The War Remnants Museum stands about 0.5 km from Independence Palace in central Ho Chi Minh City. It was established on 4 September 1975. It describes its job as collecting and showing evidence of the crimes and consequences of the war against Vietnam, and calling for awareness against unjust wars.
The museum's site lists nine permanent exhibition themes plus short-term shows and talks with war witnesses. It says it holds more than 20,000 documents, objects, photographs and films, and that it welcomes nearly 1 million visitors a year.
Expect graphic material: the museum's stated subject is the crimes and consequences of the war, shown largely through documents, objects and photographs.
Getting there
Measured in a straight line on map coordinates, the museum is about 1.0 km from Ben Thanh Market and about 1.6 km from Saigon railway station. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is about 6.2 km away in a straight line; the road is longer.
Hours and fees
The museum gives two closing times. Its home page lists 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Sunday. Its online ticket terms say 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM every day, holidays included. To be safe, plan to be inside well before 5:00 PM.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | VND 60,000 |
| Seniors, people with disabilities, people with revolutionary merit | VND 30,000 |
| Students with a card | Free (register online before you go) |
| Children under 6 | Free |
The adult price rose to VND 60,000 on 1 October 2026 under a resolution of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, which applies the same fee to Vietnamese and foreign visitors. The museum sells e-tickets online with a QR code to scan at the gate, up to 20 tickets per order.
Our take
It opens every day, holidays included, and sits about half a kilometre from Independence Palace, so we'd do the two in one morning. The closing times differ, so don't leave it later than mid-afternoon.
Nearby
- Independence Palace: about 0.5 km in a straight line.
- Ho Chi Minh City Museum: about 0.9 km in a straight line.
- Ben Thanh Market: about 1.0 km in a straight line.
Questions travelers ask
When in the day should I go? A first-time visitor asked for Saigon tips. One reply:
"Go to the War Remnants museum first thing in the morning, get the sad and depressing activity out of the way first, then go do something else more fun"
u/Jasonguyen81 on r/VietNam
Is it hard to take? In the same thread:
"It's definitely something everyone should do once, but it's a tough experience."
u/Affectionate_Rent988 on r/VietNam
