Saigon Ranger Museum is housed in a house more than 60 years old which was once a secret operations base for the Saigon Special Forces. Currently, it is a favorite cultural and historical destination for residents and tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City.

Overview of the Saigon Ranger Museum

The Saigon Ranger Museum is located on the second floor of a house built in 1963 on Tran Quang Khai Street, Tan Dinh Ward. The house was originally the secret operating base of the Saigon Rangers, under the guise of a facility for building new cyclos and processing furniture for the Independence Palace, managed by Mr. Tran Van Lai (also known as Nam Lai).

However, after 1975, Mr. Lai’s family divided the house into three parts and sold two of them. To have the museum as it is today, it’s a long journey… Mr. Lai’s family has diligently searched for, recovered, and restored the houses, cellars, and memorabilia that marked the activities of the Saigon-Gia Dinh rangers.

With persistent perseverance, the Saigon Ranger Museum officially opened on August 27, 2023. This is a non-public museum and the only one in Vietnam dedicated to the Saigon-Gia Dinh Rangers.

Saigon Ranger Museum

In addition to housing a number of historically significant artifacts, the museum uses modern tools such as 3D imagery, VR (virtual reality), and AR (augmented reality) to recreate key events and spaces associated with the Saigon Rangers. Digitalization will expand and help younger generations connect and better understand the Saigon Rangers’ historical heritage.

Saigon Ranger museum
A portrait of Mr.Lai

Recreate the heroic history of the Saigon Rangers

Currently, the museum displays seven collections of valuable artifacts with more than 300 artifacts and image documents associated with each stage of the revolutionary activities of Mr. Tran Van Lai and the Saigon Rangers including the Collection secret bunkers to store weapons and hide troops; Collection of vehicles used by ranger soldiers for traveling; weapons collection and living items associated with the operations of the Saigon Rangers; Collection of production tools and equipment of Mr. Tran Van Lai in the guise of a contractor at the Independence Palace; Collection of communication equipment…Each artifact is a vivid, intimate, legendary story of the Saigon Rangers.

Saigon ranger museum
State-of-the-art equipment from previous times, such as typewriters, radios… are also on display

The most numerous artifacts are collections of weapons and bombs used in battles, along with images of several raids on the enemy by the Saigon Rangers.

Saigon Ranger Museum
Types of combat weapons of the Saigon Rangers

Notably, the 82 mm mortar was used to shoot at General Westmoreland’s headquarters and workplace on February 13, 1967. General Westmoreland served as Commander of the US Military Advisory Command in South Vietnam from 1964 to 1968.

Saigon Ranger Museum
The mortar (left) was used to attack General Westmoreland’s headquarters in 1967.

At the museum, the history of the Saigon Rangers is brought to life through a diagram based on an old map of Saigon. For the first time, an overview of the network and mysterious operation of the Saigon Rangers is fully and clearly visible through the system of weapons bunkers and military bunkers built right in the heart of the enemy for many years, serving in the legendary battles of the Rangers in the heart of Saigon, and for the General Offensive and Uprising Campaign of Spring Mau Than 1968.

old map of Saigon in Saigon Ranger Museum

The place that retains visitors the longest is the wall commemorating the Rangers. Their portraits are reconstructed using AI technology.

The museum’s memorabilia is carefully displayed, but without glass frames or barriers, visitors can touch it to understand better and feel this legendary force.

Saigon Ranger Museum

Special to the Museum are the collections of secret bunkers and vehicles used by ranger soldiers for revolutionary activities during wartime.

Saigon Ranger museum
The French Velo Solex bike, manufactured in the 1950s, was used to carry secret documents.

There is also a large auditorium where visitors can watch films about the Saigon Ranger Forces, and a tea room with an antique barrel salon. 

Saigon Ranger Museum

The remarkable thing is that coffee and snacks are also served here, so visitors can visit, study, and enjoy the taste of old Saigon cuisine without affecting the museum’s memorabilia.

coffee Do Phu in Saigon Ranger Museum

Each month, the layout at the Saigon Rangers Museum will change to attract visitors.

Source: collected by An

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