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Roaming around museums in Ho Chi Minh City is an incredible experience to gain deeper insights into the land of Uncle Ho. Here are the spots not to be missed by #teamKlook.
Ho Chi Minh City not only attracts with its modern, dynamic, and most developed lifestyle in Vietnam, but also with its rich culture, history, and art... worth admiring. To understand more about this city, nothing is more ideal than strolling through its most famous museums with various themes. Moreover, museums in Ho Chi Minh City are also known as the perfect spots for you to create those 'million likes' photos.
1. Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum
One of the most beautiful museums in Ho Chi Minh City is the Fine Arts Museum located right in the center of District 1. This building used to be the mansion of the famous Chinese-origin businessman in Saigon in the early 20th century Hua Bon Hoa, and was designed in Art Deco architecture style, harmoniously combining European and Asian artistic lines, impressing with every small detail.
In 1987, this magnificent mansion was renovated, transformed into Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, and officially opened in 1989. The museum is divided into 3 visiting areas in 3 buildings, displaying high-value paintings, sculptures, and antiques. Among the paintings displayed at the museum, there is a large lacquer painting 'North-South Spring Garden' by famous painter Nguyen Gia Tri, which is considered a national treasure.
Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum has become one of the largest art centers in Vietnam.
- Address: 97A Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: 30,000 VND/person
- Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
2. Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History
Established in 1929, the Vietnam History Museum is considered the first museum in Saigon and the entire South Vietnam at that time, originally named Musée Blanchard de la Brosse. This grand structure was designed by French architect Auguste Delaval, in an innovative Indochinese style. Later, in 1970, a series of U-shaped houses with a scenic pond were added behind by architect Nguyen Ba Lang.
The exhibition system at the Vietnam History Museum consists of two thematic sections: 'Vietnamese History from Prehistory to the End of the Nguyen Dynasty' and 'Southern Vietnamese Culture and Some Asian Countries' with over 40,000 artifacts and more than 25,000 valuable newspapers, documents. At the Vietnam History Museum, visitors also have the opportunity to watch a Water Puppet Show - a form of traditional folk performing arts dating back over 1000 years.
- Address: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: 30,000 VND/person
- Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3. Ho Chi Minh City Museum
Constructed in 1885 and completed in 1890 according to the design by French architect Alfred Foulhoux, originally intended as the Museum of Commerce to exhibit products of Cochinchina. However, after completion, this building was used as a mansion, the headquarters of many high-ranking officials spanning from the French colonial period to the Republic of Vietnam. In 1999, this building officially became the Ho Chi Minh City Museum.
After more than 130 years, this special building has become a place to preserve the formation and development of the Saigon land from its inception to the dynamic, modern Ho Chi Minh City today. In addition, the special attraction of the museum lies in its classical European architecture, romantic, and cinematic atmosphere, making it a restless 'virtual life' spot.
- Address: 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: 30,000 VND/person
- Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
4. Ho Chi Minh City War Remnants Museum
Without possessing grand ancient architecture or high art masterpieces or precious antiques like many other museums, the War Remnants Museum attracts millions of visitors every year because of its special significance, and is one of the top tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.
Established since 1975, this museum has become a place for research, collection, preservation, and display of documents, images, artifacts about the evidences, consequences after the wars that the country and Vietnamese people had to endure, demonstrated through 8 topics.
- Address: 28 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: 40,000 VND/person
- Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
5. Artinus 3D Art Museum
Another purely entertainment destination for you to relax is Artinus 3D Art Museum, a place exhibiting giant 3D paintings, created by 15 professional artists from Korea.
Artinus 3D Art Museum has a total of 9 areas with 9 different themes, taking you into a vibrant, colorful adventure space. Just 'act deeply' a bit and you'll have plenty of super cool photos.
Among the exhibited painting themes here, the most special is the area recreating images of Vietnam located at the center of the museum, with prominent images such as: terraced fields in the Northwest, Ha Long Bay, Hue ancient capital, or the Western river region. Artinus Museum promises to bring you and your family the most enjoyable moments of play.
Address: 2 Street 9, Him Lam urban area, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
Ticket Price:
Tuesday – Friday:
- Adults: 180,000 VND/person
- Children: 130,000 VND/person
Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays:
- Adults: 230,000 VND/person
- Children: 180,000 VND/person
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
6. Museum of Southern Women
If you've fallen in love with the image of Southern girls in the gentle ao dai and want to learn more about them, then visit the Museum of Southern Women. This building has been around for quite some time, originally the residence of General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, Chief of Police of the Republic of Vietnam.
In 1985, the museum opened its doors to visitors with the initial function as the Traditional House of Southern Women, by 1990, the Museum of Southern Women was inaugurated. Here, images, artifacts, and historical documents about the lives of Southern women during the nation-building and homeland protection period are preserved.
With its unique content, this museum dedicated to the theme of Southern Vietnamese women has become a favorite destination for female tourists both domestically and internationally when visiting Ho Chi Minh City.
- Address: 202 Vo Thi Sau, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: Free
- Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
7. Ho Chi Minh City Geological Museum
For those passionate about earth sciences, the Ho Chi Minh City Geological Museum is a must-visit destination. Established in 1914 by the Indochina Geological Survey, it is part of the Natural History Museum system in Vietnam and a member of the International Council of Museums. The museum houses numerous geological specimens, minerals, fossils, drill cores, and more from Vietnam and various locations around the world.
In particular, the museum exhibits raw oil samples found in the waters off Southern Vietnam in the 1980s, which hold significant importance for the country's energy industry.
- Address: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: Free
- Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
8. Vietnam Ao Dai Museum
Xuất phát từ niềm đam mê bất tận đối với chiếc áo dài Việt Nam, fashion designer Sỹ Hoàng established the Vietnamese Ao Dai Museum in Ho Chi Minh City in 2014, aiming to honor, preserve, and showcase the documents and images associated with the traditional attire throughout the nation's developmental periods.
The Ao Dai Museum is nestled within a lush green campus featuring the beautiful ecosystem of the Mekong Delta, often referred to by young people as an ideal spot for smooth photoshoots with a serene countryside atmosphere, breezy and tinged with nostalgia.
Moreover, visitors are provided detailed guidance on the process of designing, cutting, sewing, embroidering, and painting an Ao Dai, with the opportunity to personally tailor one. Don't miss out on this enticing experience when visiting the Vietnamese Ao Dai Museum!
- Address: 206/19/30 Long Thuan, Long Phuoc Ward, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: 50,000 VND/person
- Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
9. Vietnam Museum of Traditional Medicine
Born from pharmacist Lê Khắc Tâm's idea and passion for traditional medicine, the Vietnam Museum of Traditional Medicine – Fito Museum is the first private museum system dedicated to traditional medicine and herbal medicine in Vietnam.
This place is constructed in the architectural style of traditional wooden houses, bearing some characteristics of the northern countryside, a bit of ancient Hue houses, and some hints of Cham architecture, combined with the model images of a traditional herbal medicine shop, creating a solemn, ancient yet peaceful atmosphere.
After visiting Fito, you'll experience the process of being a pharmacist through interesting activities such as cutting medicine, grinding medicine, tasting medicine flavors, as well as consulting traditional Chinese medicine healthcare services here.
- Address: 41 Hoang Du Khuong, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ticket Price: 120,000 VND/person
- Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Indeed, Ho Chi Minh City has too many captivating places. A trip to this city cannot be limited to entertainment spots alone, but must delve deep into the historical and cultural beauty, as well as the essence that has shaped the people of this land through its wonderful museums as introduced by Klook.
Hopefully, after checking out the museums in Ho Chi Minh City, you'll gain valuable knowledge and capture hundreds of beautiful photos, preserving memories of a meaningful trip to Ho Chi Minh City.
Don't forget to refer to articles about Ho Chi Minh City from Klook Vietnam's Blog to pocket some useful experiences for your upcoming trip. Apart from the museums mentioned above, Cu Chi Tunnels and Independence Palace are also wonderful places for you to learn about the city's history.
Who will you explore the famous museums in Ho Chi Minh City with?
