Vietnam arms museum dream comes true
Vietnam Picture
OPENING an arms museum in once war-torn Vietnam has been the realisation of a dream for Robert Taylor.
He has found a home for his personal collection of 2,500 weapons and 500 military uniforms in a castle-like white building near Ho Chi Minh City in the south of the country.
The Worldwide Arms Museum in the coastal resort of Vung Tau opened in January after six years of hard work and he said: “It’s been a labour of love. Now my dream has come true.”
Mr Taylor, 65, used to live in Roydon and has received invaluable help in setting up the museum from his friend Patrick Armiger, of Pott Row.
They became pals in the 1980s when Mr Taylor was living in West Norfolk and they realised they shared an interest in collecting weapons.
After Mr Taylor went to live in Vietnam 20 years ago, Mr Armiger continued to look after his collection for him and also arranged the shipment of exhibits to the museum.
Mr Taylor said he first had to gain the approval of the Vietnamese Government.
He added: “This was quite a challenge as it was the first time a foreigner wanted to build a private museum in Vietnam and the contents were a little sensitive.”
The uniforms are displayed on life-sized models. Some of the exhibits date back as far as Roman times but most of the weapons are from 1600 to 1940.
Mr Taylor originally planned to stop at 1900 but said: “Having seen Pat’s collection of weaponry from 1900 to 1945, I decided to go on to the end of the second world war.”
All the 20th century firearms have been de-activated.
He is still in regular touch with Mr Armiger and they get together every year when he returns to the UK to visit dealers and auctions.
His collection is still growing and an extension to the museum is now under construction.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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