Vietnam Military History Museum, Hanoi Overview

The Vietnam Military History Museum, also known as the Army Museum, is one of the seven national museums in Vietnam. It contains an incredible collection of genuine war relics, photographs, and stories from its long-ranging wars with China, France, and the U.S. Some notable attractions are a MiG21 jet fighter, an M107 gun, a military tank, and many others.

The museum was inaugurated on the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army in 1959 and has collected, stored, and displayed over 1,50,000 artifacts. It is considered a holder of Vietnam's war history. The museum houses authentic war relics, a collection of weaponry used during the Vietnam War, artifacts, and detailed accounts of war soldiers. The museum is well-curated and well-documented for those interested in the Vietnam war.

Entry And Other Costs at the Museum

There is a separate cost if you want to take in cameras that varies with the hour.

Less than an hour: VND 30,000
1 - 2 hours: VND 40,000
2 - 3 hours: VND 50,000

Exhibit at the Museum

The exhibits at Vietnam Military History Museum gives a glimpse of Vietnam's violent past. All the artefacts trace the history from Huong Vong to Ho Chi Minh. The display of the exhibits are divided into the inner and the outer system. Some of the popular artifacts are the American B-52 bomber, the M107 self-propelled gun and the military tank that put an end to the Vietnam War in 1975 and entered the gates of Saigon’s Presidential Palace.

The main building concentrates on the Vietnamese wars until World War II. This includes the Chinese and French colonisation and Japanese occupation, the rise of Viet Minh in North Vietnam and the subsequent independence in 1945. The newer building is focused on Vietnam’s wars with America, the tactics used by Viet Cong and how the American War shaped the Vietnam of today.

The first floor contains 3 rooms - the first room is dedicated to the Hung King's military troops, the second room contains a statue of President Ho Chi Minh and photographs from the First Indochina War in Vietnam, the final room traces the wars from the Ly to the Nguyen dynasty. Important artefacts here are the Dien Bien Phu exhibits, MiG19 and MiG21 aircraft and Sam 2 and Sam 3 missiles. You would also get to see photographs of the battlefields and the Vietnamese uniform, the weapons used by them such as bamboo spikes.

Activities at the Museum

The Hanoi Flag Tower is located inside the Vietnam Military History Museum. Climbing up the 19th-century tower can give you panoramic views of the city. The wreckage of battleships and aircraft lie in in the outer courtyard. You can ride them to get a feel of what it’s like to drive one.

Important Activities at the Museum

Carrying weapons or inflammable objects is not allowed
Heavy baggage has to be deposited before entering the main museum.
Smoking, food, drinks, and flash photography are not allowed inside the museum.
Touching the glass or objects is not allowed.
If you want to have a brush with Vietnamese history and are curious to know about Vietnam's side of the story in all its wars, then be sure to visit the Vietnam Military History Museum.

How To Reach Vietnam Military History Museum

The Vietnam Military History Museum is situated on Dien Bien Phu Road of the Ba Dinh district in Central Hanoi, a short walk from the Ba Dinh Square. It is surrounded by other famous landmarks like the Lenin Park, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Hanoi Botanical Garden and the stilt house of Ho Chi Minh. You can use bus lines 9, 18, 41, or 45 to reach the Vietnam Military History Museum.