Vietnam National Museum of History: 1,000 Years in A Glance

Situated in the bustling area of Trang Tien Street, at the heart of Hanoi and behind the Great Theater, the Vietnam National Museum of History offers a stark contrast to its surroundings. Its distinctive architecture makes it easily noticeable from the street.

Vietnam National Museum of History from the front. Source: Internet

Today's Vietnam National Museum, prior Louis Finot Museum, was previously designed in 1925 by C. Batteur and E. Hébrard, two French architects. This building was build on 1926, and completed on 1932, ran along the Red River Dike, which has become a highlight for this road. According to Wikipedia, it "is housed in a colonial French building which is a cupola shaped edifice in the shape of a pagoda. The design of the building is an amalgamation of French and Chinese architecture known as Indochina architecture. The building designed by Hebrard, incorporates double walls and balconies for a natural ventilation system and protection from sunshine. The exhibition area is more than 2,200 square metres (24,000 sq ft) with exhibits arranged chronologically. It is divided into five major sections: Section 1 covers period from the prehistoric period from the Stone Age (30,000–40,000 years ) to 4,000–5,000 years ago; Section 2 has displays from the time of nation building during the Tran dynasty; Section 3 has exhibits from the period of the Ho dynasty to the August 1945 Revolution; and Section 4 has artifacts of the Champa stone sculptures. The museum showcases Vietnam's history with very large collection of about 200,000 items, covering the Neolithic age, Bronze Age, Sa Huỳnh, Oc Eo, and Hung periods, Nguyễn dynasty, Cham period, and also northern Vietnam's Đông Sơn, a culture which existed about 1000 BC-100 AD. These exhibits are in the main building. The exhibits highlight communism and depict the rule of the French colonists as cruel."

Upon visiting the museum, I encountered an exhibition titled "Ly Dynasty Zen: Heritage meets Tech," focused on the Buddhist Arts of the Ly Dynasty. Featuring 13 carefully selected objects from the most remarkable artifacts of the Ly Dynasty at the National Museum, the exhibition utilized detailed descriptions and storytelling techniques with 3D mapping, holograms, digital revival, and gauze projection. This display masterfully blends modern technology with history and art, serving as a prime example of how history can be artistically conveyed. Through this approach, history, especially for young people, is no longer depicted through dull statistics, battles, and historical facts, but instead comes to life vividly, as if unfolding before your eyes. Personally, experiencing this exhibition felt like wandering through an ancient city, with the artifacts vividly presented before me.

The exhibition will remain open until July 31. If you're intrigued by how history can be artistically portrayed, make sure to visit the Vietnam National Museum of History! For the price of a cup of coffee, you can have an unforgettable experience!

For more information, please visit the website: https://baotanglichsu.vn/en