A charming private museum on Phu Quoc island in Kien Giang province tells the full story of Vietnam ’s biggest island.

Huynh Phuoc Hue named his museum “Coi nguon” – literally translated as (getting back to roots), when he set it up in April 2009.

The museum houses almost 5,000 objects, including 3,000 antiques, which were excavated from various sites around the island or salvaged from sunken ships.
The artifacts on exhibition help to guide visitors through Phu Quoc Island’s history since its formation to current times and underline its beauty and untapped potential.

On display are more than 100 stone axes believed to date back 2,500 years, jar tombs from the Oc Eo Culture, antiques from the Ly and Tran dynasties, and skeletons of dugongs and whales as well as crocodiles and wild boars.

“Coi nguon” museum also preserves and cross-breeds Phu Quoc dogs, which are much-sought after for their cleverness and loyalty, in addition to breeding sea eagles, which are famed as “weather forecasters” for fishermen while at sea.

A small library was built inside the museum, which contains a lot of information on the island for visitors who wish to learn more about Phu Quoc.

According to the museum’s director, “Coi nguon” receives more than 300 visitors on average a day, however on busy day it can attract up to 500 people.

Hue revealed that he has plans to set up a room in the museum that features the process of making Phu Quoc fish sauce to retain this traditional craft for younger generations on the island.

He said “Coi nguon” museum is one of his ways of promoting Phu Quoc island in an intellectual way.

With “Coi nguon” he wants to help young Phu Quoc citizens gain a thorough understanding of where they come from.

“If you want your children to love their homeland, you have to make them love the land where they were born and grown up,” said the director of “Coi nguon” museum./.