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Among Vietnam’s greatest tourist attractions are its war remnants. According to our guide, Vietnam fought approximately 1000 years against “imperialist” China, 100 years against the “colonist” French, and then 20 years in a civil war (which to North Vietnamese felt more like a war against the U.S.).
We hit the war museum, where we learn about Agent Orange – a toxic chemical used by the American’s during the Vietnam War that took place officially from 1965 to 1973. In two jars, we see preserved still birth babies who have been affected by Agent Orange. One jar has a baby with a head as large as his / her body while the other jar has two babies who look like aliens with skulls attached. This museum, although clearly from one point of view, is sad and informative. Next, we hit the history museum. This museum would not have been as enriching without our guide. She had these great stories, which had been told to her again and again during childhood then reaffirmed in school. In one picture, we see a Vietnamese fleet battle against a Mongolian one that looks ten times larger. Our guide asks, “How did we beat the Mongols?” Ma and I look at the picture again; sharpened bamboo in the water is tearing apart Mongol ships. “We lured the Mongols into this trap which dramatically reduced the size of their army and ensured our victory”, says our guide. Sadly, one need not even go into these museums to see the remnants of war. En route to dinner, we see some beggars with severed limbs others looking as though their skin had peeled off. The museums are helpful though, as they attempt to explain what happened.
The next day, we crawl through the Cu Chi tunnels—one of the most impressive war strategies. In the village of Cu Chi, the inhabitants banded together, took their lives underground, then created death traps (e.g. clipping arm pit trap, see-saw trap, roll-over trap, etc.) all over the grounds above. The tunnels they created to get down and move around the underground were so small that only the very short and slim Vietnamese could slide through them. (See pic, I am barely able to squeeze in and out of them!) At the Cu Chi tunnels, I also try shooting. The first gun I pick is a machine gun, because it is the biggest, but I am told it is too heavy for me to carry. Relenting, I pick up the AK47. Not knowing to put the butt of the gun tight against my shoulder, I fire, only to have the butt ricochet just below my collar bone and bruise me. I am pathetic! Give me a gun, and I will hurt myself even without aiming at myself. I am no better as a farmer. Next, I try to separate rice skins from harvested grains. I use my whole body to turn the lever, but our guide says to me, “You too slow. You would be a poor farmer.” Thank goodness I opted for a different occupation.
We hit the war museum, where we learn about Agent Orange – a toxic chemical used by the American’s during the Vietnam War that took place officially from 1965 to 1973. In two jars, we see preserved still birth babies who have been affected by Agent Orange. One jar has a baby with a head as large as his / her body while the other jar has two babies who look like aliens with skulls attached. This museum, although clearly from one point of view, is sad and informative. Next, we hit the history museum. This museum would not have been as enriching without our guide. She had these great stories, which had been told to her again and again during childhood then reaffirmed in school. In one picture, we see a Vietnamese fleet battle against a Mongolian one that looks ten times larger. Our guide asks, “How did we beat the Mongols?” Ma and I look at the picture again; sharpened bamboo in the water is tearing apart Mongol ships. “We lured the Mongols into this trap which dramatically reduced the size of their army and ensured our victory”, says our guide. Sadly, one need not even go into these museums to see the remnants of war. En route to dinner, we see some beggars with severed limbs others looking as though their skin had peeled off. The museums are helpful though, as they attempt to explain what happened.
The next day, we crawl through the Cu Chi tunnels—one of the most impressive war strategies. In the village of Cu Chi, the inhabitants banded together, took their lives underground, then created death traps (e.g. clipping arm pit trap, see-saw trap, roll-over trap, etc.) all over the grounds above. The tunnels they created to get down and move around the underground were so small that only the very short and slim Vietnamese could slide through them. (See pic, I am barely able to squeeze in and out of them!) At the Cu Chi tunnels, I also try shooting. The first gun I pick is a machine gun, because it is the biggest, but I am told it is too heavy for me to carry. Relenting, I pick up the AK47. Not knowing to put the butt of the gun tight against my shoulder, I fire, only to have the butt ricochet just below my collar bone and bruise me. I am pathetic! Give me a gun, and I will hurt myself even without aiming at myself. I am no better as a farmer. Next, I try to separate rice skins from harvested grains. I use my whole body to turn the lever, but our guide says to me, “You too slow. You would be a poor farmer.” Thank goodness I opted for a different occupation.
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