There are several landmarks, museums and experiences in Ho Chi Minh City that have a strong association with the Vietnam War, and this newly created half-day excursion affords the opportunity to explore some of them first-hand. The program starts at the Hotel Continental, a Saigon institution that was immortalized in Graham Greene’s 1955 novel, The Quiet American. Nearby, the former CIA building from where the last helicopter evacuations out of the city took place is visible from an elevated position.
The Reunification Palace is now an absorbing museum complete with period meeting areas, war rooms and a basement communication centre, while the War Remnants Museum offers a fascinating insight into many aspects of the war. Complete the tour with a visit to the sombre monument dedicated to Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk who demonstrated against the South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War by setting himself on fire. There is an option to visit an art gallery at the end where genuine and reproduction propaganda art is available to purchase.
