The Son My Memorial Site (Di tích Sơn Mỹ) is a significant historical landmark in Quang Ngai Province, located in Tinh Khe Commune, approximately 12 km from the center of Quang Ngai. It preserves evidence, photographs, and artifacts related to the Son My Massacre of March 16, 1968, while serving as a place to commemorate the victims and convey a message of peace. The site was recognized as a national-level historical monument in 1979.

My Lai Massacre on March 16, 1968

On the morning of March 16, 1968, the US military carried out a raid on Viet Cong forces at My Lai (Son My); 504 civilians lost their lives. The victims included 182 women, 173 children, 60 people over the age of 60, and 89 middle-aged individuals. Notably, 17 of the women were pregnant, and records from the Quang Ngai Provincial Library indicate that 56 of the children were infants aged five months or younger.

My Lai massacre
This photo, taken by Ronald L. Haeberle on March 16, 1968, immediately after the My Lai Massacre, shows mostly women and children lying dead on the road.

Beyond the tragic loss of life, the massacre caused severe destruction to the rural area. According to data released by Quang Ngai authorities, 247 houses were burned down, thousands of livestock and poultry were killed, and the villagers’ food supplies and crops were destroyed by fire.

Son My Memorial Site
List of the victims killed at the My Lai Massacre.

The event subsequently became widely known around the world as the My Lai Massacre. When images and details of the incident were released, they shocked international public opinion and became a frequently cited example of the war’s impact on civilians during the Vietnam War.

Today, visitors can view photographs documenting these war crimes at the Son My Memorial Site, the War Remnants Museum (Ho Chi Minh City), or the Vietnam National Museum of Revolution (Hanoi).

The Son My Memorial Site

The Son My Memorial Site, covering 2.4 hectares, was established in 1978. Situated apart from residential areas, the site comprises both original preserved relics and structures built later, such as the exhibition hall, reception area, monument, garden statues, Mr. Nhieu’s rice field, a watchtower, an artillery shelter, and a mass grave for the massacre victims.

Son My Memorial Site
The house of a resident of Son My village was burned down by American invaders. All 5 members of this family, including 3 children aged 2 – 9 years old, were killed by the American enemy on the morning of March 16, 1968.

Inside the exhibition hall, visitors can view various preserved artifacts: an old brass tray riddled with bullet holes; the shirt and sandals of a child who was shot dead; and dishes, pots, and pans pierced or shattered by gunfire. Across the surrounding hamlets, memorial markers stand at the specific locations where the killings took place.

Son My Memoria Site
The section of the ditch east of Thuan Yen hamlet—where U.S. forces killed 107 of the 504 innocent civilians—has also been reconstructed within the Son My memorial site.

Every year, the site welcomes a large number of domestic and international visitors who come to pay their respects and learn about history. Thus, Son My is not merely a war memorial but also a destination for peace, a place where the past is preserved to remind future generations of the value of life, compassion, and peace.

Source: collected by An

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