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A Message of Humanity from the Past

An exhibition entitled “Humanity” held before  the visit to Vietnam by US President Barack Obama  from May 23-25 showed viewers new angles of humanity from the war in Vietnam. Exhibits displayed at the exhibition convey a message of peace and friendship between Vietnam and the US.
The  “Humanity” exhibition held at the War Remnants Museum in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City from May 7-31 generally showed the role of the military’ logistics sector during the war, especially in the implementation of its humanitarian tasks, taking care of and ensuring materials for the US prisoners and pilots during their detainment in northern Vietnam. The museum is a special destination in Ho Chi Minh City so the exhibition provided a chance for both domestic and international visitors to see significant documents on American pilots in the war from 1955-1975.


Exhibits  show Vietnam’s humanity policy toward US prisoners. 

Young people take photographs of exhibits at the exhibitions.


Foreign tourists learn from the exhibition.



The exhibition conveys a message of peace and friendship between the two countries
before the visit to Vietnam by US President Barack Obama from May 23-25, 2016.

The exhibition consisted of 87 photographs, documents  and war remnants which were displayed based on three subjects: the battles that destroyed North Vietnam by aircraft of the US  Air Force and Navy, US prisoners during the war in Vietnam; and returning  prisoners of war - normalising the Vietnam-US relationship.  Visiting the exhibitions, viewers learned about the daily life of US prisoners through photographs, showing them playing volleyball, basketball, watching films and having regular clinic examinations during their detainment.

The exhibition also displayed rare documents and remnants of  US soldiers and pilots, such as, identity cards, dollar bills, prison clothes and paintings created in prisons and  many objects which were made skillfully from parts of the US airplanes shot down by the Vietnamese Army, such as sickbeds, coffeemakers, mirrors, combs and clips. 

According to Huynh Ngoc Van, Director of the War Remnants Museum, the exhibition helped viewers understand more about Vietnam’s humanity policy on the US prisoners in the war, educated young generations about the national humanity tradition and  conveyed a message of peace and friendship between Vietnam and the US.



Impressive images of the exhibition.

Senator Sen. John McCain – the former pilot during the war in Vietnam
met Mai Van On who saved him in Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi in 1967.



Joseph Kernan – a former Governor of Indiana, was a prisoner in the North from 1972-1973 visits Vietnam.

US prisoners have regular clinic examinations.

During their detainment in North Vietnam, US prisoners play football to improve their health.

US prisoners play volleyball in Hoa Lo Prison. 

Wilner N Grubb – a pilot of the US Navy of a downed F-4 jet having
his wound bandaged by civilian in Quang Binh on January 26, 1966. Photo: VNA


Military doctors prepared for surgery on pilot Laurence Barbay
arrested in Tuyen Quang Province on July 20, 1966. Photo: VNA



The clothes of Commander A. Vohden arrested on April 3, 1965 and a vest of a US pilot.

Daily utensils provided for prisoner Robbie Risner – commander  of an F-105D. 

Essential items provided for US prisoners during the war in Vietnam.

A dagger of a US pilot who was shot down.

A tape measure of a US pilot which was used in 1970.

US dollars of  US pilots.

A lighter of a US pilot who was shot down.  

A coffee filter made from the aluminum parts of  US airplanes .

Former US President Clinton and remains and remnants of three  US soldiers
on November 18, 2000 at  Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi.


On June 24, 1998 six remains of US soldiers who died in the war
in Vietnam were handed over to the US at Noi Bai International Airport.

The exhibition was significant, expressing the deep humanity in the history of wars against invaders of the Vietnamese people. Hans Petersen, a tourist from Denmark said: “I knew about the war in Vietnam, however, the exhibition gives me an idea about the war, a struggle balanced with humanity”. 
Story: Nguyen Vu Thanh Dat - Photos: Thong Hai & VNA’s File

The Le Dynasty Weapons Collection

The Le Dynasty Weapons Collection

The Giang Vo Military School and Le Dynasty Weapons Collection exhibition has recently been opened at the Hanoi Museum. The event, featuring over 200 artifacts and documents, provided an opportunity for both domestic and international visitors to admire the ancient martial arts training ground, the Giang Vo Military School, the first national martial arts academy in the ancient Thang Long citadel, along with a national treasure collection of weapons from the Le Dynasty.

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