Folly

They are loth to talk about it, but the story of the war (both American and French) is written everywhere in Vietnam. At the War Remnants Museum in Saigon, a surprisingly balanced picture of the war is painted. The focus is not on victory, on militancy or celebrating power, but rather the immense suffering that was felt by all sides.

It is a harrowing gallery of dehumanisation (DO NOT CLICK IF SQUEAMISH) - people as objects, deemed less than things, killers on both sides - of life without meaning or importance.

Now, thankfully, the tanks sit silently, with nothing to do but collect leaves, and pose in tourist photos. Here, at least, they are now mere curios.