Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi

Vietnam has been experiencing and taking pride in its 4000-year history. A variety museums have been established across the country with the purposes of honoring and preserving the rich, age-old and  grandiose  Vietnamese History. Among those, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi is an outstanding structure, which offers an in-depth understanding into the copious cultures of 54 Vietnamese peoples residing in various regions within Vietnam as well as preserves the priceless cultural heritage and the country’s socio-cultural diversity.
Visitors are welcome to browse some of the vast research on offer at this public museum which is also a centre for ethnographic research.
The entrance of Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
The museum is packed full of information detailing traditional Vietnamese ways of life, from religious events to the symbolic rituals of all the Vietnamese ethnic groups, providing a rich tapestry of the culture melting pot existing in Vietnam. The exhibition hall features everyday objects representing each group, a research centre, a library and auditorium.
The outdoor display area exhibits a variety of Vietnamese homes as full-scale replicas, with great attention paid to the varying architectural styles set within the authentic and tranquil gardens.
The outdoors exhibitions do not only focus on showcasing the many ways of ethnic lives but also features a leisure pursuit dated back to the 19th century of Vietnames clerisy with the image of a scribe skilled in calligraphy of Chinese characters.  Another highlight is the art of well-known water puppet theater, whose performances are delivered every Saturday and Sunday on 10AM, 11:30AM, 14:30PM and 16PM shifts with free entrance.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi has the ambitious vision of covering other Southeast Asia civilizations and cultural practices.

A replica of house on stilt in the museum precinct
Vietnam’s Museum of Ethnology Highlights
The museum has over 15,000 artefacts including photographs and other multi-media such as audiotapes. Its indoor exhibition space can be viewed via a virtual tour which includes the Viet, Muong, Tho, Chut, Tav, Thai, Ka Dai, H’Mong-Dao, Tang, San Dui, Ngai, Mon-Khmer, Nam-Dao, Cham, Hoa and Khmer ethnic groups. There are priceless antiques on display alongside everyday objects such as pipes, baskets and knives.

Expect to see a wide range of interesting items on display at the museum with clothes, jewellery and items relating to weddings, funeral ceremonies and other spiritual rituals also exhibited across the 54 communities offering an incomparable glimpse of their history, heritage and cultural identity.
The outdoor area presents a range of traditional homes including a Tay stilt house and a Viet house complete with indigenous foliage, each separated by a small stream and reached via little bridges. One of the main features of the museum is to present the artefacts in a simple manner so that visitors can enjoy them without being overwhelmed by detail. The museum is suitable for children and all documents and display signs throughout have been translated into French and English.

Opening Hours: The museum opens on every weekday, except Monday and in 08:30 – 17:30 timeframe.
Location: Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay district of Hanoi about 8km from the city center.
Remarks: The museum also has wheelchair access with ramps throughout and an elevator for access to the second floor
How to get there: it takes 20 minutes to get there by taxi or you can catch minibus No. 14 from Dinh Tien Hoang Street ( north of Hoan Kiem Lake) to the Ngai Tan stop and walk two more blocks then you now arrive at the museum.