More than half a century ago, the United States (US) sent tens of millions of soldiers and millions of tonnes of bombs and ammunition to Vietnam. This unjust war was opposed by peace-loving people around the world. In many countries, this opposition took many forms, including conferences, protests as well as propaganda publications such as newspapers, posters, leaflets, and donated money. In the US, organisations and individuals stood up to protest the war. Some women, whose sons and husbands fought in the war, hoped their loved ones would come home soon.

The stories and artifacts introduced in this exhibition reflect peace. The support of people from all over the world created such strength and motivation for Vietnamese people to win the war so our country was unified. More than half a century has passed, yet the solidarity and sincere help of these supporters of Vietnam still touches the hearts of all Vietnamese people.

We will forever respect and be grateful for the hearts of peace of our international friends!

Since the 1960s, people across the world established organisations and conducted political struggles to pressure the US government and embassies in other countries.

Millions of people opposed the war in various forms, including self-immolation, rallies, protests, banning military and weapon cargos and strikes in factories, especially war-supplying industries. Between 1968 and 1972, anti-war movements peaked. Their positive effects attracted the participation of more communities, underlining the many deficiencies of the US position in Vietnam.

WSP was established on November 1, 1961 due to the Soviet Union and United States atomic bomb testing. Seeing the danger of nuclear war, women in countries around the world, including the US, founded this organisation with the goal of fighting against nuclear weapons, nuclear war, and protecting peace.

After being established for over a year, WSP focused began directing its activities towards the war in Vietnam. It organised conferences, meetings, marches and protests at the US Congress to oppose the war and ask the Americans to go home. It also issued different types of badges, the MEMO newspapers (from 1961 to 1972) to highlight Vietnam. After the Paris Agreement in January 27, 1973, MEMO was discontinued. WSP has redirected its work to women's rights until now.

“Since 1965, March 8 was selected by French women to stay up all night against the aggression war of the US in Vietnam. The "White Night" took place throughout France from Paris to Lion, from Nantes to Marseille, from urban to rural, thousands of French women had gathered together. Thousands of friendship letters sent to Vietnamese women were written over those nights. The letters showed solidarity in supporting Vietnamese women in their anti-American war. Hundreds of letters were also sent to American women to encourage them to ask the US government to stop the aggression war in Vietnam. They signed their names on the petitions against the US aggression and sent them to American barracks, American consulates in Paris and other provinces. ”

(Excerpt from Women's World Supporting Us, Women's Publishing House, Hanoi, 1977)

In Australia, the government supported the American invasion and sent 8,000 troops to Vietnam. However, the people did not support it. The movement against US aggression in Vietnam developed very strongly. Australia's "Save our Children" organisation was widely joined by many groups in many fields to demand the government withdraw troops from Vietnam. Every month, they gathered in the centre of Melbourne and carried banners outside the army whenever recruiting soldiers.

Due to the defeat of the Americans in Vietnam and the strong struggle of the Australian people, the Australian Government withdrew its troops from 1970. It was a victory for the Vietnamese and Australian peoples. "

(Excerpt from Women's World Supporting Us, Women's Publishing House, Hanoi, 1977)

Along with the political struggles, propaganda publications spread anti-war messages around the world. Articles, magazines, newsletters, posters and leaflets in the United States, Australia, France, United Kingdom and many other countries updated and faithfully reflected the aggressive US war. These publications helped people understand the war in Vietnam and the anti-war movement in many countries. The posters and leaflets called on people to participate in movements against the war and demanded peace for Vietnam and supported Vietnamese people spiritually.

Women around the world, such as in America, Australia, Austria, Russia, France, Germany and Japan held a variety of activites to support Vietnamese people and especially women, such as working more shifts to send aid goods to Vietnam, mobilising donations and medicine, and gifts to Vietnam and writing letters to encourage and share their sympathy to Vietnamese women and its people. Thousands of letters and millions of aid goods all over the world were sent to Vietnam. They all joined hands to wish Vietnam became a
peaceful country.