War Remnants Museum Guide
Saigon's most powerful museum — Vietnam War exhibitions, Agent Orange documentation, and everything you need to know
The War Remnants Museum is the most visited museum in Vietnam and an essential stop on any Saigon itinerary. This powerful and confronting institution documents the Vietnam War (known locally as the American War) through photographs, military equipment, personal testimonies, and historical artifacts.
Originally opened in 1975 as the "Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes," the museum was renamed the War Remnants Museum in 1995 and presents the conflict primarily from the Vietnamese perspective. The collection includes Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs, documentation of Agent Orange's devastating effects, the Requiem exhibition honoring fallen war photographers, and an outdoor display of American military equipment including helicopters, tanks, and fighter jets. The museum provides crucial historical context that most Western visitors have never encountered, making it both an educational landmark and a profound experience of empathy and reflection.
7:30-18:00
Opening Hours
40,000₫
Entry Fee
Morning
Best Time
1975
Year Opened
Essential Information
Open daily 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM including weekends and public holidays (closed only during Tet). Entry costs 40,000₫ for adults and 20,000₫ for children. Audio guides are available for 20,000₫. No advance booking required — buy tickets at the entrance. The museum is air-conditioned inside, providing welcome relief from Saigon's heat.
Early morning at 7:30 AM for the quietest experience and best outdoor light for the military equipment. Weekday mornings are the least crowded. Tour groups arrive between 10 AM and 2 PM during peak season. Late afternoon after 3 PM is another good window. Allow 2-3 hours to see everything properly — this museum deserves your full attention.
Located at 28 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, a 10-minute walk from the Reunification Palace and 15 minutes from Notre-Dame Cathedral. By Grab bike, it costs 15,000-30,000₫ from most District 1 locations. The museum is included in most District 1 walking tours. Combine it with visits to the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral for a complete morning itinerary.
Budget 2-3 hours to see all the major exhibitions properly. The outdoor military display takes 20-30 minutes, the Agent Orange exhibition 30-45 minutes, the Requiem Exhibition 20-30 minutes, and the remaining galleries another 45-60 minutes. The museum is emotionally intense, so factor in time for breaks between the heavier exhibitions. Some visitors spend 3-4 hours reading every caption.
What to See
Agent Orange Exhibition
The most powerful and emotionally challenging exhibition in the museum, the Agent Orange display documents the devastating long-term effects of chemical warfare on the Vietnamese population. Photographs, medical records, and personal testimonies reveal the impact of over 80 million litres of herbicides sprayed across Vietnam between 1961 and 1971. The exhibition includes preserved specimens, stories of affected families across multiple generations, and scientific data on dioxin contamination. This is a confronting but essential exhibit that provides crucial context for understanding the lasting human cost of the Vietnam War. Allow at least 30 minutes and be prepared for an emotional experience.
Requiem Exhibition
Dedicated to the war photographers and journalists who died covering conflicts in Indochina, the Requiem Exhibition is a profoundly moving tribute curated by legendary photographer Tim Page. The collection features the final works of photographers from both sides of the conflict who gave their lives documenting the war — including Larry Burrows, Robert Capa, and Dickey Chapelle. The photographs are stunning, haunting, and deeply human, capturing both the horror and the humanity of wartime. A small reading area provides biographies of each photographer. This exhibition alone is worth the museum visit.
Vietnam War Photography Collection
Spread across multiple floors of the main building, this extensive collection features hundreds of photographs documenting the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective. Unlike Western media coverage most visitors are familiar with, these images show the war through the eyes of Vietnamese photographers and civilians. Exhibits cover the French colonial period, the American War (as it is known in Vietnam), the fall of Saigon in 1975, and the reunification period. Detailed English-language captions provide historical context for each photograph and event. The collection offers a perspective rarely seen outside Vietnam and is invaluable for understanding the full scope of the conflict.
Outdoor Military Equipment Display
The museum courtyard features an impressive collection of American military equipment captured or left behind after the war. Highlights include a UH-1 Huey helicopter (the iconic symbol of the Vietnam War), an F-5A fighter jet, an M48 Patton tank, a Douglas A-1 Skyraider, various artillery pieces, and a collection of bombs including a BLU-82 "Daisy Cutter." Children and military history enthusiasts will find this area particularly engaging. The equipment is well-maintained and clearly labeled with descriptions in both Vietnamese and English. The outdoor area also includes a replica of the notorious "tiger cages" used to hold political prisoners on Con Dao Island.
Photography Tips
Interior Photography
Photography is permitted throughout the museum, but flash is prohibited to protect the historic photographs and documents on display. The interior lighting is deliberately dim in many exhibition halls to create a reflective atmosphere, so bring a camera with good low-light capability or use a wide aperture lens. The Agent Orange exhibition and Requiem display are the most photographed interiors. Be respectful of other visitors, especially in the more emotionally intense areas — avoid blocking displays and keep noise to a minimum.
Outdoor Equipment
The courtyard military equipment provides excellent photography opportunities in natural light. The UH-1 Huey helicopter and F-5A fighter jet are the most popular subjects. Early morning (just after opening at 7:30 AM) offers the best light and fewest crowds for clean shots. The equipment is arranged in an open courtyard, so overhead midday sun can create harsh shadows — shooting during golden hour or on overcast days produces the best results. Wide-angle lenses work well for capturing the full scale of the larger equipment.
Respectful Documentation
The War Remnants Museum is a place of remembrance and historical documentation. While photography is allowed, be mindful of the subject matter — particularly in the Agent Orange exhibition where images of human suffering are displayed. Avoid taking selfies or posed photographs in areas depicting violence or human tragedy. Many visitors find certain exhibitions deeply moving, so be respectful of those around you who may be emotional. The museum appreciates visitors who use photography to share the museum's message of peace and reconciliation.
Nearby Food & Cafes
Pho Hoa Pasteur
One of the most famous pho restaurants in all of Saigon, located just a 10-minute walk from the museum on Pasteur Street. Pho Hoa has been serving its legendary beef pho since 1968 — the broth is rich, deeply flavored, and simmered for hours. Choose from rare beef (tai), brisket (nam), tendon (gan), or a combination bowl. The fresh herb plate with bean sprouts, basil, lime, and chili is generous. Arrive before 11 AM to avoid the lunch queue. Cash only.
Banh Mi Huynh Hoa
Widely considered the best banh mi in Saigon (and therefore the world), this tiny shop on Le Thi Rieng Street is about a 15-minute walk from the museum. The signature banh mi is packed with an extraordinary amount of pate, cold cuts, pork floss, butter, pickled vegetables, chili, and fresh herbs in a perfectly crispy baguette. The queue can stretch down the block during peak hours (4-7 PM), but it moves fast. Worth every minute of the wait.
Quan Bui Garden
A beautiful garden restaurant just two blocks from the museum on Ngo Van Nam Street, Quan Bui serves elevated Vietnamese cuisine in a lush courtyard setting with lanterns and tropical plants. The menu features refined versions of Vietnamese classics — try the crispy banh xeo, clay pot fish, or the caramelized pork belly. The Vietnamese iced coffee here is excellent. A perfect spot for a leisurely lunch after the emotional intensity of the museum. Reservations recommended for dinner.
Pro Tips
Visit Early Morning
The museum opens at 7:30 AM — arriving at opening time means you can explore the outdoor military equipment in soft morning light with virtually no other visitors. The first tour groups typically arrive around 9:30-10:00 AM, so an early start gives you 1.5-2 hours of peaceful exploration. The air-conditioned interior is also a welcome escape from the heat that builds through the morning.
Prepare Emotionally
This museum contains graphic images of war injuries, chemical warfare effects, and human suffering. While it is one of the most important museums in Southeast Asia, it can be emotionally overwhelming. Take breaks between the heavier exhibitions — the outdoor courtyard provides a good space to decompress. Consider visiting the Agent Orange exhibition last so you can leave and process the experience at your own pace.
Combine with Reunification Palace
The Reunification Palace is just a 10-minute walk from the museum, making them a natural pair for a morning itinerary. Start with the War Remnants Museum at 7:30 AM, spend 2-3 hours there, then walk to the Reunification Palace for a late morning visit. This gives you the full context of the Vietnam War from both the documentary perspective (museum) and the political perspective (palace).
Read Both Perspectives
The museum presents the Vietnam War primarily from the Vietnamese perspective, which most Western visitors have never encountered. Approach it with an open mind and read the English-language captions carefully — they provide invaluable context. Consider reading a balanced history of the conflict before or after your visit to gain the fullest understanding. The museum gift shop sells several excellent English-language books on the war.
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