20 Must Visit Museums In Vietnam to Learn Vietnamese History & Culture

1. War Remnants Museum

Opened to the public in 1975, the War Remnant Museum documents the atrocities of the Vietnam War and is visited by millions of people every year. The museum has over 20,000 artifacts and items on display, documenting Vietnam's grueling, painful, heroic struggle for independence, including the French guillotine, the 'tiger cages' where prisoners were kept, and photographs of 'Agent Orange,' a chemical spray that led to widespread genetic defects. The kind of military equipment that you can expect to see here is a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter, an M48 Patton tank, an F-5A fighter, a BLU-82 "Daisy Cutter" bomb, and an A-37 Dragonfly attack bomber and an A-1 Skyraider attack bomber.

2. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a great place to explore the socio-cultural diversity of Vietnam. Built in 1995, it exhibits artifacts from the daily lives of the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups, including photographs, audiotapes, antiques, and everyday objects such as baskets and knives. A virtual tour is also available. The objects on display are many - ranging from old photographs to jewelry, and other items used for traditional weddings and spiritual rituals. The exterior of the building, which is a replica of the Dong Son drum, was designed by the architect Ha Duc Linh, who belongs to the Tay ethnic minority.

3. Museum of Cham Sculpture

The Museum of Cham Sculpture is dedicated to Cham Art, displaying over 300 exhibits commemorating the culture, practice, and lifestyle of the Cham tribe (indigenous populace of Vietnam). This is the only museum of its kind in the world. The exhibit is divided into 10 exhibition areas, showcasing works from a separate region. Located in Hai Chau District in Da Nang, the Museum of Cham Sculpture building soulfully merges the French, colonial, and Cham influences in its architecture. The best way to see the museum is to hire an MP3 audio guide for about 20,000 VND.

4. Vietnamese Women's Museum

This is one of the unique places in Vietnam which opened its door to the public in 1995. We call it special because it houses more than 28000 objects celebrating the achievements of Vietnamese women in shaping up the country and their active involvement in arts and as caretakers of families. The Museum also hosts frequent exhibitions that highlight the role of women in modern Vietnam. The idea behind this establishment is to raise awareness about the country's cultural heritage and the contributions of women to it.

Location: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hang Bai, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: 40000 VND per individual and 10000 VND for Children

5. Ho Chi Minh City Museum

Commonly known as the Gia Long Palace, it covers an area of two hectares at the corner of Lý Tu Trong and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia streets. Considered among the most popular tourist destinations in the country, Ho Chi Minh City has witnessed the country's history unfolding over the years. Built in 1885 by the French architect Alfred Foulhoux a museum to display products was completed in 1890. With the changes in the governance, the establishment also underwent several changes over time. It was in 1954 when the last king of Vietnam, King Bao Dai, named it Gia Long Palace. The architecture of the building is done brilliantly, where the two floors of the building are designed in a European-Asian style, whereas a segment of the front side of the building is influenced by Western style.
Location: 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: 30000 VND per individual

6. National Museum of Vietnamese History

 Located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, the French School of the Far East was renovated in 1920, and architect Ernest Hebrard redesigned the building between 1926 and 1932. Endowed with a rich historical background that goes back up to 300000 to 400000 years, the Museum has aggregated Vietnam's prehistory with more than 200000 exhibits until the 1945 August Revolution. The Museum is divided into five major sections, which establish a timeline of the revolutions and events that led to the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Location: 214 Tran Quang Khai, Tràng Tien, Hoàn Kiem, Hà Noi 110000, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Entry Fee:  15000 VND per individual
Note: The National Museum of Vietnamese History is closed on Mondays.

7. Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts

Being the largest fine arts museum in the region, the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts showcases a wide range of artifacts collected from various historical eras. For the lovers of folk arts, the Museum has abundant folk narratives demonstrating the mind-blowing art of the 20th century. The themes of these artworks are concentrated on martyrdoms, military strategy, patriotism, and other lines of defense that the country has used over the years. There is also a section dedicated to individualistic artists where they have explored the territories of abstract art and impressionism. The famous painter Nguyen Do Cung was the one who proposed the landmark to be established as a Museum of Fine Arts in 1963.

Location: 66 Pho Nguyen Thái Hoc, Dien Bàn, Ba Dinh, Hà Noi, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee:  40000 VND per individual

8. Museum of Vietnamese History

Built by Auguste Delaval in 1926, the Museum of Vietnamese History was earlier known by the name of Musée Blanchard de la Brosse. The Museum showcases Vietnam's history from different eras under the rule of various dynasties. The artifacts which are on display in the Museum of Vietnamese History cover a variety of historical subjects, such as the Prehistoric period (500,000 years ago to 2879 BC), Chinese rule, and the freedom struggle in the Red River Valley (179 BC - 938 AD); Stone and bronze artifacts from the Champa Kingdom, Metal Age (2879-179 BC) which includes exhibits from the Dong Son culture of northern Vietnam and the Sa Huynh culture of central Vietnam, Óc Eo culture of the Mekong Delta region, Cambodian stone sculptures (9th-12th centuries); Ngô, Dinh, Anterior Lê, Ly dynasties (939-1225); Tran and Ho dynasties (1226-1407), artifacts from the Lê, Nguyên, Tây Son dynasties.

Location: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiêm, Ben Nghé, Quan 1, Ho Chí Minh, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee:  15000 VND per individual and 40000 VND if you want to click pictures inside the Museum.

9. Museum of Sa Huynh Culture

In the Quang Nam Province of central Vietnam, the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture is located in Hoi An, showcasing the Sa Huynh culture with its fantastic terracotta work. The people of Sa Huynh culture were said to be the first people to settle in the port town and establish business ties with South India, China, and Southeast Asia. The exhibits here narrate tales about their rituals related to the cycle of life and death and their burial practices. You will also find information about how the region developed and prospered with the help of its association with other cultures. What you must see here is a unique collection of artifacts from the Bai Ong region, which is a place on the Cham island that traces the history of the Sa Huynh culture to 3000 years.

Location: 149 Tran Phú, Phuong Minh An, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee:  15000 VND per individual and 40000 VND if you want to click pictures inside the Museum

10. Vietnam National Museum of Nature

The substantial biological, geological, and anthropological specimens of the region are all being documented and showcased at the Vietnam National Museum of Nature. For all the nature-lovers, this is where you will come across various specimens of all living and extinct organisms. The Museum also organizes events to disseminate knowledge and raise awareness among the public about the rescue of different animal and plant species. Visit this place for the love of flora and fauna, and we can assure you that you will be satisfied.

Location: Nha A20 - so 18 - Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Note: The Museum is closed on Mondays

11. Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts

Located in the An Dinh Palace, which has undergone renovation in recent years, you can find this Museum in the former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue. The building was a residence for Emperor Bao Dai and his family, who renounced their throne in 1945. Visit the Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts and be amazed by some stunning paintings, ceramics, silverware, furniture, weapons, royal clothing, and porcelain. The Museum captures the true essence of Vietnam's imperial past, which had different dynasties and artwork during their era. The Museum is built over an area of 6330-metre squares. There are over 10000 artifacts on display in the Museum. There is a collection of artifacts on display from the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled in 1802.

Location: 03 Le Truc, Phu Hau, Thanh Pho Hue, Thanh Pho Hue Thua Thien?Hue, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Entry Fee:  150000 VND per individual and 50000 VND for children

12. Museum of Trade Ceramics

To know more about how the region started its trade ties with neighboring regions such as India, Japan, China, the Philippines, and Thailand, the Museum of Trade Ceramics is where you should plan a trip to. While the Museum will give you an idea about the origins of the trade, it will also provide a narrative of the history of the town of Hoi An in central Vietnam. The building in which the Museum is located is a redecorated Vietnamese wooden house, which also holds importance for the Japanese traders regarding architectural similarity to the homes that one would pass by in Kyoto. There are over 430 items from different parts of the world, including the Middle East. Make sure you have a look at the infamous shipwreck exhibit that occurred in 1733 and the impressive pottery work from the times of the Chinese Tang Dynasty.

Location: 80 Tran Phú, Phuong Minh An, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee:  There is no entry fee to the museum

13. Vietnam People's Air Force Museum, Hanoi

Located on the edge of the Bach Mai Airfield, which is not operational anymore, the Vietnam People's Air Force Museum, Hanoi, will take you for a walk down memory lane where you will get to know about the Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) journey - right from its formation to their present-day status. You will also get a chance to understand how the VPAF played a crucial role in the Indochina War and the Cambodian-Vietnamese War. The Museum has a fascinating display of Aero L-29 Delfin, Antonov An-2, Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, Phantom II B model, Kamov Ka-25Bsh, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MF & PFM, Mil Mi-6 Hook-A, Shenyang J-6, Shenyang J-5, Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, Mil Mi-24 Hind A and Zlin Z-26. 

Location: 0 Truong Chinh Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Entry Fee:  23000 VND per individual
Note: The Museum is closed on Fridays.

14. Hanoi Contemporary Arts Centre

A recent addition to Vietnam's museum space, the Hanoi Contemporary Arts Centre, was inaugurated in June 2017. Located in the space of 4000 square meters, the Hanoi Contemporary Arts Centre is in the Vincom Megamall Shopping Centre in Thanh Xuan District's Nguyen Trai Street. There is also a tea shop, a library, a projection room, and a storage room inside the Arts Centre. Commonly referred to as the Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art (VCCA), the purpose of the Arts Centre is to provide a platform for artists to exhibit their work as well as play a crucial role in preserving the country's art and cultural heritage by storing artworks that have immense historical and artistic value attached to them.

Location: B1-R3 Floor, Royal City 72A Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.

15. Vietnam People's Air Force Museum, Ho Chi Minh City

Another interesting spot for war history buffs is the Vietnam People's Air Force Museum, Ho Chi Minh City, which is located on Duong Thang Long in the Phuong 4 District of Ho Chi Minh City. This Museum also highlights the history of VPAF and its role in the country's biggest wars. Some of the aircraft on display are Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MF, Bell UH-1 Iroquois H model, Cessna U-17A, Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, Mil Mi-8 Hip, Mil Mi-24 Hind A and Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter.

Location: Phuong 4, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee:  No entry fee
Note:  The Museum is closed on Mondays.

16. Hanoi Museum

With more than 50000 artifacts, the Hanoi Museum is an establishment spread over a total of 54000 square meters. Located in the  Nam T, Liêm district of Hanoi, Vietnam, the Museum is the perfect place to witness Vietnam's history, which goes back up to 1000 years, with glimpses of the country's culture, history, architecture, and heritage. On the occasion of Hanoi's millennial anniversary, the museum was inaugurated in 2010. You can also marvel at the unique architecture of the building, which represents an inverted pyramid.

Location: Pham Hùng, Me Trì, Nam Tu Liêm, Hà Noi 100000, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Note: Photography is not allowed inside the museum.

17. Vietnam Military History Museum

Established on July 17, 1956, the Vietnam Military History Museum is built on an area of 12,800 square meters. It is among the seven national museums in Vietnam and encompasses various buildings depicting different military eras in the country. There is also a section exhibiting the weapons and vehicles which we used against the country in the Second Indochina War. The infamous Flag Tower of Hanoi is accessible to the public up to the first two floors and is located inside the Museum premises. The Museum showcases the Indochina war narratives from the Vietnamese people.

Location: 28A Dien Bien Phu, Dien Ban, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Entry Fee:  40000 VND per individual and 30000 VND for the use of cameras
Note: The Museum is closed on Mondays and Fridays

18. Vietnam Museum of Revolution

The Museum was founded in August 1959 in a building that the Trade Department of Vietnam had earlier used before being converted into a museum. The two-floored building was refurbished into 30 galleries with more than 40000 artifacts. The museum, which is built in the Tong Dan area, covers a wide array of topics through its exhibits, such as Vietnam's struggle for freedom from French colonial rule under various communist parties formed during those periods.

Location: 214 Tran Quang Khai, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi 110000, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Entry Fee: 10000 VND per individual and 30000 VND for the use of cameras

19. Can Tho Museum

Situated in the Hoa Binh and Tran Quoc streets, in a corner, the Can Tho Museum was established in 1976. With over 5000 historical artifacts, some of the unique exhibits here are a traditional teahouse, a king-size tableau of an herbalist attending to a patient, and numerous other artifacts. This museum highlights the life of the three main ethnic minority settlements in the region, namely, Kinh (Viet), Hoa (Chinese refugees), and Khmer people, who contributed towards the development of the nation in their unique ways. The museum covers an area of 2700 square meters being the largest museum in the Mekong Delta region.

Location: 1 Hoa Binh, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee:  Free Admission

20. Hoa Lò Prison Museum

During the French colonial rule over the country, this place was a prison in French Indochina where political prisoners were kept. Later, during the American war, U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) were locked here, and around this period, it was now referred to as Hanoi Hilton in the local circle. In the 1990s, the prison was demolished with a part of the prison that serves as a museum today. The H'a Lò Prison Museum showcases the prison life during French colonial rule, such as the separate quarters for male and female political prisoners. There is also a guillotine room, which has the original equipment that was used to carry out the executions. To highlight the life of American prisoners, one can see that the interrogation room looks very comfortable from where it received the name 'Hanoi Hilton' because the prisoners were treated with great care, as in the case of a good hotel.

Location: 1 pho Hoa Lò, Tran Hung Dao, Hoàn Kiem, Hà Noi 100000, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entry Fee:  30000 VND per individual

For an admirer of the arts, Vietnam is the ideal destination to plan a trip. Going to museums with your family and friends is not only a fun experience but also enriching. If you are going to Vietnam, one of the best things about the place is its rich historical and cultural history. Whether it is the persisting decades of war or the country's emergence from those wars and creating a name for itself on the world map, there is indeed a lot to explore here. Although there are tourist spots such as Ha Long Bay and Hoi An to name a few, to know the detailed history of the country, which goes back up to 4000 years, the most touristy approach is to visit the museums and enhance your understanding of Vietnam's heritage. With so many museums in the country, there is a need for some planning to cover all of the museums mentioned above, so what are you waiting for? Get started!