The Saigon Commandos Museum is located at 145 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, making it the sole museum in Vietnam dedicated to the Saigon-Gia Dinh special forces. Notably, it is uniquely situated within the monument itself, a site formerly belonging to the Ngoc Que trade union. This union operated as a clandestine base for the Saigon Commandos, camouflaged under the guise of a facility focused on constructing new cyclos and processing furniture for the Independence Palace.
Historical Highlights of Saigon Commandos During 1961 – 1975
The museum delves into the history of the Saigon Commandos from 1961 to 1975. The Saigon Commandos, a specialized unit of the Southern Liberation Army, were adept at conducting raid missions, targeting military installations of the United States and the Republic of Vietnam, as well as engaging in urban guerrilla warfare, particularly in the Saigon market during the Vietnam War.
The extraordinary activities of the Saigon special forces unfolded in two key phases: the “special war” strategy (1961-1965) and its peak during the “local war” strategy (1965-1968). Guided by the Regional Party Committee and the Command of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Military Region, Division 6, the commando force executed bold and audacious attacks across the city, achieving remarkable victories. Notable targets included the US Military Aid Mission in Vietnam (MAAG), Kinh Do theater, Caravelle hotel, Brink, Metropol, Victoria, US.Card aircraft carrier, US Embassy, Police General Office, South Vietnam “National Day”, Tan Son Nhat airport, My Canh floating restaurant, among others.
Things to See at the Saigon Commandos Museum
Visitors to the Saigon Commandos Museum can explore seven collections of valuable artifacts linked to the Commandos. These encompass secret bunkers containing weapons and soldiers, vehicles utilized by Commando soldiers, weaponry, living items associated with operations, and production tools of People’s Armed Forces Hero Tran Van Lai (Mai Hong Que), disguised as a contractor at the Independence Palace, along with communication equipment.
The museum vividly portrays the history of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Commandos through a diagram overlaid on an old map of Saigon-Gia Dinh. For the first time, the network and mysterious operations of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Commandos become fully visible through the system of weapon bunkers and military bunkers strategically built in the enemy’s heart over many years. This setup served the legendary battles of the Commandos in the heart of Saigon, including the 1968 Spring Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising Campaign.
Accompanying the map are smart interactive screens allowing visitors to explore images and data concerning soldiers and the legendary victories of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Commandos. The existence of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Commando Museum today is the culmination of a lengthy journey involving the search, collection, and restoration of memorabilia. Since the 1980s, fueled by the passionate determination of People’s Armed Forces Hero Tran Van Lai, the process of locating and preserving the memorabilia of his comrades and the Saigon-Gia Dinh Commandos has spanned many years.
Collection of Saigon Commando Artifacts in Restoration
Prior to 1975, 145 Tran Quang Khai housed the cyclo building and repair union, as well as the interior decoration union founded by Mr. Mai Hong Que (Hero Tran Van Lai). Operating covertly as a furniture processing facility for the Independence Palace, this location also served as a hub for exchanging information, documents, and contributions of materials and medicine for the special forces in Saigon.
After 1975, Mr. Tran Vu Binh (son of Mr. Tran Van Lai) endeavored to repurchase a portion of the old house, encompassing the ground, second, and third floors, to establish a museum. The house maintains its original architecture dating back to its construction in 1963, complete with an antiquated elevator.
In addition to the artifacts at 145 Tran Quang Khai, the museum is intricately linked with a series of historical relics associated with the Saigon Special Forces, such as the remains of secret weapons bunkers and military bunkers on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ward 5, District 3, HCM City. This clandestine bunker system, situated in the heart of the city, once stored over 2 tons of weapons and provided shelter for the 5th Special Forces Team during the attack on the Independence Palace. It also supplied weapons for other battles, including the 1968 Mau Than General Offensive campaign of the Saigon Special Forces.
The museum is also connected to the secret mailbox and floating bunker of the Saigon special forces at 113A Dang Dung, Tan Dinh ward, District 1. Disguised as a Korean broken rice restaurant, this location served as Mr. Tran Van Lai’s secret departure and return point. Housing two floating bunkers, it functioned as a meeting place for work assignments, worker congresses, and the exchange of letters, secret documents, gold coins, and western medicine sent by Mr. Lai to the war zone and friendly countries.
Commander Tran Hai Phung’s bunker in Ap Thap hamlet, Thai My commune, Cu Chi district, and Vinh Xuan – Phu Xuan gold leaf shop at 368 Hai Ba Trung, Tan Dinh ward, District 1, were pivotal communication, intelligence, and covert bases. These locations concealed Viet Minh forces, contributed gold and material resources to the war zone, and played a crucial role in the country’s defense.
Villa No. 8 Nguyen Thi Huynh in Ward 8, Phu Nhuan District, served as the construction and production site for furniture for the Independence Palace by the Mai Hong Que Trade Union. It also served as the place where two death row heroes from Con Dao, Phan Trong Binh and Pham Quoc Sac, were rescued and transported to a safe war zone. The Saigon Commando Garage at 499/20 Cach Mang Thang 8, Ward 13, District 10, functioned as a facility to protect and care for Party officials and senior officials of the Saigon – Gia Dinh Military Region. Additionally, it provided security for officials entering Saigon for meetings and fighting, protecting comrades during communication and weapon transport, and manufacturing double-bottomed vehicles for weapon transportation.
The Saigon Commandos Museum is part of a series of 10 Saigon Commandos relics in Ho Chi Minh City scheduled for restoration in 2023, and now open to tourists in 2024. If you look for Vietnam Private Tours, contact us for best itinerary.
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