Vietnam National Museum of History
Bảo tàng Lịch sử Quốc gia
A national museum housed in a former École française d'Extrême-Orient building, covering everything from prehistory to the Nguyễn dynasty, with the Dong Son bronze drums as its treasure.
The Vietnam National Museum of History consists of two buildings. The main building at 1 Tràng Tiền Street was originally the museum of the French School of the Far East, completed in 1932. Its "Indochinese style", which blends French and Eastern elements, is itself worth seeing. Across the street on Phan Chu Trinh Street, another building displays modern and contemporary history. The exhibits run from prehistoric stone tools and Đông Sơn culture bronze drums, through Champa stone sculptures, to ceramics, gold objects and imperial items from the Lý, Trần, Lê and Nguyễn dynasties, with a clear historical narrative. The museum is closed on Mondays, and tickets are required. It is a 3-minute walk from the Opera House and takes about 1.5 hours to see.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 08:00–12:00 and 13:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Hanoi Opera House
- Vietnamese Women's Museum
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Tạ Hiện Beer Street
- Hỏa Lò Prison
- Hanoi Old Quarter