The American War is part of the tragic and heroic history of Vietnam. There are people who lived through and fought the war, and suffered losses and pain. Forty years have gone by but they still retain vivid and glorious memories of a painful but heroic period. These materials, drawn from the stories of living witnesses, if carefully preserved and used, will be convincing and moving testimonies for the public, especially Vietnamese.
In activities at the museum, meeting, exchanging and saving those unforgettable memories of the witnesses are important. The War Remnants Museum (WRM) has built a team of collaborators including historic witnesses who are divided into 3 groups:
- Former political prisoners: they were adolescents keen to join the resistance war for liberation. They were severely tortured at many different prisons under the U.S. and Ngo Dinh Diem administrations such as Chi Hoa prison, Tan Hiep prison and Da Lat prison for children before being exiled to Con Dao or Phu Quoc prison. Among them were Le Thanh Canh, Nguyen Thi Phi Van, Le Hong Tu, Nguyen Thi Chau, Nguyen Duong Ke and Le Tu Cam, to name just a few.
- Agent Orange/dioxin victims including members from the An Phuc centre for the disabled. Despite being born during peacetime, they suffer from the effects of Agent Orange sprayed in South Vietnam by the U.S. military during the war. However, these victims are always optimistic and believe in themselves, and work hard to try and overcome their difficulties. Now, the WRM offers them a space to present and sell products they make with their skilled hands. The WRM invites them to perform music at many exchange activities.
- Vietnamese veterans: they joined the resistance against the foreign invaders and experienced the pain and losses of war. Now they may be infirm but remain optimistic and contribute to building the country in the spirit of peace and friendship.
There are other groups such as veterans of the U.S. and its allies, and the international activists against the Vietnam War. They used to be on the opposite side during the war, but are now coming back to Vietnam to relieve and reconcile the pain. They are veterans from many organizations such as Veterans for Peace, Soldier’s Heart Initiative (U.S.), anti-war activists from the Korea - Vietnam Peace Foundation (South Korea) and 10/8 Yamazaki Hiroaki Project (Japan).
Along with its team of collaborators, the historic witnesses who played various roles in the war, the WRM has organised several activities to interact with the public to enhance the effectiveness of its operations and attract national and international visitors.
There are successful special exchange activities such as “Today’s soldiers” and “Grandpa – grandma – grandchildren together come to the museum” with the participation of veterans and young soldiers, grandfathers and grandmothers, their children and grandchildren.
(2).jpg)
Exchange activity called “Grandpa – grandma – grandchildren together come to the museum” on June 27, 2015.
The WRM regularly welcomes veterans who were on the other side in the Vietnam War, especially U.S. veterans from the Soldier’s Heart Initiative and members of the Korea - Vietnam Peace Foundation. They usually come to meet with inmates of the An Phuc centre for the disabled. On January 8, 2019, an exchange activity was held for members of the Korea - Vietnam Peace Foundation to meet with former political prisoner Le Hong Tu and his wife Nguyen Thi Chau and Agent Orange victims from the An Phuc centre for the disabled. Such activities help heal the pain of war and create opportunities for cooperation and development, which come from the deep sympathy shown by many people.
(2).jpg)
Mai Thanh Son, a Vietnamese veteran, meets with U.S. veterans
Talk shows and thematic activities have been held in which veterans and former political prisoners play an important role as historic witnesses. They provide documents and accurate historical stories which enrich the content of the museum’s exhibitions. Recent activities included a dialogue called “Looking Back on the Past – Building a Brighter Future” with the participation of around 100 guests including Vietnamese veterans, former political prisoners and U.S. veterans on March 20, 2018, and a meeting titled “Volunteerism” where stories about soldiers with resilient fighting spirit were told by Le Thanh Canh, a former political prisoner, on September 28, 2018
.jpg)
Meeting titled “Volunteerism” held on September 28, 2018
Dialogue titled “Looking Back on the Past – Building a Brighter Future” held on March 20, 2018
It can be said that, thanks to the team of historic witnesses, the WRM has become a venue for peace and friendship which connects Vietnamese and their international friends and for generations to treasure the past and preserve peace for a bright future
Bùi Văn Thắng