The must-see museums in Vietnam
The history of Vietnam is not an easy one. Deciphering all of the stories, invasions, and shifts have been made easier by the fact that there have been so many of them. One of its museums is the best place to start for anyone wanting to learn more about Vietnam. Expand your knowledge to learn more about a certain period in the nation's history or a particular facet of its diverse culture. Here is a selection of top-notch museums that are devoted to the Vietnamese people and their culture.
Northern Vietnam
Vietnamese Women’s Museum
The Vietnamese Women's Museum, which lies a few minutes south of Sword Lake in Hanoi, is proof of the important place that women hold in the region's history and culture. The museum honors the long history of Vietnamese women standing their place in society through interactive exhibits and specialized shows. A level featuring traditional clothing from ethnic minority groups and another featuring the story of the women who fought for Vietnam on and off the battlefield are among the highlights.
Admission: 40,000 VND
Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm daily
Address: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Museum of Ethnology
The 54 ethnic groups that makeup Vietnam are thoroughly and newly explored by the Museum of Ethnology. Each ethnicity's traditional attire, dwellings, furnishings, equipment, and priceless artifacts are displayed in the main hall. The second wing is solely devoted to the artwork of Southeast Asian cultures, and the outdoor exhibits include models of full-scale ethnic minority homes.
TIP: Interested in Vietnamese water puppet performances? Free performances are offered twice daily in the park of the Museum of Ethnology.
Admission: 40,000 VND
Hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm daily, closed Mondays
Address: Nguyen Van Huyen, Cau Giay, Hanoi
Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum
This pale pink structure, which served as a school for the girls of Indochinese politicians in the 1930s, is now home to the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum. The museum, which houses more than 2,000 works in various media, offers a chronological look at the methods and ideas used by Vietnamese artists before and during the 20th century. This museum is a great place to stop on a Hanoi excursion because it is directly across the street from the Temple of Literature and another ten-minute walk from the Thang Long Citadel.
Admission: 40,000VND
Hours: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily, closed Mondays
Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh Museum
This spectacular museum is devoted to the life of "Uncle Ho" and is situated behind the location of the national hero Ho Chi Minh's ultimate burial place. The University of Fine Arts in Hanoi students created the main display hall of the museum, which takes visitors on a journey through Ho Chi Minh's life. His legacy is portrayed in surreal installations and ornate artwork, from rural Vietnam to revolution.
Admission: 40,000VND
Hours: 8:00 am to noon daily, 2:00 pm to 4.30 pm Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
Address: 19 Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Central Vietnam
Cham Museum of Sculpture
The Cham Museum of Sculpture in Da Nang was constructed in 1915 by the French School of the Far East and is home to the world's biggest collection of Cham artifacts. The school's archaeology department worked with two French architects to create a structure that was modeled after this formerly powerful empire in Vietnam. There are several statues and carvings of holy figures made of sandstone, terracotta, and metal.
Admission: 40,000VND
Hours: 7:00am to 5:00pm daily
Address: 1 Trung Nu Vuong, Hai Chau, Da Nang
Oceanographic Museum
A historic colonial manor that is located just outside of Nha Trang city has been renovated to protect a sizable national collection of aquatic life. The Oceanographic Museum's first story is home to aquariums brimming with amazing creatures, while its second floor is the preserved collection, which includes specimens and skeletons. There are other exhibits on the evolution of marine research technologies, natural coastal catastrophes, and Vietnamese fishing culture.
Admission: 30,000VND
Hours: 6:00am to 6:00pm daily
Address: 1 Cau Da, Nha Trang
World Coffee Museum
At the brand-new World Coffee Museum in Buon Ma Thuot City, coffee addicts may receive their morning buzz while learning a little bit of history. The greatest producer and exporter of coffee in the nation is located in Dak Lak Province's capital. The Nha Dai dwellings of the Ede ethnic group served as inspiration for the design of the museum, which was founded by one of Vietnam's top coffee producers. Over 10,000 coffee-related artifacts from throughout the globe are included in the collection.
Admission: 75,000VND
Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, closed Mondays
Address: Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Tan Loi, Buon Ma Thuot
Dak Lak Museum of Ethnology
If you ever find yourself in Vietnam's Central Highlands, make sure to stop by the Dak Lak Museum of Ethnology. This museum is a great introduction to the nature, culture, and history of Buon Ma Thuot because it has stunning exhibits on the Ede, M'Nong, and Jarai people, as well as scale models of traditional buildings. On the grounds of one of Emperor Bao Dai's palaces, the museum displays hundreds of artifacts and photographs.
Admission: 30,000VND
Hours: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm daily, closed Mondays
Address: 12 Le Duan, Tu An, Buon Ma Thuot
Southern Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts
The Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts, which is housed in the former residence of a prosperous Chinese merchant family, is a spectacular example of Indochina-era architecture and is the repository for numerous priceless pieces. A changing exhibition is on display on the ground floor, and there are other rooms devoted to both traditional and modern Vietnamese art upstairs, as well as sections for sculptures, lacquerware, and traditional woodcut prints.
Admission: 10,000 VND
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, closed Mondays
Address: 97A Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine
A historical apothecary complete with medicinal plants, roots, and other items is recreated at the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO Museum). The history of traditional medicine in Vietnam is lengthy, and the museum's collection has more than 3,000 artifacts, some of which date back to the Stone Age. Come learn about how Vietnamese people have been actively using herbal treatments for thousands of years and how these customs are still part of Vietnamese daily life.
Admission: 120,000 VND
Hours: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily
Address: 41 Hoang Du Khuong, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
War Remnants Museum
The most-visited museum in Ho Chi Minh City, the War Remnants Museum tackles Vietnam’s most turbulent years with perspectives from both sides of the fighting. Insightful and emotional exhibitions illuminate the reality of Vietnam’s war-torn history and its consequences. This balance is achieved through modern interpretations, including photojournalism, and heart-wrenching artifacts.
Admission: 40,000VND
Hours: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm daily
Address: 28, Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City