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The Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City offers a promising destination, providing a multifaceted perspective on the history of struggle, spiritual life, and unique beauty of 'the other half of the world'. Let's explore!
If you're traveling in Southern Vietnam, the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City is a fascinating suggestion. Here, you'll learn about the renowned courageous women of the Vietnam War, their daily lives, religious beliefs, and traditional attire such as the Ao Dai.
The Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City currently holds 30,431 artifacts, with 929 items publicly displayed, including 16,739 geometric objects, and 14,621 films, photos, and historical documents. Two-thirds of the artifacts are related to resistance wars, while one-third is made from various materials.
Introduction to the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City
The Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City was built to honor Vietnamese women who contributed to the country's development and to celebrate their roles as mothers, wives, and heroic fighters in the war.
The museum comprises three floors and 10 exhibition rooms, describing historical figures, including a prominent exhibition highlighting the role of women in the revolution: as politicians, diplomats, and state managers. Additionally, the museum serves as a center for organizing educational activities, scientific seminars, and cultural exchanges.
From ancient times to the present, the perception of modern women and traditional women has been widely debated. History shows they have not been as respected as men, especially in Asian countries where people think women's place is in the kitchen or taking care of children.
However, when visiting the Museum of Southern Women, you'll see a different perspective on Vietnamese women as they demonstrate how strong they are in preserving national culture, contributing to the country's development, and defending the motherland during wars. They were the backbone of the nation in revolutionary wars.
It's often said that only men know how to fight in wars, and women don't, but they are completely mistaken. Over 1000 photos and items in the collection 'Political Struggle of Southern Women' prove that during the war, women participated in demonstrations, strikes, uprisings to demand freedom, wage increases, compensation, protest against chemical defoliants, or oppose toxic waste dumping. They also fought as part of the 'Long-Haired Army'.
Where is the Museum of Southern Women Located?
- Address: 202 Vo Thi Sau, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
The Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City is just 2.5 km away from Ben Thanh Market, so you can easily visit when staying in the city center.
Located at 202 Vo Thi Sau, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, the Museum of Southern Women has many collections aimed at expressing the desires and wills of previous generations of women to preserve and educate future generations about patriotism and the national traditions of Vietnamese women. It is also an ideal place for international tourists visiting Vietnam.
Opening Hours of the Museum of Southern Women in Saigon
- Opening hours: 7:30 - 11:30, 13:30 - 17:00 from Sunday to Thursday
Ticket Prices for the Museum of Southern Women
Admission to the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City is completely free for visitors. So, you can visit the Museum of Southern Women on weekends as a refreshing local tourist activity without worrying about your wallet.
Transportation Options to the Museum of Southern Women
You can opt to rent a self-drive motorbike, hire a private car with a driver who doubles as a guide, making it comfortable for you to explore the modern and ancient beauty of this over 300-year-old city. Taking a bus is also a cost-effective choice, although it may take quite some time to reach the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City: Bus numbers 28 and 54.
History and Significance of the Museum of Southern Women
The Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City was previously the residence of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Loan - Director General of the General Department of Police of the Republic of Vietnam. In 1984, it was repurposed as the Traditional House of Southern Women.
The old building was used as offices for museum staff. The museum has been part of the National Museum system since 1990 and had the honor of receiving the First-Class Labor Medal in 1998.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the liberation and unification of the country's two regions, the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City was inaugurated on April 29, 1985. This structure was converted from the Traditional House of Women. The building's purpose is to nurture patriotism and propagate the traditional beauty of women from previous generations, especially those preceding Vietnam's independence, even in times of peace.
Originally covering an area of 200 square meters, the museum was divided into 6 rooms. However, it was expanded to 3000 square meters in 1986 thanks to contributions from numerous citizens, organizations, and overseas Vietnamese.
The expansion process lasted for four years and was resumed in 1990 with 5410 square meters in use, including a 1000-square-meter auditorium and a 700-square-meter warehouse. The museum now welcomes between 60,000 and 80,000 visitors annually, including international tourists, leaders, professors, students, and anyone interested.
Detailed Review of the Museum of Southern Women
The Museum of Southern Women exhibits various themes, but some are only occasionally displayed. Here are 11 themes permanently exhibited: Southern women's traditions before the establishment of the Communist Party, Uncle Ho with Southern women and Southern women with Uncle Ho, The formation and development of Vietnamese women's organizations, Southern women after the reunification of the country, Southern women in politics, Southern women in the military, Southern women in foreign affairs, Southern women in colonial prisons, Worship of Lady - an extraordinary female figure, Vietnamese women's clothing and jewelry, Traditional handicraft weaving.
30,000 artifacts preserved in this museum are categorized into 24 collections. Here are three prominent collections in terms of information content and larger in quantity of artifacts, among the remaining collections.
Inside the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City, there are displays of paintings, artifacts associated with the dedication of women in the Vietnam War, and 2 rooms describing the activities of revolutionary women such as Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Vo Thi Sau, Nguyen Thi Dinh, etc.
The museum also organizes other beneficial activities such as nationwide mobile exhibitions, exhibitions abroad, publishing books about Southern women, organizing meetings with great Vietnamese heroic mothers, and assisting their lives. Overall, paintings of Vietnamese heroic mothers, statues of heroes, or paintings of female martyrs who sacrificed in prisons depict more about the value of Vietnamese women.
1. Ao Dai Collection at the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City
The ao dai has become the national costume of Vietnam. Over time, through many improvements, the Vietnamese ao dai has become increasingly aesthetically valuable. The ao dai truly embodies the traditional beauty, containing the soul of the nation, creating beautiful designs for Vietnamese women.
The ao dai collection consists of 65 items displayed on the 1st floor. As soon as you enter the room, on the left is a large brown board describing an overview of the changes of the ao dai through historical fluctuations in Vietnamese, English, and French. Around the display room are ao dai arranged in chronological order. Therefore, more attention is needed when comparing the sophistication of ao dai between periods, from 1744 to recent times.
In the middle of the room are photos of important women who have devoted their lives to the liberation and development of Vietnam.
2. Collection of Heritage of Women Warriors Against Two Wars
This collection is displayed on the second floor of the museum and is divided into four sub-themes: political prisoners, foreign affairs, images of women fighting when enemies attacked, and the Long-haired Army.
It may sound surprising, but Southern women played a very important role in the victories of the wars in Vietnam. Immediately after its inception, the Communist Party of Vietnam began many political struggles. In the South, hundreds of protests and strikes erupted.
These protests involved many women. Alongside demands to stop beatings and demand compensation for workers' wages, there were also specific demands for female workers. Public struggles for legitimacy in the media were also initiated as a women's rights campaign.
In addition, other forms of struggle such as protests for livelihood, democracy, anti-tax, and anti-fascism also took place strongly. During the August Revolution in 1945 and the 9-year resistance war against French colonialism (1945-1954).
Over 1,000 photos and artifacts from the 'Southern Women's Political Struggle' collection are preserved by the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Southern Women under various angles, genres, demonstrating the contributions of Southern women in the struggle against French colonialism and American imperialism.
On the left is the statue 'Breastfeeding' by artist Vu Ba, and on the right is the painting 'Mother and Children Reunion' by author Lam Hong Long.
3. Labor Tools Collection
Preserving and introducing artifacts about labor tools will help us deeply appreciate the role of women in both past and present life in Vietnam. Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Southern Women has built a collection of 350 artifacts used in the production labor of women from the Truong Son - Tay Nguyen ethnic groups, as well as Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham, and Khmer people. The brocade weaving technique in Tan Chau - An Giang Province was very famous in the domestic and international markets in the 20th century.
Experience Visiting the Museum of Southern Women
The building of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Southern Women is designed and divided into the front yard area, three floors, and 10 rooms. Each floor has its own theme, and the map of each floor is displayed at the front entrance and explained in both Vietnamese and English.
1. Front Yard Area
Outdoors, there is a statue of the Heroic Vietnamese Mother in traditional long dress, standing 4.5 meters tall, making a strong impression on visitors. At the base of the statue are carved 8 golden characters: “Heroic - Indomitable - Generous - Capable” bestowed by Uncle Ho to Vietnamese women during the Vietnam War. The front yard area is quite spacious with many green trees including bamboo trees resembling fans. There are 4 paintings depicting 4 Vietnamese women in traditional long dresses.
2. Ground Floor
The museum features an 800-seat auditorium, a library housing 11,000 books with a special focus on women, and a movie theater on the ground floor of the new building.
3. First Floor
The first-floor area showcases women's clothing and accessories from the Southern region, including: Accessories of Vietnamese women in the 20th century (bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, etc.), embroidered and beaded decorations of Vietnamese women in the 20th century (shoes), Traditional costumes of ethnic women,...
Traditional handicraft villages of Southern ethnic women: The loom used by Southern Vietnamese ethnic women to make fabric, a scene simulating Southern Vietnamese ethnic women soaking fabric in a wooden tub for dyeing, Art of using yellow dye on silk threads, cashew oil used for dyeing orange threads, areca nuts used for dyeing black threads, gourd used for dyeing red threads by Southern ethnic women, Colorful mat weaving villages, Traditional spinning wheel tools,...
Ao Dai - Vietnamese Essence: Costumes of palace maids in the Nguyen dynasty's palace in the 1920s, Modern wedding Ao Dai, Traditional wedding Ao Dai of Vietnamese women in the early 20th century; Traditional wedding Ao Dai of Vietnamese women in the 1960s; Traditional wedding Ao Dai of Vietnamese women in the 1970s.
4. Second Floor
The sections on the second floor include: Female political prisoners fighting in Southern prisons, Foreign relations, When the country was invaded, Women joining the armed forces, Military women.
5. Third Floor
Displaying artifacts, images of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers: Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, female heroes of the people's armed forces: Mrs. Bui Thi Them, Mrs. Do Thi Phuc, Mrs. Doan Thi Nghiep, ... Most impressive is the statue of Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Ranh with 8 sons and 2 grandchildren sacrificed in the Vietnam War, Diary and legacy of Heroic Mother Tran Quang Man, Betel nut of Heroic Mother Nguyen Thanh Tung,...
President Ho Chi Minh with Southern women: Statue of President Ho Chi Minh and children, large canvases about Vietnamese women, Southern Vietnam to commemorate Uncle Ho in 1969, books for women, Uncle Ho badges, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nguyen's memorial, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huyen's Ao Dai, scarf of Nguyen Thi Dinh - Vietnam's first female general of the People's Army.
Southern women in nation-building: Ratio of female deputies to the National Assembly, Female artists, athletes, singers, famous Vietnamese poets.
Affordable Hotels/Guesthouses Near the Museum of Southern Women
Are you looking for budget-friendly accommodation options near the Museum of Southern Women? Here are some top suggestions with attractive discounted deals on Klook. Book your hotel room directly on Klook Vietnam to not miss out on exclusive discounts and perks!
1. Hotel des Arts Saigon Mgallery Collection
- Rating: 5 stars
- Address: 76 - 78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price Range: From 3,500,000 VND/night
Conveniently located in the city center, Hotel Des Arts Saigon is just minutes away from major attractions such as the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City, popular bars, local cafes, shopping centers, and entertainment complexes.
This luxurious 5-star hotel, inspired by local culture, features 168 rooms and suites, stylish restaurants, a rooftop poolside bar, spa, fitness center, garden, terrace, a ballroom, and 2 meeting rooms. Suitable for both business travelers and leisure guests.
2. Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel
- Rating: 4 stars
- Address: 17 Ton Duc Thang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price Range: From 1,170,000 VND/night
The Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City is ideally located by the riverside in the heart of District 1 - one of the most expensive areas in the city. From here, you can easily access the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City and the city's attractions. The hotel is close to Bach Dang Pier, the Ton Duc Thang Museum, and Saigon Skydeck. Nearby landmarks include the Municipal Theater and Tax Shopping Mall. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is only 6 km away from the hotel.
The Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel offers full-service spa, outdoor pool, and health club facilities. Free wireless internet access is available in public areas. The 24-hour front desk provides tour booking and ticketing services. Airport shuttle, laundry, and ironing services are provided. Western and Asian cuisines are served at The Central Restaurant. Cocktails and light snacks are available at the Bistro Cafe.
3. Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh
- Rating: 4 stars
- Address: 7 Ngo Van Nam, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price Range: From 800,000 VND/night
Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh City ensures a comfortable stay for travelers whether in Ho Chi Minh City for business or leisure. With its convenient location just a few kilometers from the city center and close to the airport, this hotel attracts many visitors each year.
4. Cochin Zen Hotel
- Rating: 4 stars
- Address: 46 Thu Khoa Huan, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price Range: 790,000 VND/night
The hotel is conveniently located in District 1, the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Guests can dine at the on-site restaurant or relax with drinks at the bar. The hotel also has a fitness center on site. Cochin Zen Hotel is only 1.5km away from the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City, 450m from Ben Thanh Market, 600m from Independence Palace walking, and 20 minutes drive from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Each air-conditioned room is equipped with a flat-screen cable TV, desk, minibar, safe, and private bathroom with bathtub or shower, hairdryer, and complimentary toiletries. The 24-hour front desk staff speaks two languages and can arrange car rental, tour excursions, and ticket bookings at any time. Luggage storage, regular laundry, and dry cleaning services are also available upon request.
5. Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint
- Rating: 4 stars
- Address: 59 - 61 Pasteur Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Price Range: 1,275,000 VND/night
Explore the essence of Saigon's urban life at Liberty Central Saigon City Point, a perfect stop to discover, meet, and enjoy the nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City. Just 8km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the hotel is located just steps away from Le Loi Boulevard, allowing easy access to the central business district and major attractions. The hotel chain includes a modern Central Restaurant, The Bistro Bar, and Executive lounge that will impress you with exquisite international classics as well as beloved local dishes. Moreover, the hotel features a deluxe cinema on the first floor, equipped with facilities to maximize your viewing pleasure and entertainment.
Other Attractions Near the Museum of Southern Women
After exploring the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City, wander around the city and fully immerse yourself in Saigon's nightlife. Highlights of the tour include fantastic street food at local restaurants, unique entertainment activities that most tourists overlook such as: Saigon River Cruise with Dinner on Saigon Princess Ship, City Tour with Hop On Hop Off Bus, Experience Shooting at Saigon Sniper, Buffet Experience at La Vela Saigon Hotel 5 Stars, Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Find more travel experiences and attractions in Ho Chi Minh City on Klook Blog: Can Gio Travel Experience, visit Hoang Phap Pagoda, experience the vibrant nightlife at Bui Vien Walking Street, enjoy the best of Saigon's delicacies, the culinary paradise Ho Thi Ky Market, rediscover tranquility at Saigon Book Street, immerse yourself in nature at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Vietnam is a beautiful country with not only stunning landscapes but also diverse culture and people.
During your trip to Ho Chi Minh City, #teamKlook can explore many special aspects of the local culture and the beauty of the region. Don't miss out on an emotional journey at the Museum of Southern Women in Ho Chi Minh City!
