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All Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Secret Weapon Bunker
AO Edited

Secret Weapon Bunker

Nearly three tons of weapons from the Vietnam War still remain in this small, hidden museum.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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greggc80
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Military equipment.   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
Secret exit under the sink.   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
Rockets.   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
Opening hours   otidk / Atlas Obscura User
The house from the outside.   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
Rifles and rocket launchers.   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to the secret bunker.   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
Grenades.   greggc80 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 1966 during the Vietnam War, Tran Van Lai, a politician, bought a house at 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Road in District 3 of what was then Saigon.

Over the next few months, he constructed a secret cellar without the knowledge of his family. He used the secret hideaway to store weapons that would be used in the 1968 attack on the Royal Palace. This event was better known as the Tet Offensive.

To avoid suspicion, he put all the dirt collected from digging the bunker into boxes and disposed of them using his car at night. The weapons were also brought in and out in a similar manner, hidden in bamboo cases or rugs. Weapons include TNT, C4 explosives, detonators, rocket launchers, guns, and hand grenades.

Today, the house is a tiny museum and a witness to an important part of Vietnamese history. It was classified as a historical, cultural relic in 1986 by the Ministry of Culture. The coffee shop next door, Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ, also contains secret passages and is owned by Tran Vu Binh, the son of Van Lai.

Related Tags

War History Weapons Bunkers Military

Know Before You Go

Can be difficult to find and located at the end of a busy alleyway. The best way to find the museum is to look up Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ on Google Maps. There is no official entrance fee, but donations are highly encouraged. 

The opening times posted are 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m, and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Added By

greggc80

Edited By

Martin, dungtran, otidk

  • Martin
  • dungtran
  • otidk

Published

January 12, 2021

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Secret Weapon Bunker
270 Võ Văn Tần
District 3
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
10.772118, 106.685967
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Nearby Places

The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

miles away

War Remnants Museum

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

miles away

Reunification Palace

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Places 14
Stories 2

Nearby Places

The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

miles away

War Remnants Museum

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

miles away

Reunification Palace

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Places 14
Stories 2

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