(VOVworld) - Known as the "Ho Chi Minh trail", the supply route through the Truong Son mountain range is a legend of the Vietnamese resistance. This story is now told in the "Museum of the Ho Chi Minh Trail”. Poet Pham Tien Duat poet, a Truong Son veteran, wrote in the museum’s guest book: "We cannot lock up a mountain range in a house. But the Museum of the Ho Chi Minh trail contains all the diamonds and precious minerals in this mountain range".

Located 16 km west of downtown Hanoi, the Museum of the Ho Chi Minh Trail boasts a contemporary architectural style. It was inaugurated on April 10, 1999, on the 40th anniversary of Brigade 559, whose members built the legendary Truong Son trail crossing. Director of the Museum Colonel Ngan Chai says the museum has a dual purpose: to preserve and display objects used by the Vietnamese troops who fought on this trail and to commemorate the solidarity between the Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians involved in the struggle: "The Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum is a continuation of the old Truong Son Museum which was established in 1968. At that time, the museum’s staff were cadres and soldiers responsible for political and ideological education. Their work helped galvanize the troops during the war".

Walking through the museum, you will learn about the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the route of strategic supply for anti-American resistance. The museum covers ​​17,000 square meters and has three levels of exhibits on an area of 28,000 square meters. At the entrance is a bronze sculpture representing the military corps which fought in the Truong Son mountain range. Showrooms reproduce the chronological history of the Ho Chi Minh trail from the time when soldiers carried ammunition on their backs to the opening of paved roads in what the Western press called at the time "the labyrinth jungle”. Colonel Ngan Chai said: "In 1995, our museum changed its name to the "National Museum of the Ho Chi Minh Trail”. The museum inherited all the archives and all the artifacts of the Truong Son Museum. We now have 20,000 objects. Because the exhibition space can accommodate only 2000 objects, we organize regular exhibits to introduce all of our objects to the public. We also organize mobile exhibits. "

The Museum of the Ho Chi Minh trail fascinates visitors with its lively and creatively depiction of the exploits of the Vietnamese army. In particular, the museum has a replica of a covered road, known as a K road, that was involved in the laser war. Colonel Ngan Chai says it reflects the creativity of Vietnamese soldiers: "These covered roads were constructed in the shade of the jungle. At the time, our troops often moved at night. The US Air Force used lasers to detect Vietnamese military movements. This is why the Truong Son soldiers had the idea of creating these covered roads to allow their vehicles to move during the day. They bent branches of large trees or planted new trees and hung them with orchids to cover the roads. In total, they created 3,000 km of covered roads. This method had never been used before and was unprecedented in the history of war. It enabled Vietnamese soldiers to transport ammunition to the southern front”.

The Museum of the Ho Chi Minh Trail is Vietnam’s third most visited museum, welcoming tens of thousands of Vietnamese and foreign visitors each year. Colonel Nguyen Hai Binh is Head of the Display and Communications Department of the Museum: "Veterans, students and foreign tourists express their impression and sentiments for Truong Son soldiers. Before coming here, many have read about Truong Son but visiting the museum brings them face to face with a legend. For foreign tourists, Truong Son is not only a legend, it is also a subject of study. They want to see all of our items".

These precious objects are closely associated with Vietnamese history and provide some excellent historical education for younger generations.