Top 10 Famous Historical Museums in Hanoi

Think museums are dull? Our list of the top 10 famous museums in Hanoi below will change your mind, offering a treasure trove of fascinating discoveries and stunning photography opportunities.

1. Hanoi Museum

The Hanoi Museum, established in celebration of the capital's 1000th anniversary of civilization, stands as one of the most beautiful museums in Hanoi. The building's first impression is its unique inverted pyramid structure, with the largest floor area on the fourth level tapering downwards.

Unique architecture of the Hanoi Museum. Photo: Collected

The first floor of the museum showcases a welcome hall, featuring a model of a Ly dynasty dragon-carved pillar, alongside documents and artifacts from the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties. The second floor offers a vivid natural history display including the Hoan Kiem turtle skeleton, West Lake shrimp specimen, and images of Hanoi's milk flower and purple Lagerstroemia. The third floor presents ancient artifacts like bronze drums, old coins, porcelain vases, ivory, dragon statues, and stone turtle statues. The top floor is dedicated to paintings and photographs depicting Hanoi's transformation over the years.

Interior architecture of the Hanoi Museum. Photo: Collected

The museum houses ancient artifacts like bronze drums, old coins, porcelain vases, ivory, dragon and stone turtle statues. Photo: Collected

The museum building includes two basements that embark you on a journey through Hanoi's history from its founding to the present across three sections: Natural History of Hanoi; Hanoi's History from its establishment to before the August Revolution; and Hanoi's History from after the August Revolution in 1945 to the present.

• Address: Pham Hung Street, Me Tri Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi
• Admission: Free

2. National History Museum

The National History Museum was established by merging the Vietnam History Museum with the Vietnam Revolution Museum. As part of Vietnam's national museum system, it was founded early on and features an architectural style that harmoniously blends Eastern design with Western architectural beauty.

The National History Museum beautifully merges Eastern architectural styles with Western design elegance. Image: Collected

Every facet of the National History Museum has been designed with meticulous attention to detail. Image: Collected

The National History Museum stands as the only museum in Vietnam with a dedicated archaeological excavation function. This effort supplies the museum with a scientifically arranged and effective display of artifacts. Currently, the museum houses nearly 250,000 documents and artifacts, including a special collection of rare items. To date, 20 of these have been recognized (out of a total of 188) as National Treasures. Documents and artifacts relating to the Vietnamese Communist Party, leader Ho Chi Minh, the period leading up to, and the events of the August Revolution in 1945, hold a special place in the museum's collection.

The exhibition spaces within the museum. Image: Collected

A display rich in ancient artifacts. Image: Collected

• Address: 216 Tran Quang Khai Street, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Admission fee: 40,000 VND per visitor

3. Ho Chi Minh Museum

The Ho Chi Minh Museum, sprawling over 18,000 m2, stands as one of Hanoi's most significant museums, preserving precious artifacts related to President Ho Chi Minh. Constructed in 1973 in the very location where he proclaimed Vietnam's independence, the edifice benefitted from the earnest support of the former Soviet Union, from design to construction.

Ho Chi Minh Museum. Image: Compiled

The architectural design of the Ho Chi Minh Museum features a square structure with two diagonally opposite corners beveled, creating an overall appearance reminiscent of a white lotus flower, symbolizing purity and elegance. A large bas-relief on the museum's facade intertwines the national flag and hammer and sickle, representing the ideals of independence and socialism aimed by the party and the people for national development.

A statue of Uncle Ho is prominently placed in the museum's lobby. Image: Compiled

The first floor of the museum is dedicated to displaying artifacts and documents about Ho Chi Minh's biography, revolutionary activities, and the nation-building efforts following his testament, organized thematically. The second floor showcases the struggles and significant victories of the Vietnamese people and army under Ho Chi Minh's leadership, expanding on themes introduced on the first floor. The third floor features thematic exhibitions on historical milestones in the region and the world that influenced the revolutionary thoughts and paths of the young Nguyen Tat Thanh.

Exhibition space showcasing artifacts related to President Ho Chi Minh. Image: Collected

• Address: 19 Ngoc Ha, Doi Can, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
• Admission: Free

4. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Established in 1981 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology covers an area of 3.27 hectares and offers a miniature panorama of the history and culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. Its rich and unique cultural diversity makes it one of the favorite museums for families with children to visit during weekends in Hanoi.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Image: Collected

The museum features three main exhibition areas: the Bronze Drum building, the outdoor exhibition, and the Southeast Asia exhibition. The Bronze Drum building hosts thematic displays that are regularly updated on the second floor, while the first floor showcases the identities of all 54 ethnic groups. The museum holds 15,000 artifacts, 42,000 photographs and film footage depicting daily life, costumes, medical practices, farming tools, religious beliefs, and customs of the ethnic communities.

Display of traditional longhouses of ethnic groups. Image: Collected

The outdoor area recreates unique architectural styles such as the Tay, Ede, and Hmong stilt houses, and the H’mong ground house roofed with Pomu wood. A Dao ethnic group's water-powered rice mill is also featured within the garden premises. The Southeast Asia exhibition showcases Southeast Asian culture, Indonesian glass paintings, a glimpse of Asia, and a global tour. Additionally, the museum offers educational activities, an auditorium, a cinema room, and a multimedia room, where visitors can explore cultural materials not only from Vietnam but also from ASEAN countries.

Depictions of ethnic community daily life activities. Image: Compiled

• Address: Nguyen Van Huyen, Quan Hoa, Cau Giay, Hanoi
• Admission fee: 40,000 VND per visitor

5. Vietnam Women's Museum

The Vietnam Women’s Museum is a tribute to the enduring spirit of the Vietnamese woman, showcasing their journey from ancient times to the modern era. Spanning four floors with thousands of documents and artifacts collected over nearly a decade from across the nation, the museum vividly portrays the distinctive characteristics of Vietnamese women through photographs to traditional costumes.

Vietnam Women's Museum. Image: Collected

Stepping onto the marble floor of the museum, visitors are greeted by the solemn presence of the “Mother Vietnam” statue in the entrance hall. The second floor displays artifacts closely associated with the lives of Vietnamese women, including work tools and jewelry. The third floor houses records and artifacts from the 81 years of the Vietnam Women’s Union, featuring gifts from women worldwide in support of the union's activities. The fourth floor showcases the evolution of Vietnamese women's attire through history, alongside information about the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

The “Mother Vietnam” statue stands solemnly in the entrance hall. Image: Collected

In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the museum organizes thematic exhibitions with a fresh approach to social anthropology, reflecting the development and changes in contemporary society through projects aimed at various groups, especially disadvantaged women and children.

The museum showcases traditional Vietnamese women's attire. Image: Collected

• Address: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hang Bai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Ticket price: 30,000 VND per visitor

6. Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum is recognized as one of the national museums playing a crucial role in preserving and promoting the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the Vietnamese ethnic communities.

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. Image: Compiled

The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum's grounds now span approximately 4,737m2, with over 3,000m2 dedicated to exhibition space. The museum features more than 30 galleries, showcasing a diverse collection from vibrantly patterned ethnic clothing, intricately crafted bamboo and rattan items, traditional Dong Ho folk paintings, to meticulously sculpted bronze, stone, and wood statues, all reflecting the nation's traditional essence.

Exquisite bronze, stone, and wood sculptures on display. Image: Compiled

The museum's collections are presented chronologically, by genre and material, illustrating the exemplary values of different historical art periods for visitors' appreciation. With over 2,000 artifacts on permanent display, the main themes include prehistoric and early historic art; art from the 11th to the 19th century; art from the 20th century to the present; traditional applied arts; folk arts; and Vietnamese ceramic art from the 11th to the 20th century, including pottery salvaged from five ancient shipwrecks.

Exhibition space for art pieces from various historical periods. Image: Compiled

Apart from the regular exhibition space, the museum features Special Exhibition Spaces, a Creative Space for Children, and a Food and Beverage Area.

• Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Dien Ban, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
• Ticket price: 40,000 VND per visitor

7. Vietnam Museum of Natural History

The Vietnam Museum of Natural History offers a panoramic view of Vietnam's natural landscape and the evolution of its flora and fauna over 3.6 billion years, making it an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts and curious explorers, especially young ones.

Vietnam Museum of Natural History. Image: Compiled

Inaugurated in 2004, the Vietnam Museum of Natural History is a national museum that, despite its modest area of 300m2, houses nearly 40,000 different specimens. The museum aims to preserve Vietnam’s precious natural heritage spanning 3.6 billion years.

The museum preserves Vietnam's precious natural values over 3.6 billion years. Image: Compiled

Upon approaching the museum, visitors are immediately captivated by the life-sized dinosaur sculptures at the entrance, while intriguing posters highlight the diverse specimens inside, sparking curiosity. Inside, a vast world of flora and fauna awaits, featuring an impressive collection of 40,000 artifacts including reptiles, mammals, insects, fungi, and geological samples, meticulously organized by category.

The museum showcases a variety of specimens including reptiles, mammals, insects, fungi, and geological samples, all meticulously categorized. Photo: Compiled

The museum utilizes every space to disseminate knowledge to its visitors. An eye-catching wooden wall displays an evolutionary tree diagram, illustrating the natural world's five kingdoms: animals, plants, fungi, protists, and monera. Besides flora and fauna, the museum also exhibits human evolutionary fossils, with interactive screens at each exhibit to enrich visitors' understanding of the evolution process.

• Address: 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi
• Admission: Free

8. Vietnam Military History Museum

The Vietnam Military History Museum stands out not just as a renowned museum in Hanoi but also as part of the national museum system and the first military museum in the country. It houses and exhibits around 150,000 artifacts of historical, cultural, and military significance that narrate the resistance against invaders from the era of the Hung Kings to the era of President Ho Chi Minh.

Vietnam Military History Museum. Photo: Collected

The museum features both indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces, covering an area of 3,200m2. Among its many artifacts are a bicycle from the Dien Bien Phu campaign, MiG19 and MiG21 aircraft, Sam 2 and Sam 3 missiles used in the campaign against American imperialism, bamboo spikes, and a tank from the armored division that entered Saigon on April 30, 1975, all prominently displayed.

Tanks prominently displayed in the center of the exhibition hall. Photo: Collected

A statue of General Vo Nguyen Giap. Photo: Collected

Additionally, the Museum features exhibit rooms such as: The theme of Vietnam's homemade primitive weapons during the Liberation War (1945-1975); The Ho Chi Minh Trail (1959-1975) theme; The Vietnamese Heroic Mother theme; The World Supports Vietnam's Resistance theme, and an outdoor exhibition area.

• Address: 28A Dien Bien Phu, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
• Admission fee: 20,000 VND per visitor

9. Air Defense - Air Force Museum

Ranked second in Vietnam's National Museum system, the Air Defense - Air Force Museum preserves images, documents, and artifacts evidencing the formation, construction, combat, development, and victories of the Vietnam Air Defense - Air Force forces.

Air Defense - Air Force Museum. Photo: Compiled

The outdoor exhibition spans over 15,000 m2 with 101 large exhibits, showcasing a unique collection of weapons from the four Air Defense - Air Force branches: Anti-aircraft guns, Aircraft, Missiles, and Radar. These weapons have achieved notable successes: The 37mm gun of the Tô Vĩnh Diện battery during the Điện Biên Phủ campaign; The journey of the 90mm cannon made by the USA, winning its first battle on August 5, 1964; The Mig.21 aircraft that shot down a B.52 on the night of December 27, 1972; Various types of Mig aircraft, transport helicopters, armed helicopters, and some attack aircraft captured from the Saigon regime,…

Inside exhibition space of the museum. Photo: Compiled

The indoor exhibit features over 3,000 artifacts and photos that revive the glorious history of the Air Defense-Air Force troops. Each artifact and image in the display tells a legendary tale of the remarkable achievements of the Air Defense - Air Force during the resistance wars against France and the US, showcasing heroic feats against the professional air forces of technologically advanced countries, still captivating for many domestic and international visitors today.

Outdoor exhibition area of the museum. Photo: Compiled

• Address: 173C Truong Chinh, Khuong Mai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi
• Ticket price: 15,000 VND per visitor

Vietnam Weapons Museum

Situated on a sprawling 10,000m2 area, the Vietnam Weapons Museum boasts a three-story exhibition hall housing hundreds of weapons out of more than 5,000 original artifacts. Among these, numerous collections hold significant historical value, evidencing the evolution and advancement of Vietnamese weapon technology.

Vietnam Weapons Museum. Photo: Compiled

Here, visitors can marvel at replicas like the legendary Crossbow of An Duong Vuong from the My Chau – Trong Thuy legend; various ancient and medieval weapons such as bows, arrows, spears, swords, stone-covered wooden stakes, stone launchers, and cannons, along with war elephants, horses, and boats. These arms contributed to monumental victories such as Ngô Quyền's defeat of the Southern Han fleet at Bach Dang River in 938, Lê Lợi's triumph over Ming forces at Chi Lang Pass in 1427, the victory at Ngoc Hoi – Dong Da, up to modern weapons developed and utilized by Vietnamese military and civilians during the resistance wars against France (1945 – 1954) and the US (1954 – 1975).

Weaponry on display. Photo: Compiled

Additionally, the museum showcases legendary weapons supplied by the former Soviet Union to the Vietnam People's Army, which played a crucial role. Highlights include the AK47 rifle, the RP6-7 anti-tank gun, the T54 tank, versatile MI-8, MI-24, AN-2 transport aircraft, the MG-21 fighter jet, the BM21 self-propelled rocket launcher system with a 40-barrel 122mm launcher, and the SAM-2 anti-aircraft missile system.

Various firearms and ammunition. Photo: Compiled

• Address: 22 Alley 157 Duc Giang, Thuong Thanh, Long Bien, Hanoi
• Admission: Free

As proud sons and daughters of Vietnam, each of us harbors a deep national pride and love. Take the time to visit the major museums in Hanoi, explore, and express your appreciation for our rich heritage. With the list of museums in Hanoi provided, we hope you find your visits both enlightening and enjoyable.