PANO - The house of veteran Nguyen Van Dong in Van Giang hamlet, Ly Nhan commune, Vinh Tuong district, Vinh Phuc province, has become the first “private museum” in the province with nearly 400 keepsakes relating to the national anti-American war.

Veteran Nguyen Van Dong and a combat map of Military Zone 9

Ly Nhan commune is well known for forge and joinery. Though most of the villagers practice the two trades for earning their living, only Dong spends his time to collect war keepsakes, and many people sees him as an eccentric.

Dong joined the army in 1967. During a battle at Duc Hoa Airfield in Long An province, he was wounded and sent to the North for further treatment. In 1971, he was discharged and returned to his hometown.

While his family’s business was thriving, Dong thought that if he did not keep war keepsakes, the younger generations would not know the national history and sacrifice of troops and people in wartime.

Then, he rode on his obsolete bike to realize his goal. During each travel from the North to the South, he visited his old battlefields, met with his comrades and bought war keepsakes. After 20 years, he collected nearly 400 keepsakes of his comrades and war booty.

Veteran Nguyen Van Dong and war keepsakes

These objects include a combat map of Military Zone 9, a map on headstones of martyrs made by an American veteran, a flag sewn by two kids in Ben Duc district, Long An province, wreckage of a B52 bomber shot down by Vietnamese troops, a comb made from a shot aircraft by ten girls who sacrificed at Dong Loc crossroads, and especially a list of 300 troops of Regiment 33 who died between 1968 and 1978.

Many veterans, who visited his “museum”, were very moved after seeing their carefully-kept keepsakes.

He recommended the Ly Nhan commune People’s Committee, the provincial Museum and other relevant agencies allow him to display the keepsakes right in his house for free. They agreed and sent a mission to help Dong arrange the exhibits.

Notably, many veterans and his comrades gave Dong nearly 200 keepsakes.

Dong said that he hopes to receive more support from local authorities and other people to “enrich” his museum.

Translated by Pham Huy