1. National Museum of Viet Nam History

The National Museum of Viet Nam History is a big cultural and scientific center of the country. Dozens of millions of domestic and foreign people have arrived at the Museum and expressed their good sentiments and impressions on the historical of the Vietnamese nation in many visitors’ books.

In the system of national museums, the National Museum of Viet Nam History was early founded on the material basis of the Louis Finot, a museum of the Ecole Française d’Extreme-Orient which was built in 1926 and completed in 1932. In 1958, the Viet Nam Government officially took over this cultural building and started to research, collect and supplement materials and objects, converting the contents from eastern arts into national history. On 3 September 1958, the National Museum of Viet Nam History was officially opened for visitors.

The main exhibition system is the vivid historical book of Vietnamese nation from prehistory (about 300,000-400,000 years) to the August 1945 Revolution. With an exhibition area of over 2,200 square meters and nearly 7,000 original artifacts, the main exhibition system is arranged chronologically.

The main language of expression is the abundant collection of objects, combining the presentation of historical stages and events and the open exhibition, so it’s easy to update new artifacts, attracting visitors. Besides, the museum regularly organizes topical exhibitions and equips a system of modern screens and displays to provide vivid images and exact scientific data to meet the increasing demands of visitors and researchers.

Specimens and artifacts from the period of national establishment to Tran Dynasty

The basic storehouses now keep more than 100,000 specimens and artifacts of different materials, including many rare and valuable items, especially the collections of objects dating back the ancient cultures (Hoa Binh-Bac Son, Dong Son), Vietnamese ancient glazed ceramics, Champa stone sculptures, bronze items under the Le-Nguyen Dynasties. Over the past years, the basic warehouses have been supplemented with many new collections from Central Viet Nam, Central Highlands, South Viet Nam and the old shipwreck near Cu Lao Cham Island. The basic warehouses are scientifically arranged and updated to be the best sample for other museums throughout Viet Nam.

The external affairs are always promoted to strengthen the exchange and cooperation with other museums and cultural organizations in the world. The Museum has frequently exchanged professional publications with over 100 counterparts and actively participated in international scientific seminars.

2. Vietnamese Women’s Museum

Vietnamese Women’s Museum was established in 1987 and run by Viet Nam Women’s Union. It is a gender museum with functions of research, preservation, and display of tangible and intangible historical and cultural heritages of Vietnamese women and Viet Nam Women’s Union.

The museum has three main galleries and these present three main themes: Women in Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion. Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to learn and understand traditional culture, marriage customs, childbirth and family life, traditional women’s clothing and the role of women in the defense of the nation. All the texts are available in Vietnamese, English and French for easy understanding of the exhibits.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum (Source: ktdt.vn)

In addition to regular exhibits, VWM also organizes many special, thematic exhibitions with a new approach of social anthropology, reflecting the development and changes of contemporary society through projects targeting many different groups, particularly vulnerable women and disadvantaged children. It is also a centre for cultural exchange between Vietnamese and international women for the goal of equality, development and peace.

Since its open to public in 1995, VWM has successfully held many exhibitions, serving hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and international visitors a year. It has a collection of more than 25,000 objects and materials related to Vietnamese women.

3. Ho Chi Minh Museum

Ho Chi Minh Museum is one of the largest and the most modern museums in Viet Nam. The museum displays many artifacts and documents about the life and personality of President Ho Chi Minh.

President Ho Chi Minh - Vietnamese hero of national liberation and great man of culture -  devoted his whole life to the national of the Vietnamese people, contributing to the common struggle of peoples for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

Ho Chi Minh Museum.

After he passed away on September 2, 1969, in compliance with the Vietnamese people’s aspiration, the Communist Party of Viet Nam’s Politburo decided to build the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

After 20 years of preparing and building, the Ho Chi Minh Museum was inaugurated on May 19, 1990, on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the President.

The museum has square shape with an ethereal white lotus symbol, covering an area of 18.000 m2. Four square blocks on the top floor is just a lotus flower. The artificial circle lake has 18 meters in diameter with bonsai natural stone of Hoa Lu area which create the vibrant scene. Floor display includes three main space is closely related to each other. The solemn room has nine meter height, floor is decorated with leaves.

The exhibition space is 4,000 m2, showcasing over 2,000 documents and artifacts (from nearly 17,000 items stored in the museum’s basic collection) that introduce the life and legacy of Chairman Ho Chi Minh, in connection with Viet Nam’s and the world’s history. They are invaluable assets of the Vietnamese people in educating patriotism, studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought and moral qualities; and encouraging the Vietnamese generations to succeed faithfully and excellently his great revolutionary work. All material, photographs are displayed with a systematic, dynamic in order to help views understand thoroughly and vividness on his life and his career.

There is also 600 m2 for topical exhibitions and cultural activities. The museum’s library has over 8,000 titles, its archive – about 35 documents for Ho Chi Minh-related research. The Exploration and Experience Space of the museum is an area of 150 m2.

The Museum has already applied information technology in managing and helping readers, really becoming a liable address for many institutions, organizations and individuals to study about President Ho Chi Minh.

The work of collecting documents from local and international institutions and individuals is carried out regularly. Thousands of documents, pictures, objects continued to be supplemented, helping the exhibiting and introducing Ho Chi Minh’s thought, life and work more and more complete.

Located at No.19 Ngoc Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Ho Chi Minh Museum is a memorial-type museum, a part of the Historic-Cultural Legacy Complex which includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Living Quarters and Ho Chi Minh Museum. It can be combined in your day trip to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, One-pillar Pagoda, Ba Dinh square and the War Memorial.