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The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is one of the places where the cultural values of 54 brotherly ethnic groups across the country are showcased and preserved.
This is a destination that attracts a large number of tourists to visit every year. Now, let's explore what interesting things the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology has to offer with VNTRIP.VN!
Entrance gate of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Photo: collected)
Where is the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology located?
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is situated on Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay, approximately 8km from central Hanoi. The museum holds significant cultural value on both a national and local scale. Visitors can easily reach here by various means of transportation such as car, motorbike, or taxi. For many tourists visiting Hanoi, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is always on the list of 'must-visit' destinations.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Photo: collected)
Introduction to the museum
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology was established in 1981 in Hanoi, covering an area of 3.27 hectares. This project was designed by architect Ha Duc Linh and interior designer Veronique Dollfus (from France). The museum is like a miniature painting depicting the history and culture of the 54 brotherly ethnic groups in Vietnam with diverse and unique cultural features. These artifacts are displayed in various categories such as clothing, jewelry, weaponry, musical instruments, religion, beliefs, and many other spiritual activities.
The museum is like a miniature painting depicting the history and culture of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam (Photo: collected)
What makes the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology so captivating?
The museum is divided into three main exhibition areas: the Dong Son Drum building, outdoor displays, and the Southeast Asia exhibition area. From the outside, visitors will be attracted by the scientific and logical presentation and arrangement, making it easy to grasp the unique cultural essence of each ethnic group.
(Collected photo)
Dong Son Drum Building
The Dong Son Drum Building has two spaces, with one themed exhibition space constantly refreshed on the second floor, and the first floor showcasing the essence of the 54 ethnic groups. There are 15,000 artifacts, 42,000 film frames, and images depicting daily life, clothing, tools, religious beliefs, as well as customs of the ethnic minorities. To serve visitors, the artifacts here are mainly translated into 3 languages: Vietnamese, English, French, and some other languages for convenient exploration and understanding of the museum.
Reenactment of traditional cultural activities of ethnic minorities (Collected photo)
Visitors will be amazed by the beautifully displayed artifacts, meticulously arranged from clothing and tools to models of ceremonies, funerals, and weddings. All recreated as a glimpse into the daily life and traditional culture of ancient ethnic communities.
(Collected photo)
Outdoor Exhibition Area
After touring the Dong Son Drum Building, visitors will encounter a spacious courtyard, the outdoor exhibition area. Here, they will encounter unique architectures of ethnic groups such as stilt houses of the Tay people, stilt houses of the E De people, stilt houses of the Tay people, and the traditional Pơmu thatched-roof houses of the H’mong people. Within the garden area, there is also a rice grinding mortar powered by water force used by the Dao people.
Outdoor Exhibition Area (Collected photo)
Outdoor Exhibition Area within the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Collected photo)
Southeast Asia Exhibition Area
Next, visitors can explore the Southeast Asia exhibition area within the museum. From afar, they will notice the exhibition area designed in the shape of a kite – a traditional cultural symbol not only of Vietnam but also of the entire ASEAN region. The kite symbolizes dreams, aspirations, and enduring freedom through time.
The museum frequently showcases Southeast Asian cultures, including Indonesian paintings, glimpses of Asia, and a journey around the world. Additionally, there are educational activities, auditoriums, movie theaters, multimedia rooms, where visitors can immerse themselves in cultural materials not only from Vietnam but also from other ASEAN countries. This serves as a bridge for fostering friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and its Southeast Asian neighbors as well as many places around the globe.
From a distance, visitors will notice that the exhibition area is designed in the shape of a kite (Collected photo)
Engaging Activities at the Museum
Visitors not only come here for sightseeing but also on Saturdays and Sundays, the National Museum of Ethnology hosts various performances such as water puppetry, folk art activities, and ethnic festivals showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage of Vietnam's ethnic groups for visitors. Additionally, after exploring the museum, visitors can stop by to purchase some small, lovely souvenirs as gifts for their families or friends.
Water puppetry performance (Photo collection)
Visitors not only experience the quintessential cultural traits of Vietnamese ethnic groups but also perceive the rich cultural fusion of Southeast Asian countries. This further enhances the harmonious relationship between Vietnamese culture and that of Southeast Asian nations.
(Photo collection)
As a repository of the longstanding cultural values of 54 ethnic groups combined with the vibrant cultural hues across the country, the National Museum of Ethnology Vietnam is undoubtedly one of the must-visit destinations in the capital city. If you choose Hanoi as your travel destination, you can book accommodation through VNTRIP.VN.
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