Buzz
Visiting museums in Saigon feels like wandering into classical European spaces.
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
European corners at the City Museum.
European corners at the City Museum.
The vaulted arches create a spacious and airy ambiance at the City Museum.
More than just a famous check-in spot, Ho Chi Minh City Museum also serves as a repository for valuable artifacts, allowing visitors to delve into the history of old Saigon. From societal life and customs to religious beliefs, worship practices, and the evolution of commerce and industry... The museum boasts 10 distinct exhibition rooms showcasing 133 collections, including rare items such as currency collections from the Le Canh Hung dynasty (1740 - 1786) to the reign of King Bao Dai (1926 - 1945), as well as collections of pottery from Saigon, Lai Thieu, Bien Hoa...
Even after more than a century has passed, the architecture of the museum remains impeccably preserved. With such precious artifacts and sacred corners captured in photographs, Ho Chi Minh City Museum is an unmissable destination.
Art Museum
** Address: 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, SaigonJust a leisurely 800-meter stroll from the City Museum lies Pho Duc Chinh Street, home to another equally captivating and artistic venue - the Art Museum. Formerly the mansion of Hua Bon Hoa, the wealthiest Vietnamese-Chinese merchant in early 20th century Saigon, fondly known as Uncle Fire by locals. Hence, you'll encounter many traces of Hua Bon Hoa's legacy here, such as intricately crafted H.B.H monograms in wrought iron adorning the gates and the arched entrance canopy.
The Art Museum building harmoniously blends Eastern architectural style with European influences.
The museum's facade is adorned with exquisite decorations.
Every corner of the Art Museum exudes a Western ambiance.
Even the staircase leading into the museum is strikingly beautiful.
The building is a harmonious blend of Eastern (Chinese) and European (French) architectural styles, designed by the French architect Rivera in 1929 and completed in 1934. French architecture is evident in the meticulously decorated facade of the first building opposite the museum's entrance gate. Balconies, arched doors, columns, wrought iron staircase railings, balustrades, and stained glass windows with vibrant patterns symmetrically reflect European influences. The floors are adorned with intricate floral patterned tiles. Each area, room is tiled with a different patterned tile, while the staircase is paved with marble. The Eastern style of the Museum is evident in the red-colored yin-yang tiled roof, Chinese couplets on either side of the main door, bas-reliefs of carp or Vạn patterns on the roof.
Artistic spiral staircase.
The interior spaces of the three buildings exude a classical, romantic, and charming ambiance. From the picturesque window frames, intricately decorated and meticulously carved antique elevators (the Art Museum was the first place to use elevators), golden moss-patterned relief walls to the artistic spiral staircases, all are intriguing details that captivate.
Artistic spiral staircase.
National treasure: The North-South Spring Garden by the renowned artist Nguyen Gia Tri.
The Art Museum also showcases works by famous local artists, contemporary sculptures and art, collections of ancient, modern, and traditional handicraft arts. Especially, you will marvel at the masterpiece considered a national treasure: The North-South Spring Garden by the artist Nguyen Gia Tri, with its marvelous and breathtaking red hues. In 1991, this painting made headlines when it was valued at $100,000.
Author: Tran Hong Ngoc
* This article participates in the Mytour Golocal program
Mytour Golocal is a blogging program introducing beautiful destinations across Vietnam. It's a great opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each article meeting the requirements, you will receive 800,000 VND and a chance to become a Mytour contributor. For detailed information about the program, visit: https://www.Mytour/vi-vn/golocal
