The Vietnam National Museum of History, located on Trang Tien street, is the leader among museums of history and society in Vietnam. Among its various functions in the community, it plays host to scientific research, archaeological excavations, collecting, storing, preserving, and exhibiting materials and objects related to the country’s history. The museum was established under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1674/QD-TTg, dated September 26, 2011, as an amalgamation of the National Museum of Vietnamese History and the National Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution. It is situated at the heart of Hanoi, close to many renowned relic sites such as the Hanoi Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam National Museum of History stores and preserves about 200,000 objects and materials related to the country’s history and culture. Among them, there are nearly 110,000 antiques and 20 national treasures dating to different historical periods, from prehistory to 1945. They include rare and valuable collections reflecting the history and culture of Vietnam such as archaeological artifacts dating to the early period of the Old Stone Age (Paleolithic), the Bronze Age, the Metal Age, and the Dong Son Civilisation; a collection of Vietnamese traditional glazed ceramics; bronze items of the Le - Nguyen dynasties; Champa stone sculptures; a collection of foreign ceramics hailing from China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam National Museum of History is a public service unit under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It was established after the amalgamation of the National Museum of Vietnamese History and the National Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1674/QD-TTg, issued on September 26, 2011. It is a place to preserve, display, and introduce the country’s history from prehistoric ages to the present through a system of extremely diverse and valuable documents and artefacts, including many national treasures. In addition, the museum also provides training, consultancy, verification, assessment, management, and services within the scope of its operations. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
For the periods from the mid-19th century to the present, there are more than 80,000 documents and artefacts relating to the history of the Vietnamese revolution, the Communist Party of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh, and generations of Party leaders. The museum is a member of the International Council of Museums and a founding member of the Asian National Museums Association. It has regularly carried out international cooperation programmes with nearly 30 museums across Southeast Asia and around the world. The museum has been granted many noble rewards by the Party and State in recognition of its efforts and achievements, including the Ho Chi Minh Order once, the Independence Order thrice, and the Labour Order for five times. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
At present, the Vietnam National Museum of History has two permanent exhibitions at two different locations: the first one at No. 1 Trang Tien street, which shows the history of Vietnam from prehistory to the end of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945); and the other next to the first, at No. 216 Tran Quang Khai street, demonstrating the country’s history from the mid-19th century to the present. A new building of the museum has been constructed in the western side of West Lake, expected to help turn it into a modern institution meeting international standards. The museum promises visitors interesting experiences, helping them gain insights into the long-standing history and culture of Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Hanoi Museum is located on Pham Hung street of Me Tri ward, Nam Tu Liem district. It bears the shape of an inverted pyramid with the storeys above the ground designed in a way that is conducive to the display of exhibits and tours. The museum was set up in 1982 by the Hanoi People’s Committee. The Hanoi Museum was merged with the Ha Tay Museum under the 12th-tenure National Assembly’s Resolution No 15/2008/QH12, dated May 29, 2008, on the adjustment of the administrative boundary of the capital city and some neighnouring provinces. From 1982 to October 5, 2010, its headquarters was situated at No 5D on Ham Long street in Hoan Kiem district. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The first floor of the Hanoi Museum is open to all the four directions, implying that the quintessence from far and wide concentrates in the millennium-old capital city. To prepare for the celebration of 1,000 years since Hanoi was first designated the capital city, named Thang Long then, the municipal People’s Council and People’s Committee decided to build a new headquarters for the museum. Construction started on Pham Hung street of Me Tri ward, Nam Tu Liem district, on May 19, 2008. The museum was inaugurated on October 6, 2010, just on the occasion of the city’s 1,000th anniversary. It has four storeys above the ground and two underground. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Hanoi Museum is home to more than 70,000 documents and objects made from various materials, reflecting the millennium of history in the capital city. Some items are highly valuable such as the collections of bronze drums, pottery and porcelain objects, gem artefacts, and those related to the revolution and resistance wars. Notably, they include four national treasures, the pottery lamp stick covered with blue-grey glaze made by artisan Dang Huyen Thong under the reign of the Mac Dynasty in the 16th century, “long dinh” – a worship object made in Bat Trang pottery village during the Le Dynasty in the 17th century, the Thanh Mai bronze bell, the Co Loa bronze drum and a collection of bronze ploughshares contained in the drum. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Hanoi Museum is preserving four objects/group of objects recognised as national treasures in 2015 by the Prime Minister. Among them, the Co Loa bronze drum and the collection of bronze ploughshares date back to the Dong Son Civilisation, a Bronze Age culture about 2,500 – 2,000 years ago. The Thanh Mai bronze bell, found in 1986 in Thanh Mai commune of Thanh Oai district, the then province of Ha Tay – now part of Hanoi, was cast in 798. The pottery lamp stick covered with blue-grey glaze was made in 1582, under the reign of the Mac Dynasty. Meanwhile, the worship object called “long dinh” in Vietnamese was produced in Bat Trang pottery village in the 17th century. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Hanoi Museum is 30.7 metres high and covers a total area of about 54,000 square metres. Over the past years, it has focused on collecting objects and designing permanent exhibitions. Permanent displays cover seven topics; nature, the journey to Thang Long, Thang Long, Hanoi in the 19th and 20th centuries, the resistance wars, socialism building, and the path of “Doi moi” (or Renewal). In addition, the museum also offers four experience zones, one for thematic displays, and another for outdoor exhibitions. It is also applying many modern technologies to enrich exhibitions and attract visitors. The site is open from 8 – 11:30am and 1:30 – 4:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam Military History Museum, located at No 28A on Dien Bien Phu street in Ba Dinh district, is one of the six national museums and the top among military museums. Established on July 17, 1956, it is home to the exhibition of tens of thousands of objects, including four national treasures, namely MiG-21 aircraft No 4324, MiG-21 aircraft No 5121, the map “Quyet tam chien dich Ho Chi Minh” (Determined - Ho Chi Minh Campaign), and T-54B tank No 843. Since its inception, the museum has developed and fulfilled its role as a cultural institution and an important part in the performance of Party-related and political tasks of the Vietnam People’s Army. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Implementing then President Ho Chi Minh’s Decree No 65/SL-TN, dated November 23, 1945, on preserving cultural heritage, right during the resistance war against the French colonialists (1945 - 1954), the Ministry of National Defence ordered units to collect and preserve documents, photos, and objects reflecting the resistance war to serve the struggle and national construction. In late 1952, the General Military Commission, now the Central Military Commission, issued a policy on building a military museum. On December 21, 1969, the Military Museum was officially opened to the public, which coincided with the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 - 1959). (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam Military History Museum displays thousands of objects, images, materials, and documentaries demonstrating the military history of Vietnam during thousands of years of national construction and defence. On May 15, 1964, the General Department of Politics decided to upgrade the then Military Museum, which was a division of the general department, into an institute. This was considered a turning point in the development of the museum. During this period, the resistance war against the US became fierce, not only on the southern battlefield but also in the North. Therefore, a large number of staff members of the Military Museum Institute directly engaged in battles to collect objects, and many laid down their lives. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
From 1965 to 1975, the Military Museum Institute served nearly 2 million visitors nationwide and more than 80 countries around the world. It was recognised as a national museum by the Ministry of Culture and Information, now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in July 1994. On December 4, 2002, the Prime Minister issued Decision 115/QD-TTg to rename the institute “Vietnam Military History Museum”. With its name changed, the role, functions, tasks, and stature of the museum were also raised to be on par with other national museums while its exhibition scale was also expanded. At present, the museum welcomes tens of thousands of domestic and foreign visitors each year. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam Military History Museum has been granted many awards over the decades, including a second-class Military Exploit Order (1984), a first-class Feat Order (1970), a second-class Feat Order (1961), a third-class Feat Order (1985, 2004), a second-class Fatherland Defence Order (2010), and a first-class Fatherland Defence Order (2016). It was also honoured with a third-class Labour Order and a second-class Bravery Order in 2005 and 2008, respectively, by the State of Laos. These awards demonstrate the Vietnamese Party, State, and army’s recognition of contributions by generations of its officials and employees, who devoted efforts and even blood to the development of the museum. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, located on Nguyen Van Huyen street in Cau Giay district, has displayed objects belonging to the 54 ethnic groups across Vietnam. Subordinate to the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, it is comprised of three main exhibition sections. Among them, a two-storey building called “Trong Dong” (Bronze Drum) shows the cultures of Vietnamese ethnic groups. An outdoor exhibition space called “Vuon kien truc” (Architectural Garden) introduces ten folk architectural works of ten ethnic groups in Vietnam. And a 4-storey building called “Canh dieu” (Kite) is designated for displaying the cultures of people in other countries, mainly Southeast Asian nations. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Among the three exhibition sections of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the Bronze Drum building features two spaces – one for introducing the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups on the first floor and another for thematic exhibitions on the second floor. Designed by the Tay ethnic architect Ha Duc Linh, it was modeled after a bronze drum of the renowned Dong Son Civilisation. This two-storey building has a total exhibition area of 2,000 square metres. It was unveiled by then Vice President of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Binh and President of France Jacques Chirac in November 1997, on the occasion of a summit of francophone countries held in Hanoi. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Next to the Bronze Drum building is the modern Kite building, which is designated to introduce foreign cultures. The four-storey building, housing the first exhibition in late 2013, was designed by architects from the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. Its design was modelled after a kite – part of the traditional culture of not only Vietnam but also other countries in Southeast Asia. This building accommodates four permanent exhibitions which detail the Southeast Asian cultures. There are glass paintings of Indonesia, some items from cultures in Asia, and those around the world. Besides, there are also spaces for temporary displays, educational activities, a convention hall, a film screening room, and a multimedia room. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In this modern-style space, the museum not only showcases cultural heritage of many countries for visitors to explore, but is also a bridge linking people from far and wide. The exhibition of Southeast Asian cultures is a result of the long-term cooperation between the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and many other museums and cultural agencies of regional countries. The construction of the Kite building is said to have marked a new step of the museum’s development. It has contributed to the performance of the museum’s tasks, including conducting scientific studies, collecting, preserving, displaying, and holding educational activities to help preserve cultural diversity of ethnic groups in Vietnam, as well as Southeast Asia and the world at large. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Architectural Garden section is another important part of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The outdoor exhibition space features greenery, and an artificial spring that flows to a pool where water puppetry is performed, and small paths leading visitors to 10 folk architectural structures in Vietnam. The houses include those of the Cham, Viet (Kinh), Bana, Ede, Tay, Dao, Mong, and Ha Nhi people, along with tomb houses of Giarai and Cotu ethnic groups. Together with the permanent exhibition at the Bronze Drum building, this space also helps highlight cultural diversity of ethnic communities across the country. The museum has a total area of almost 43,800 square metres, of which 20,000 square metres is covered by the Architectural Garden. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Located on Ly Thuong Kiet street in downtown Hanoi, just over 500 metres from Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, established in 1987, is run by the Vietnam Women’s Union. Its founder is Nguyen Thi Dinh, former Vice Chairwoman of the State Council and former Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women’s Union. The museum was set up with a view to preserving historical documents and artifacts to educate younger generations and enhance the public’s knowledge and understanding about the history and cultural heritage of Vietnamese women. The museum was also a promise by Nguyen Thi Dinh to Vietnamese women across the country to promote women’s issues. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnamese Women’s Museum (VWM) is also a centre for cultural preservation and exchange to contribute to the promotion of gender equality and the progress of women. Construction of the VWM started in 1991 and was officially opened to the public in 1995. After four years of extensive upgrades and renovations, the museum was reopened to the public in late 2010. It features three main permanent exhibitions: women in family; women in history; and women’s fashion, as well as a temporary exhibition on the worship of the Mother Goddesses. It boasts a diverse collection of over 40,000 materials and artifacts related to Vietnamese women. Besides, the museum has also organised many social projects and activities targeting different groups, particularly vulnerable women and disadvantaged children. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Aside from exhibitions at the building at No 36 on Ly Thuong Kiet street, the museum also offers online displays on its website. In recent years, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum has entered a period of creative and innovative development, winning the praise from Vietnamese and international visitors. It has continually been selected by TripAdvisor, one of the most prestigious world travel websites, as one of the best attractions in Hanoi and the top 25 most interesting museums in Asia for many consecutive years. It also won Vietnamese Women Prize 2015 and was named one of the top tourist destinations in the country in 2015 and 2016 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Permanent exhibitions at the museum cover three topics: women in family, women in history, and women’s fashion. They provide an overview of Vietnamese women through stories about rituals, marriage and birth customs, family life, traditional costumes, and their roles in wartime and modern society. Photos and objects displayed at the museum inspire special emotions and experience in every domestic and international visitor. In the “Women in Family” section, exhibits offer a look at the lives and domestic issues of Vietnamese women. The “Women in History” not only examines the role of Vietnamese women in resistance wars but also shows different aspects of their daily life during wartime. Meanwhile, the “Women’s Fashion” focuses on the costumes of 54 ethnic groups in the country. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Since its foundation, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum has been collecting various objects related to Vietnamese women throughout history. It now possesses nearly 30,000 materials and artifacts of various topics, including documents, images, jewellery, textiles, and household items. Each item has its own unique story behind it, helping the public gain a better understanding of the history, culture, and development of Vietnamese women. The items detail their important contributions to national construction and safeguarding. Visitors can tour the museum with the assistance of the audio, which is available in Vietnamese, English, French, Japanese, Korean languages. The museum is open daily from 8am to 5pm. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Geology Museum is located within the campus of the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam at No 6 on Pham Ngu Lao street in Hoan Kiem district. It specialises in preserving, collecting, exhibiting, and introducing geological and mineral objects to serve scientific research and education. It is among the museums of natural sciences in Vietnam and also an official member of the International Council of Museums. The museum was founded by French geologists Lantenois H. and Mansuy H. in 1914. Its exhibition building at No 6 Pham Ngu Lao street was opened in 1999. The museum became a member of the International Council of Museums in 2001. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Geology Museum stores thousands of objects classified according to topics and geographical regions. In 2008, the Geology Museum of the southern region was merged into the Geology Museum. At present, geological objects are being showcased on a total area of 1,200 square metres at its three-story building and part of its outdoor space. The outdoor space exhibits some large stone, fossil, and ore samples. The first floor of the museum’s building is reserved for showing the geological history of Vietnam and the earth. The second floor focuses on Vietnam’s geology and minerals, while the third floor displays thematic collections such as paleontology, minerals, stone, ore, and geology-themed publications. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Over the past years, the Geology Museum has moved to reform its activities, from only receiving, storing, and exhibiting geological samples and serving a limited number of visitors, to proactively carrying out research and educational activities. Postgraduate students undergo training at the museum and it is also important for disseminating general knowledge to students and visitors. Through objects, documents, and photos showcased at the museum, visitors can learn more about the history of geology of the earth and Vietnam, along with the development of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources. In particular, the exhibits demonstrate the country’s achievements in exploring and studying geology and mineral resources in the mainland, seas, islands, and continental shelf. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam National Museum of Nature is located in the campus of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, at No 18 on Hoang Quoc Viet street of Cau Giay district. It was set up under the Government’s Decree 27/ND-CP, dated January 16, 2004. Its main functions include researching, storing, preserving, collecting, assessing, exhibiting, and introducing geology, biology, anthropology, nature, and natural resources of Vietnam and other countries. Despite difficulties, the Vietnam National Museum of Nature has received support from authorities, other museums, organisations, and individuals both in Vietnam and other countries. The museum has developed informative displays and obtained achievements to live up to its status as the leading museum of nature in the country. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Vietnam National Museum of Nature provides a panorama of Vietnam’s nature and the evolution of fauna and flora throughout 3.6 billion years. The museum was inaugurated in 2004 and has a total area of over 1,000 square metres. It a storehouse for nearly 40,000 objects, and is home to displays of nearly 1,400 items on a modest area of 300 square metres. The exhibition on the history of life features warm light and colours, very pleasing to the eyes. It is an ideal destination for researchers and those who love exploring the nature. The museum is open to visitors from 8:30am to 4:30pm, from Tuesday to Sunday, and the admission is free. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
On display are fossils of the four geological development periods on the Earth: the pre-Cambrian period (4,500 - 541 million years ago), the Mesozoic (541 - 252 million years ago), the Mesozoic (252 - 66 million years ago) and the Great Neoplasm (66 million years to present). Objects also include bone specimens precise to the smallest details of various animals such as frog, carp, king cobras, tigers, ostriches, and pig-tailed monkeys. Meanwhile, the collection of insect exhibits is the biggest of its kind in Vietnam, grouped into beetles, dragonflies, cicadas, mantis, and stick insects. Visitors can learn to create specimens and watch 3D movies about the evolution of humans and animals, and how the universe and the oceans have changed. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Bat Trang Pottery Museum is located at No 28 in Hamlet 5, Bat Trang commune, Gia Lam district. Its special shape is inspired by local turntables and ancient kilns. Architect Hoang Thuc Hao, deputy head of the Vietnam Association of Architects, said the museum, named the centre of Vietnamese craft quintessence, features curved surfaces and optimises the use of traditional materials of the famous village. These materials include ceramic brick, baked roof tile, and mosaic tile. It consists of two four-storey buildings for exhibition and commercial purposes, displaying ceramic products in unique glazes and shapes made throughout the history of this renowned traditional craft village. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Bat Trang commune is located in Gia Lam district, about 10km from Hanoi’s centre, and consists of Bat Trang and Giang Cao villages. A century ago, people of Bo Bat village (now Yen Thanh commune, the northern province of Ninh Binh) followed King Ly Cong Uan from Hoa Lu to Thang Long - the new capital city then (now Hanoi). Here they set up a pottery and brick-making ward on the banks of the Red River, forming the village which is now Bat Trang. Bat Trang is well-known for the traditional craft of pottery making. At present, there are approximately 200 enterprises and 1,000 households producing and trading ceramic wares here. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The museum gives visitors a glance at the history of Bat Trang pottery village through unique objects and stories behind them. Its centre showcases the pottery making process and a wide range of ceramic items made for decoration and daily use purposes in different periods of history. A tourist information centre is available now at the entrance of the museum to support visitors and provide other services. The center provides an audio tour in 12 languages, free maps, reservation for meals, bicycle hire and virtual reality experiences. Pottery products of Bat Trang are now exported to many countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Russia, Italy, and France. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Aside from finished products, the museum also exhibits examples showing each stage of pottery production. Here, visitors can also try making ceramics by themselves. In recent years, tourists flocked to Bat Trang village to learn about traditional artefacts and buy ceramic wares. There are many places to visit in Bat Trang such as the ancient house owned by artisan To Thanh Son, Tieu Dao Pagoda, the Bo Bat kiln, Kim Truc Pagoda, Giang Cao Temple, and Temple of Mother Goddesses. Aside from these relics, the core of Bat Trang commune is 23 traditional houses, 16 worship halls of clans, and many old kilns, all built with locally made bricks. In recent times, Bat Trang has welcomed about 200,000 visitors each year. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
