Vietnam history always lives in museum partially representing Vietnamese lifestyle, aesthetics, and our proud past.
The 4 most famous museums in Hanoi are where Vietnamese cultural heritage is stored & exhibited. At the same time, these places are for science study and propagating historical science, culture, aesthetics, and lifestyles through inspirational historical objects which shows not only Vietnamese long lasting history but also the grand tradition of bravely against the invaders.
Vietnam National Museum of History – The earliest established
Vietnam National Museum of History was the earliest established museum based on Louis Finot French Museum’s facilities. It was designed by the two French architecture, C.Batteur and E.Hébrard, in 1925 and inaugurated in 1932 behind the Opera House, along the blank of Red River, & at the end of Tran Quang Khai street. The museum is considered as a main representation of Indochina architecture which combines French architecture with indigenous architecture.
When at Vietnam National Museum of History, visitors will have a chance to experience the whole living history of Vietnam from Prehistory to August 1945 Revolution. With total area of more than 2,200 square meters, exhibiting about 7,000 items, the museum follows the chronological principle and uses the variety of exhibits as the main demonstration which reflects historical periods & events. Vietnam National Museum of History operates its collection openly, so updates are possible in the future to attract visitors. Similarly, special exhibitions are often held and thanks to the modernization of touchable & huge screen system, & reliable documents, more and more visitors are tempted to Vietnam history lines.
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum -The most important
The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, a museum in the system of Vietnam’s national museums, is considered as a museum that occupies the most important position in maintaining and promoting the treasures of Vietnamese cultural and artistic heritage. The museum was originally a house built in 1930s for French mandarins’ daughters to study in Hanoi. In 1962, the government requested the Ministry of Culture to transform the building from its western architectural style to incorporate Vietnamese ornamental details from the vocabulary of traditional communal house architecture and fit the building to exhibit works of fine art. On June 26, 1966 the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum was officially inaugurated with a total area of 4200 square meters, of which 1200 square meters were for exhibition. From 1997 to 1999, the total area was increased to 4737 square meters.
The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum reserves and exhibits various valuable works of Vietnamese artists & sculptors of all generations. The formation and development of Vietnam fine art are introduced from Prehistory, ancient fine art, 20th century, folk fine art, and Vietnam pottery art.
There are famous Vietnamese artists, whose works are exhibited, such as Nguyễn Gia Trí, Tô Ngọc Vân, Trần Văn Cẩn, Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Lương Xuân Nhị…
Viet Nam Military History Museum – The proudest past of Vietnamese
Viet Nam Military History Museum, whose previous name is Army Museum, is a museum exhibiting the history of Vietnam military located at 28A, Dien Bien Phu street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi. The museum presents Vietnamese proudest history of defending and protecting the country. It was opened on the 15th anniversary of founding the Vietnam People’s Army which was on the 22nd of December 1959.
Viet Nam Military History Museum reserves and exhibits approximately 150,000 historical objects of which reflects resistance wars against invaders, military policies, and the art of Vietnam military strategies from Hung King to Ho Chi Minh era.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – Best collection of Vietnamese life culture
Lying at the 3.27 ha area on Nguyễn Văn Huyên street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is compared as a mini version of Vietnam with its collection of 54 recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. Lost in the museum, visitors would have chances to experience Vietnamese daily life with familiar tools such as a knife, flute, tobacco pipe, mattress, clothes, jewelry, working tools, hunting tools, household appliances, instrumental tools, wedding- funeral materials, etc. That’s how Vietnamese life style is expressed in the most particular way.
In addition, outer areas exhibits 9 folk buildings with spectacular objects such as: Rông house of the Ba Na, long house on stilts of the Ê-đê, half-on-stilts & half-on-ground house of the Dao, single-story house of the Cham, tile roof house of the Kinh, etc. Among the houses grows many kinds of trees creating a peaceful sight with little bridges over a spring running in all the 4 seasons.