Prior to my visit to Vietnam, I have little knowledge about the Vietnam War. All I know is that the U.S. lost...militarily, at least.

In a nutshell, the Vietnam War is a battle between the communist North Vietnam and the U.S.-backed South Vietnam. Both sides wanted reunification. But the North, under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, wanted a communist rule while the South wanted close ties with the West.

The war was even intensified because of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The U.S. believed that if Vietnam fell into the hands of the communists, the other Southeast Asian nations would follow. This was called the Domino Theory. Thus, U.S increased support to South Vietnam.

But what made it harder for South Vietnam and the U.S. forces was the Southern symphatizers of the North called the National Libreration Front (NLF), whom Washington derisively referred to as the Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists) or VC. They were a political group with an army of guerillas.

To cut the long story short*, the U.S. lost militarily. But no one really wins in a war, right? While figures vary, it is estimated that around 2-3 million Vietnamese, both fighters and civilians on either side, were killed. Economically, it took Vietnam decades to get back on its feet. There were also millions of Vietnamese who sought refuge abroad, leaving their motherland.

On the U.S. side, 58,200 died in the War. But the veterans who survived had a hard time coping up psychologically:

“According to a survey by the Veterans Administration, some 500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction were markedly higher among veterans.”

Let’s not forget the protests and riots that divided America during the war. That’s not without casualties.

So while in Vietnam, I made sure to get a better understanding of the War. In fact, I would encourage tourists, even those who aren’t interested with history in general and with the War in particular, to also do the same. As the War is a gloomy part of Vietnam's history and the whole world’s, it is imperative for humanity to understand how it came to fruition and to avoid it happening in the future.

To help us understand the roots, events, and effects of the War, there are museums and tours dedicated to it. There are 2 popular ones in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC): The War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels Tours.

The War Remnants Museum

This museum is easily the most popular war museum in HCMC. It houses galleries and exhibits documenting the atrocities of the War and preserves memorabilia from it. Some galleries display graphic photos. Thus, the museum is not for the faint of heart.

There’s a gallery dedicated to the effects of Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the U.S. to remove the forest cover of the North Vietnamese troops and the VC. It caused health issues such a cancer, birth defects, and psychological and neurological problems. Photos of children born with these defects are shown in the gallery.

Outside the museum are abandoned U.S. aircrafts, artilleries, and tanks on display, including the iconic UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, better known at the “Huey”.

I’ve been warned about the bias or propaganda of the museum. That’s understandable, as it is located in Vietnam and shows the Vietnamese side of the war. So if you’re visiting, just be aware of it.

Even U.S. anti-war paraphernalia are on display

Address: 28 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3, HCMC | Operating Hours: Daily, 7:30AM-6PM (including public holidays) | Admission Fee: 40,000VND (free for war invalids and martyrs' families, children under 6 years of age, and children in remote areas)

Note: Most city tours include the War Remnants Museum and the admission fee is usually covered

Cu Chi Tunnels Tour

The Cu Chi Tunnels is another popular destination that memorialized the War. It is a tunnel network that runs thousands of miles located in Cu Chi district, which is northwest of the city center. It is used by the VC to mount surprise attacks against the better- and heavily-armed American and Southern Vietnamese troops. It is also used to house troops, transport supplies, and lay booby traps. Now, it is a tourist destination where visitors can learn about the life in the tunnels.

Visitors can enter and crawl through a portion of the tunnels:

A tourist entering a portion of the tunnels

The VC used the tunnels as a stronghold for the Tet Offensive, a series of coordinated attacks by the North Vietnamese and the VC on the lunar new year, Tet.

Life in the Cu Chi Tunnels was hard for the VC. The guerillas suffered scarcity of supplies, infestation from insects, and even sickness such as malaria.

A mannequin of guerillas carrying a wounded fellow

There are different kinds of booby traps on display, such as this one:

At the end of the tour, we got to try the food that the guerillas ate:

The Cu Chi Tunnels tour is one of my favorite activities in HCMC. Because visitors get to try the tunnels and guerilla food, it is an experiential way of learning about the Vietnam War. Be sure not to miss this when you visit HCMC.

We booked our tour here.

PS If you wish to learn more about the Vietnam War, there is a documentary series on Netflix entitled The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. I highly recommend it!

References:

https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history

https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/cu-chi-tunnels

Have you been to any of the destinations above? How was your experience? What lessons did you take home? Comment them below!

Other entries in the Gone to Saigon series: A Throwback to My Ho Chi Minh City Trip (Introduction) | Eating Banh Mi, Pho, and Other Vietnamese Dishes | Modern Vietnamese Cuisine at Anan Saigon

Gone to Saigon: Learning About the Vietnam War

The War Remnants Museum

Cu Chi Tunnels Tour