Vietnam is an ideal holiday destination for the curious and adventurous traveller, as it offers idyllic scenery, national parks, tropical islands and labyrinthian cities and towns. There are also numerous museums around Vietnam to be taken advantage of by those seeking cultural treasures and historical information about Vietnam. Continue reading to discover some of the most popular and important museums in Vietnam.
- War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City
If you are visiting Ho Chi Minh City, be sure to check out the War Remnants Museum (previously known as the Museum of American War Crimes) which documents the brutality of the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective. This museum is an essential reminder of the horrors of war, as well as the necessity of commemorating the lives of those who suffered and died as a result of the 20-year American campaign in Vietnam.
- Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hanoi
The Ho Chi Minh Museum is dedicated to the life and memory of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. Located in Hanoi, this museum depicts how the Vietnamese Communist Party came to exist through adapting the doctrines of Marxism and Leninism. Visitors can read descriptions of artefacts and exhibits in Vietnamese, English and French, and there are regular guided tours to help you make the most of your time in the museum.
- Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi
If you are travelling to Vietnam during the monsoon season, listen to the advice of the Secret Traveller and ditch the poncho! Instead of standing in the rain, why not visit one of Vietnam’s most beautiful and breathtaking museums? The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum is home to some of the most exceptional artwork in all of Vietnam. It contains one of the most important art collections in the country – arranged in exquisite galleries and displaying work from every era of public life, from prehistory to the modern age. Tickets are incredibly cheap, and a guided tour of the museum’s most essential works only costs around $6 (150,000 Vietnamese Dong). In-depth tours about specific collections can also be arranged in Vietnamese, English, French and Chinese.
- Vietnam National Museum of History, Hanoi
If you enjoy stunning architecture, then the National Museum of History is an absolute must-see. Housed in a beautiful French colonial building which has a cupola shaped structure in the shape of a pagoda, the museum showcases the entirety of Vietnam’s history. Displays and exhibits feature information about Vietnam from prehistoric times (up to 400,000 years ago) up until 1947.
- Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, Da Nang
The indigenous people of Vietnam are known as the Cham, and have roots going as far back as 192AD. The Cham Museum is dedicated to the Kingdom of Champa which ruled Southern Vietnam from 192AD to 1697. The museum contains the most extensive collection of Cham sculpture and displays over 300 terracotta and stone works. Wandering around the sculptures is awe-inspiring, but once you are finished appreciating the Cham’s beautiful artwork, you can always enjoy the museum building itself which is crafted with animals, flowers, leaves and turrets.
