Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is the place to display and preserve the cultural and traditional values of the Vietnamese ethnic groups. True to its name, here you will understand more about customs, living habits, unique characteristics of each ethnic group on this S-shaped strip of land. Surely, this will be a very wonderful experience for a visit to this special museum!
How Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is unique?
The museum is divided into three main exhibition areas: Trong Dong building, outdoor display area and Southeast Asia exhibition area. From the outside, visitors will be attracted by the presentation and layout from the form to the displayed content which are very scientific and logical. Easily, it is grasping the cultural colours of each ethnic group.
Trong Dong Building
Trong Dong building has two spaces, 1 themed display space and is always renewed on the 2nd floor. And the first-floor space introduces the identity of 54 ethnic groups. There are 15,000 artefacts, 42,000 movies and pictures depicting daily life, costumes, clothing, agricultural tools and religious beliefs and customs of the ethnic minorities. The exhibits here are translated mainly in 3 languages: Vietnamese, English, French and some other languages for visitors to easily visit and learn the museum.
Visitors will be amazed at the beautiful artefacts that are carefully displayed, from clothing, tools, to models of rituals, funerals, weddings … All reconstructed as a miniature corner of life as well as traditional culture of ancient ethnic people.
Outdoor display area
After visiting the Trong Dong building, tourists will see a large yard, which is an outdoor display area. There will be unique architectures such as the Tày people’s stilt house, the Ede family’s stilt house, the Pomu shingled ground house of theH’ mong people. Located in the garden campus, there is also a rice mortar with water power of the Dao.
The exhibition area in Southeast Asia
Next, visitors can visit the Southeast Asian exhibition in the museum. From a distance, visitors will see the display area built in the shape of a kite – a traditional cultural feature not only of Vietnam but also of the ASEAN region. The kite represents dreams, ambitions, and freedom that lasts forever.
Here regularly displays about Southeast Asian culture, Indonesian glass paintings, a glimpse of Asia and around the world. There are also educational activities, halls, cinema rooms, multimedia rooms, visitors can view cultural material not only of Vietnam but also of ASEAN countries. This is a bridge, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and friends in Southeast Asia as well as in many other parts of the world.
Top 3 things to do in the Museum of Ethnology is unique?
1. Water Puppet
For a long time, water puppetry is a unique art form of our people, with content reflecting the material and spiritual life of the people, water puppetry is an attractive and special art.
At the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, there are water puppet shows to serve the visitors of the museum. The performed topics related to stories in people’s lives and activities. It is also possible that folk tales are changed and told by water puppets. Watching the water puppet, you will be unable to take your eyes off!
Ticket price is 70k / child ticket and 90k / adult ticket. Also, if you go to the museum on a lucky few mornings, you will be able to see free screenings with no tickets (free ticket showings from around 10:00 am to 11:00 am, you should arrive early to see it for free)
2. Quan ho Bac Ninh folk songs
This is an art-music form that many people love. At the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, there are also singing sessions for cultural exchanges between successive brothers and sisters to serve visitors. And it is to introduce to the world friends about this special arts as well.
With lyrical and deep folk songs, the music field held here is the destination that attracts many tourists to visit. If you want to exchange, you can also join the singing troupe. That will be a great experience for you!
3. Folk games
There are many folk games on display at the museum, mainly games of the northern mountainous ethnic people such as throwing, swinging, going overseas, balancing, etc. will make you have a very wonderful experience.
When is the best time to visit the Museum of Ethnology?
The National Museum is open to visitors all day except Mondays and Chinese New Year, so it is suitable for you to visit at any time of the year. If you visit the museum you should pay attention to avoid rainy days because outside the museum garden there are many exhibition areas with the ground. So it is quite slippery and affects your visit.
You should go to the museum in the morning for the convenience of visiting and exploring the exhibits, if you arrive early around 10 am to 11 am you may be able to see free water puppetry here and there!
How to go there?
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is located on Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay, about 8km from the centre of Hanoi. So you can easily move here by many different means such as car, motorbike or bus.
If you choose to go to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology by bus, you can choose one of the most suitable bus routes:
- Route 07: Cau Giay – Noi Bai
- Route 12: Nghia Do Park – People’s Committee of Dai Ang commune
- Route 13: Ho Tay Water Park – Police Academy
- Route 38: Nam Thang Long – Mai Dong Bus Station
All the bus routes mentioned above have stops opposite the museum, so after getting off the bus, you just need to cross the street to arrive.
Recommended accommodation
The hotel outstanding around the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology:
- Somerset Hoa Binh Hanoi: 4-star hotel (0.7 km from Vietnam Museum of Ethnology)
- Granda Quan Hoa Apartment: 3-star hotel (0.9 km from Vietnam Museum of Ethnology)
- Lotte Hotel Hanoi: 5-star hotel (Ba Dinh District, Hanoi (1.8 km from Vietnam Museum of Ethnology)
- Hanoi Sen 2 Hotel: 3-star hotel (Cau Giay, Hanoi (0.5 km from Vietnam Museum of Ethnology)
- Hanoi Sen 2 Hotel: 3-star hotel (Cau Giay, Hanoi (0.5 km from Vietnam Museum of Ethnology)
- Palmo Serviced Apartment 2: 3-star hotel (Ba Dinh District, Hanoi (1.3 km from Vietnam Museum of Ethnology)
What to eat?
Coming to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology you can visit the following dining places:
- The Pizza Company – Cau Giay (333 Cau Giay, Cau Giay District, Hanoi)
- Brickhouse Bar & Restaurant (Lot 2 Nguyen Khanh Toan, Cau Giay District)
- Dong Son Drum – Asian Cuisine (1 Tran Dang Ninh, Cau Giay District, Hanoi)
- Lobster – Lobster Specialty (168 Nguyen Khanh Toan, Cau Giay District, Hanoi)
- Vy Anh – Hot Pot and Baked Dishes (160 Nguyen Khanh Toan, Cau Giay District)
- Cat Ba Seafood – Nguyen Van Huyen (Nguyen Van Huyen – Nguyen Khanh Toan Crossroads)
A place to preserve the long-standing cultural values of 54 ethnic groups combining cultural colors throughout the country, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is definitely one of the places you cannot leave. when coming to the capital. If you have chosen a tourist destination to visit in Hanoi, you can book a short tour at Origin Vietnam.
It’s great for.
- Educational, Group tours, family tours, couple and solo traveller – Recommended 1 day tour city of Hanoi.
