National History Museum - A Destination With Deep Historical Significance For The Vietnamese People

The National History Museum preserves thousands of years of national history. Moreover, this place is also an extremely hot check-in spot for young people thanks to its unique architecture. Hãy nghe Trần Thuỳ Thanh Xuân (Đồng Nai) một travel blogger nổi tiếng bật mí .

1. A few words about the National Museum of History in Hanoi

The National Museum of History is the name given after merging the Vietnam History Museum - established in 1958, and the Vietnam Revolution Museum - established in 1959. The predecessor of the Vietnam History Museum was the Louis Finot Museum, a project of the French research center on Oriental studies in Indochina. This project was completed in 1932, and in 1958, the Vietnam History Museum was established on the basis of inheriting the Louis Finot Museum, converting from an art history museum to a social history museum. Therefore, the Vietnam History Museum has a strong Indochinese architectural style in Hanoi.

As for the Vietnam Revolutionary Museum, this place was originally the Indochina Trade Office built by the French in 1917. After 1954, the Government Council decided to build the Vietnam Revolutionary Museum, and in 1959, the museum opened to the public, recreating the history of the Vietnamese people's struggle over the past hundred years.

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Since 2011, the Vietnam History Museum and the Vietnam Revolutionary Museum have been merged into the National History Museum, inheriting all the assets and operating experience of more than half a century of both museums. The heritage that the National History Museum currently preserves is over 20,000 documents and artifacts recreating the entire historical flow of the nation from prehistoric times to the present. In particular, the museum has more national treasures and rare antique collections than other museums with the same theme.

The National Museum of History is currently a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and a founding member of the Asian National Museums Association (ANMA). The National Museum of History is maintaining two permanent exhibition systems at two locations: No. 1 Trang Tien - displaying from prehistoric times to the end of the Nguyen Dynasty (1945); and No. 216 Tran Quang Khai - displaying from the mid-20th century to the present. In addition, the National Museum of History is also the first museum in Vietnam to apply technology to exhibition and education activities. With 3D virtual interactive technology introduced on the museum's website, you can easily visit and see the full collection without having to go there in person.

2. Where is the National History Museum?

The National History Museum system currently has two addresses as follows:

- Facility 1: 1 Trang Tien, Phan Chu Trinh Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City

- Facility 2: 216 Tran Quang Khai, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City

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3. Directions to the National History Museum in Hanoi

The National History Museum is located right behind the Hanoi Opera House, at the same address as 1 Trang Tien, so the way to get to the National Museum of History is exactly the same as the way to get to the Hanoi Opera House.

You can get here by public transport or taxi.

- If you prefer to take the bus, refer to the traffic routes that pass through the National History Museum: 02, 34, 44, 49, 51.

- If you go by car or motorbike, follow the route: Le Thai To towards Hang Trong - Hang Khay - Trang Tien, pass the roundabout of Cach Mang Thang Tam Square, across the Hanoi Opera House, go about 200m more to reach the National Museum of History.

In addition, you can also try taking the Hanoi City Tour double-decker bus departing from Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square to Cach Mang Thang Tam Square. Traveling this way is not only fun and safe, but you can also see the streets of Hanoi in the slowest and most comfortable way.

4. Opening hours of the National History Museum

The National History Museum is open every day of the week, except the first Monday of every month. Specific hours:

- Morning: From 8:00 to 12:00

- Afternoon: From 1:30 to 5:00

If the holidays of the year fall on Monday, the museum will still be open to visitors. During the Lunar New Year, the Museum will have a separate announcement. Please note the museum's operating hours to arrange your schedule accordingly.

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5. How much is the ticket price to the National History Museum in Hanoi?

The National History Museum regulates the ticket price for each type of visitor as follows:

- Adults: 40,000 VND/person

- Students: 20,000 VND/person

- Pupils: 10,000 VND/person/

- Children under 6 years old and people with severe disabilities: Free

The above ticket price applies to the permanent exhibition area at the two facilities of the museum. The ticket price to visit the National Museum of History, Hanoi above is for reference only. Please update the most accurate information at the destination.

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6. What is special about the Vietnam National History Museum?

With a huge number of documents, artifacts, and national treasures, the National History Museum must allocate its collection and display it in two facilities according to different historical periods. Through the artifacts, you can learn more about the economic characteristics of Vietnam through the periods, as well as the geographical characteristics and cultural identities of regions across the country.

6.1. Explore from prehistoric times to the end of the Nguyen Dynasty in 1945 at No. 1 Trang Tien

Facility No. 1 Trang Tien is a place to introduce traces reflecting the appearance of humans on the land of Vietnam, to the early period of nation building, the struggle for independence expressed through uprisings, and gradually building a massive cultural heritage including both tangible and intangible objects through feudal dynasties. The collections of Oc Eo - Phu Nam cultural relics, Champa sculptures, and works by students of the Indochina College of Fine Arts during the French colonial period are also fully and vividly displayed inside the museum.

Along with the regular exhibition system, the outdoor exhibition of the National History Museum creates an impressive highlight, making the overall museum space more attractive and rich. The outdoor exhibition area will bring you to Champa culture through a collection of artifacts with inscriptions and sculptures. In addition, you can also admire large objects dating from the Ly to Nguyen dynasties, with many objects such as: steles, statues, towers,... bearing the characteristics of art, architecture, and culture through each dynasty.

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6.2. Discoveries from the mid-19th century to the present day at 216 Tran Quang Khai

Here, you can approach a difficult but heroic historical period of the Vietnamese people, from the French opening fire in 1858, to the US intervention, and the end of the war in 1975. This permanent exhibition introduces artifacts about the life of fighting, working, building facilities during the war and preparing conditions for the country's development after the war.

In addition, the permanent exhibition also introduces more than 100 original artifacts that are gifts from the Vietnamese people and people around the world to President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam.

In addition, the front and back yards of the building are also where a number of large-sized, historically significant objects are displayed, most notably the special car that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union presented to the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1954.

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The National History Museum is the place that can tell you the most authentic, vivid, and complete historical stories without being dry or boring. A long journey of the Vietnamese people is captured through the exhibition space at both facilities, helping you feel more clearly the beauty of the country, as well as more pride in the origin of the nation. If you have the opportunity, please visit the National History Museum to visit more!

Trần Thuỳ Thanh Xuân (Đồng Nai)