    |
 |
|
A map featuring the attack directions during the Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising in 1968 at Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Force Museum |
Situated at 145 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh ward, District 1, three-storey Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Force Museum has been opened for tourists since August 2023. It displays more than 300 kinds of weapons, letters, wartime household items and others such as President of the Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Van Thieu’s typewriter, Do Mien’s leaflet printing machine, and female liaison Nguyen Ngoc Hue’s bike.
In the museum, there is a wooden elevator operated for decades, a large map featuring the attack directions during the Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1968. The display space reappears some surprise attacks of the special forces via photos with captions. Attentively, on the second-floor balcony always flies the flag of the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam. This is a favorite check-in place for visitors. The entrance ticket is 50,000 VND per person.
|
|
 |
|
The space of the café has a nostalgic look with many exhibits of the Saigon Special Force. |
Do Phu café - Dai Han broken rice restaurant at 113A Dang Dung, Tan Dinh ward, District 1 used to be a secret base of the Saigon Special Force. It has been operated by the family of Do Mien since 1946. Since it was next to the house of a general of the military of the Republic of Vietnam, the family had to be careful in storing and transferring confidential documents. On the second floor, hidden containers were formed under the base of the wall or in the wardrobe to hide letters and documents. There was also an escape way in case of a disturbance. This coffee shop in old Saigon design stores many memorabilia of revolutionary soldiers.
|
|
 |
|
An old car used to transport equipment |
Another address is the three adjacent houses in alley 287 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3. They are attractive to foreign visitors thanks to many exhibits related to the Saigon people and the Special Force. The highlight is an old Citroen car used to transport equipment and a strong tunnel system camouflaged under alternating red and white bricks. The house at number 70 has a secret tunnel, over 10 meters long, where tons of weapons were stored in preparation for campaigns. Iron boxes and wooden ammo boxes remain in the tunnel. The tunnel has been open to visitors for free since 2018 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising. Foreign visitors should hire a tour guide for 300,000 VND to get detailed information.
Binh “Pho” restaurant at 7 Ly Chinh Thang, Ward 8, District 3 used to be a frontline command post of Sub-Region 6 (Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Zone) during the Mau Than Tet in 1968. Its facade stands out with a yellow five-pointed star and a signboard with the restaurant's name on a red background like the national flag of Vietnam. The owner, Ngo Toai, was sentenced to 20 years in Con Dao Prison for his support to the special force. Ngo Toai's descendants, including liaison officer Ngo Van Lap, have inherited their father's traditional pho business on the ground floor for more than 60 years.
|
|
 |
|
A photo of foreign tourists with Ngo Toai |
The first floor of the house displays historical documents and images of soldiers who disguised themselves as Pho restaurant employees. Standout memorabilia include a camouflaged altar cabinet to hide the operational map of the Frontline Command Post, a set of tables and chairs where cadres met and exchanged information, and the newspaper with the article on the trial of the owner of Binh “Pho” restaurant.
Visitors should go in group and contact the owner in advance. Fees range from VND 10,000 to VND 20,000 per person, depending on the number of visitors.
Source: Vnexpress
Translated by Mai Huong