Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum
Bảo tàng Mỹ thuật Việt Nam
An art museum in a French-style building beside the Temple of Literature, with lacquer paintings, silk paintings and ancient Buddhist sculptures such as the thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara as highlights.
The Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum is on Nguyễn Thái Học Street, just across the street from the Temple of Literature. The building dates from the early 20th century and is a French colonial structure that was originally a Catholic girls' boarding school. It has been open as an art museum since 1966. Its three floors trace the development of Vietnamese art, from ancient Buddhist sculpture (including a fine wooden carving of the thousand-armed and thousand-eyed Avalokiteshvara), folk woodblock prints and ceramics, to 20th-century lacquer paintings, silk paintings and oil paintings. Lacquer painting is particularly distinctive. A ticket is required. Allow about 1-1.5 hours, and it pairs well with a visit to the Temple of Literature.
Opening hours
08:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Temple of Literature
- Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long
- One Pillar Pagoda
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Hanoi Train Street
- Hỏa Lò Prison
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Quán Thánh Temple