Vietnam Day Two: War Remnants Museum

16 days since New Year's day, I'm late with my greeting once again.  But Happy 2013 anyway! So how did you celebrate New Year? I spent mine with family, a good midnight meal and a bit of firecrackers, but unfortunately I was down with a bad flu.  No fun at all.

 

Anyway, I still have  a gazillion photos to share.  Remember, I've long been stuck working on photos of my Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) trip from two months ago, and I'm still exactly where you have left me.  Really slow progress here. Please bear with me.  One day, I'll get by and be more updated. I hope.
 

Day Two in Saigon was all about a tour of the War Remnants Museum,   shopping, eating and discovering more. 

My view from the car while on our way to War Remnants Museum.  Yes, even senior women drive  motorcycles without a slight tinge of fear.  I don't think I'll ever survive this part of Vietnam. 

At the War Remnants Museum.  Weather on day two was comparable to Manila weather. Hot!  Yet less pollution.  Saigon's garbage disposal and pest control system are worth exploring (for Manila). Systematic disposal of trash and no mosquitoes nor flies.

The War Remnants Museum exhibits all that pertain to the American Phase of the Vietnam War.  In this part of the museum, one may see dioramas and photos of how Vietnamese prisoners were tortured.

Torture related photos and write-ups.

 An actual photo of a Vietnamese about to be beheaded.

 The beheading chamber.

A diorama of a prisoner.  At this part of the tour, J. Bond had made his exit.  Scenes like this make him uneasy. 

 

A display of weapons used during the war.

 

Ammunitions.

 

Comparative figures of 3 wars with U.S. participation.

 

A Nikon Camera used by a Japanese photographer during the war. 

 

 

Despite my brave front while walking from chamber to chamber, room to room,  stories of war truly make me sad.  In some way, I felt the negative emotions  still lingering around.  In fact, Thuy (my guide) remained intense about the subject while on this tour. So, I focused on images that mattered to me instead. Well, it didn't help either.

 

A wall of photos showing Agent Orange's effect on children.  Click here to know more about Agent Orange.

 

More photos showing Agent Orange's effect on children.

 

Strikingly sad image of a Mother and Child. 

 

Shares why  pain still exists.  The effect of Agent Orange is felt to this day. 

 

Another sad image of a Mother and her children.

 

As written, "...At night of February 25, 1969, a group of Seal Rangers (one of the most selective rangers of U.S. Army) led by Lieutenant Bob Kerry reached Hamlet 5, Thanh Phong Village, Thanh Phu District, Ben Tre Province.  Three grandchildren of Bui Van Vat hid in this sewer, but the U.S. rangers caught and stabbed two (Bui Thi Anh - 10 years old and Bui Thi Nguyet - 8 years old) and disembowelled Bui Van Dan - 6 years old)."

 Note:  a diorama. 

Now, the fun part.  Thuy had directed my pose.

 

The only display that I liked and loved.

 

Remember this photo from an earlier post?  My tour of the War Remnants Museum led me to a group of gifted beaders, who unfortunately were all "products" of Agent Orange.

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Beading in progress :)

 

A few of their finished animal bead works. 

 

Floral arrangements made of beads.

 

They had beaded bags too.

 

I chose this.

 

Like what I said previously, I have more than a thousand Saigon photos to work on. 

 

So more soon....