extensive collection of aircraft and weaponry from the war, including various types of ammunition and explosives used.

Reunification Palace

Considered a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City, the palace marks the official end of the war in Vietnam. Built in 1966, the Reunification Palace is open to the public, with guided tours available in Vietnamese and other languages. The interior remains largely as it was originally designed. The basement leads visitors to the war rooms, featuring vintage radio equipment, telephones, and soundproofed walls.

Cu Chi Tunnels

A portion of this tunnel system, extending hundreds of kilometers and reaching depths of 8 meters underground, barely large enough for a person to crouch through, has been preserved as a tourist attraction. This network played a crucial role in the Vietnamese resistance against the French and American forces. Located nearly 60 km from Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels offer guided tours through hidden trapdoors camouflaged with earth and leaves, leading into the dark and humid tunnels.

Quang Ngai

Memorial at the Son My Memorial. Photo: Wiki

Son My Memorial

This site houses a museum and memorial, both poignant and heartbreaking, dedicated to the My Lai massacre in Son My village. Having witnessed such horrors, Son My is now a peaceful place. Visitors can explore the local life through river tours and enjoy seafood by the beach. The popular tourist destination Ly Son is also nearby.

Quang Tri

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

The DMZ marked the dividing line between North and South Vietnam from 21/7/1954 to 2/7/1976. It was the site of some of the most strategic points during the Vietnam War, including Khe Sanh, a former US Marine outpost now a museum, and Ta Con airfield, where remnants of aircraft, tanks, and missile launchers from the war remain.

Vinh Moc Tunnels

Similar to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Vinh Moc Tunnels have been preserved and are open to visitors. From 1966 to 1972, 90 families from neighboring villages sheltered here during American bombing raids. Tours take visitors inside the tunnels, showcasing areas designed as kitchens, wells, and even a maternity ward. Seventeen babies were born in these tunnels. Located near the DMZ, Vinh Moc Tunnels can be combined with the DMZ for a day trip.

Hanoi

Indian tourists visit Hoa Lo Prison. Photo: Pham Chieu

Vietnam Military History Museum

Relocated to a larger and more scenic location in late 2024, the museum houses over 150,000 documents and artifacts. The collection includes unique exhibits and national treasures: a Soviet-made MiG-21 aircraft, the tank that crashed through the gates of the Reunification Palace on 30/4/1975, and the map of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. There are also exhibition rooms displaying personal belongings, photographs, and letters of soldiers and villagers affected by the war.

Hoa Lo Prison

Built by the French in the late 19th century, Hoa Lo Prison held many American prisoners of war under harsh conditions, subjected to brutal torture. Most of the prison was demolished in the 1990s, but a section remains as a museum. Exhibits include personal items of famous prisoners, notably the flight suit of US Senator and Vietnam War veteran John McCain, who was imprisoned after his plane was shot down over Hanoi in 1967.

Tam Anh (via National Geographic)