Vietnam attracts US veterans and international tourists on April 30

Some people remember Vietnam’s resistance war against the US through the names of major battles, others through movies and history books. For thousands of Vietnamese and Americans, they know this resistance through martyrs’ cemeteries, where the remains of those who died more than 50 years ago are kept, the AP wrote.

"This was a battlefield when I arrived," said US veteran Paul Hazelton as he and his wife walked through the grounds of the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. The trip to celebrate Hazelton's 80th birthday took him back to the places where he fought when he was young, such as Hue, Phu Bai base, and Da Nang. Everything has changed now with the hustle and bustle of life. "It's remarkable," said Paul, who was happy that Vietnam and the US have now established friendly diplomatic relations and developed trade.

The resistance war against the US lasted 21 years (1954-1975). This year, Vietnam celebrates the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the US. Tourism has recovered quickly after the pandemic and is now an important driving force for Vietnam's economic growth. In 2024, Vietnam will have the fastest tourism recovery rate in Southeast Asia, welcoming 17.6 million international visitors, approaching the 18 million arrivals of the golden year of 2019.

The War Remnants Museum attracts half a million visitors each year, nearly two-thirds of whom are international. Other sites related to history and the anti-American resistance include the Independence Palace, the Rex Hotel, where the Americans often held press conferences at the time, and the Cu Chi Tunnels. Visiting the tunnels allows visitors to gain a better understanding of the war. "Now I can understand a little more about life at that time, how the Vietnamese people fought and protected themselves," said Italian tourist Buono after visiting the tunnels.

Tourists take photos in front of the Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition to international visitors and American veterans, Cu Chi also regularly welcomes Vietnamese veterans. "I was very moved when I visited the old battlefield. That was my last wish, I wanted to relive the difficult but glorious days with my comrades," said 78-year-old veteran Luu Van Duc. Mr. Duc believes that relics like this need to be preserved so that future generations will know about the heroic history of the nation.

The war in North Vietnam was largely an air war. Today, the Hoa Lo Prison Museum tells the story from a Vietnamese perspective. Once derisively called the “Ha Noi Hilton” by prisoners of war, the former French prison in Hanoi was used to hold American prisoners of war, mainly pilots shot down in air raids. One of the most famous prisoners was the late Senator John McCain.

"It was both strange and fascinating. It gave me a different perspective on the war," said Olivia Wilson, 28, from New York, about her visit to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum.

(According to VnExpress)

Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/226/348877/Viet-Nam-thu-hut-cuu-binh-My-va-du-khach-quoc-te-dip-304.aspx