HO CHI MINH CITY HISTORY MUSEUM – A PLACE TO PRESERVE THOUSANDS OF ANTIQUE ARTIFACTS

The Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History, located in the city center, is one of the important addresses that help tourists and locals explore and better understand the formation and development of the Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City area through various historical periods.

I. Overview of the museum

Address: 02 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

Contact phone number: 028 3829 0268

Opening hours: Morning: 8 AM – 11:30 AM. Afternoon: 1 PM – 5 PM

Ticket price: Adults: 30,000 VND/person. Students, children (from 6 to 16 years old), the elderly (Vietnamese citizens aged 60 and above), and people with severe disabilities: 15,000 VND/person.

Visiting Regulations at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

General regulations at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

Visitors need to present identification when purchasing tickets.

Do not bring food, drinks, mobile phones, and other electronic devices inside the museum.

Do not touch the displayed artifacts.

Smoking and using mobile phones in the exhibition area are not allowed.

No loud noises or disturbances allowed.

Specific regulations at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

II. Origin

Established: The museum was founded in 1929 under the name Blanchard de la Brosse Museum, named after the governor of Cochinchina at that time.

Original purpose: The museum was established with the purpose of displaying archaeological and ethnographic artifacts collected from excavations in Indochina.

Changes and developments

Renaming: In 1956, the museum was renamed the Vietnam National Museum in Saigon and focused on displaying ancient fine arts artifacts from several Asian countries.

Until August 23, 1979, the museum officially changed its name to the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History (Decision No. 235QĐ-UB of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee).

Becoming a history museum: After 1975, the museum shifted its focus to displaying historical artifacts, reflecting the formation and development of the Saigon - Gia Dinh region.

In 2012, the museum building was recognized as a National Architectural Art Monument. An architecture deeply infused with Eastern elements combined with Western styles creates a solid, harmonious, and symmetrical structure that blends with the surrounding landscape.

Expansion and innovation: Over the years, the museum has continuously collected and added new artifacts, while also organizing exhibitions and scientific seminars to introduce the public to the valuable historical heritage of the Southern region.

III. Exhibition space at the museum Exhibition space at the museum

Room 1 – Timeline (Spanning from 500,000 years – 2,879 BC)

Stepping into the first room will take you back to the earliest period of Vietnamese history - the Prehistoric Era. Here, visitors will be able to admire valuable archaeological artifacts, evidence of human presence in our country from hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Room 2 – The Era of Nation-Building and Defense (2,879 BC – 938 AD) CN – 938) at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

Room 2 of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History takes visitors back in time to the Era of Nation-Building and Defense, an important period in Vietnamese history from 2879 BC to 938 AD. This is the period marking the transition from primitive society to a class-based society and state, with the establishment of the Van Lang - Au Lac state under the Hung kings.

Room 3 – The Ngo – Dinh – Early Le Period (939 – 1009) at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

After the battle on the Bach Dang River in 938, Ngo Quyen ascended the throne and established the Ngo dynasty. After Ngo Quyen's death, our country fell into the turmoil of the 12 warlords, and was reunified by Dinh Bo Linh in 968.

Room 4 – Ly Dynasty (1009 – 1225) at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

The exhibition space at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History recreates a prosperous dynasty with many marks in fields such as culture, religion, law, economy, and politics. Items such as plates, teapots, lotus blocks, and panels... feature distinct details from the Ly Dynasty, which lasted for 200 years in history.

Room 5 – Tran – Ho Period (1226 – 1407) at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

The exhibition room on the Tran Dynasty describes its strong development and the absorption of values from the Ly Dynasty, the flourishing of arts, and the beginning of the use of Nom script in literature.

Room 6 – The Champa Culture (2nd – 17th Century)

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History is preserving one of the largest Champa art collections in the world. The most prominent is the statue of Devi Hương Quế.

Room 7 – Oc Eo Culture (1st – 7th Century)

The art of the Oc Eo culture reached a high level of sophistication with many ornaments made of gold, bronze, tin, semi-precious stones, and glass beads.

Room 8 – Stone Sculpture of Cambodia (9th – 13th Century)

This room is a unique art space, showcasing Cambodian stone sculptures from the 9th to the 13th century, the golden age of the Angkor kingdom. The Buddha statues, Hindu deities, bas-reliefs, and intricately decorated totems made of sandstone, laterite, and laterite stone offer visitors a profound glimpse into the artistic heritage of the region.

Room 9 – Early Lê Dynasty – Mac Dynasty – Le Trung Hung Period (1428 – 1788) at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

Room 9 of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History takes visitors into a tumultuous yet equally glorious period of the nation: the Early Le Dynasty, the Mac Dynasty, the Later Le Dynasty, and the Nguyen Lords. (1428 - 1788). This is a period that witnessed the strong development of Dai Viet civilization, with significant achievements in economics, culture, and society.

Room 10 – The Tay Son Period (1771 – 1802) at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

This room takes visitors into a tumultuous and heroic historical period of the country - the Tay Son era. (1771-1802). Here, through valuable artifacts, images, and documents, the story of the peasant uprising led by the three brothers Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue, and Nguyen Lu is vividly recreated.

Room 12 – The Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945) at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

Room 12 of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History takes visitors into the final historical period of the Vietnamese feudal regime - the Nguyen Dynasty. (1802-1945). The exhibition space recreates a multifaceted picture of this dynasty, from achievements in national unification, the establishment of an administrative apparatus, and cultural development, to the difficulties and challenges in the context of French colonial invasion.

Room 13 – Duong Ha Collection

This room displays the extensive collection of Professor Dương Minh Thới and Mrs. Hà Thị Ngọc from the 1930s-1940s of the 20th century. Among them, the highlight is a wooden altar box lacquered and gilded, dating back to the early 20th century.

Room 14 – Ceramics from some Asian countries

This is a highlight in the journey of exploring the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History. Here, visitors will be able to admire exquisite ceramic masterpieces from renowned civilizations such as China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Room 16 – The Collection of Vuong Hong Sen

Room 16 of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History is a special space dedicated to showcasing the extensive collection of cultural researcher Vuong Hong Sen. He is a person with a great passion for antiques and has dedicated his entire life to collecting and researching them. His collection includes more than 800 artifacts, among which the most outstanding are exquisite blue and white porcelain pieces from the 18th - 19th centuries.

IV. Artifacts at the museum

According to the latest information, this museum possesses more than 40,000 artifacts. These artifacts include various types, from prehistoric tools to exquisite artistic artifacts of feudal dynasties and historical relics from the resistance against the French and American invasions.

Special features:

12 national treasures: Among the tens of thousands of artifacts, there are 12 national treasures on display, bringing immense historical and cultural value.

Special collections: The museum has many unique collections, such as collections of bronze items, ceramics, jewelry, weapons... each collection tells its own story about the history and culture of Vietnam.

V. How to get to the museum

Motorbike: From the city center, you can go along Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, and at the intersection of Pasteur – Nguyen Binh Khiem, turn left. The Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History is located right on the left side of the road.

Bus: There are many bus routes passing by the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum, including:

Route 01: Ben Thanh – Western Bus Station

Route 03: Ben Thanh – September 23 Park

Route 04: Ben Thanh – An Suong Bus Station

Route 18: Ben Thanh – Cho Lon

Route 36: Ben Thanh – Eastern Bus Station

You can catch the bus at the bus stops on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street.

When you reach the Pasteur – Nguyen Binh Khiem station, get off the bus and walk about 50 meters to reach the museum.

Traditional taxi/ride-hailing app: you can catch a ride from any point in the city. When you arrive at the museum, you ask the driver to stop at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street.

Conclusion

The Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History is not only a place to preserve and conserve historical and cultural values, but also a space for younger generations, those who love history and culture, to learn about and connect with the past, thereby growing to love and take pride in the country and the people of Vietnam.