Visit the Ho Chi Minh City Museum for a few reasons: a) its beautiful French building, b) see how Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, is like in the pass and c) the Ho Chi Minh City Museum is conveniently located within the city centre (see how to get to Museum of Ho Chi Minh City).

The Ho Chi Minh City Museum, a tourist attraction in Saigon, housed in a grey and neoclassical structure built in 1886, is a singularly beautiful and amazing building. The Ho Chi Minh City Museum displays artifacts from the various periods of the communist struggle for power in Vietnam. The photographs of anti-colonial activists executed by the French appear out of place in the gilded, 19th-century ballrooms, but then again the contrast gives a sense of immense power and complacency of the colonial French. There are photos of Vietnamese peace demonstrators in Saigon demanding that US troops get out; and a dramatic photo of Thich Quang Duc, the monk who made headlines worldwide, when he burned himself to death in 1963 to protest against the policies of President Ngo Dinh Diem.

On display on the ground level shows Saigon’s way of life in the past and also some precious metals found.

Also on display is a big poster of one very proud Vietnam moment where the 1st Vietnamese satellite was placed in orbit on April 2008.

Saigonese demonstrating for democracy and civil rights in 1964. This was during the time when the Americans entered Vietnam.

A model of the Cu Chi Tunnel.

Anti Vietnam War movement from all over the world.

A cow cart disguised to transport weapons for the American Embassy attack in 1968.

On the 2nd level are some interesting statues from central Vietnam used in the past during the ‘tomb abandoning’ ceremony in which the dead was to end their relationship with the living.

This is part 2 of a 2 parts series on the Ho Chi Minh City Museum. Part 1 focuses on its beautiful building.