Hai Phong Museums and Art Galleries

(Hai Phong, Vietnam)

It has to be admitted that, with the exception of Hanoi, north-eastern Vietnam and the industrial city of Hai Phong are not the best places for museum buffs. Hai Phong's municipal museum is well worth a visit, despite its unusual opening hours, but for anything more, a day trip or short stay in Hanoi (roughly two hours to the north-west) is the only answer.

Once you've realised that all Vietnamese museums have a revolutionary twist to their presentations, you can get on with appreciating the rich and endlessly fascinating heritage and history of the country. The best of the Hanoi bunch are the Ethnology and the Fine Arts museums, although the 'social realism' school of painting is perhaps over-represented - unsurprisingly.

Hai Phong Museum

Address: 66 P Dien Bien Phu, Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
Set in a superb colonial mansion, the Hai Phong Museum holds a small but impressive collection of local historic artefacts - which together trace the heritage of the region, as well as a selection of precious gems, everyday traditional items and old photographs. Visitors will be pleased to find that a large proportion of the exhibits are labelled in English, meaning that any visit will be all the more enjoyable and informative.
Open hours: Tuesday and Thursday - 08:00 to 10:30; Wednesday and Sunday - 07:30 to 21:30
Admission: free

Vietnam Navy Museum

Address: P Dien Bien Phu, Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
Located close to the Rao Bridge and founded at the beginning of 1975, this interesting Navy Museum (Bao Tang Hai Quan) traces the exploits of the Vietnamese Navy during the country's various struggles for independence in the 20th century. Founded in 1975, it displays many historical artefacts related to seafaring in general, including information about prominent Vietnamese naval battles and victories.
Open hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - 08:00 to 11:00
Admission: free

Communal Halls

Address: Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
Hai Phong's Communal Halls are in themselves living museums to the various communities which make up the city, as they contain records of local events, community details and ancestral tablets. The Hang Khen, Kien Bai and Nhu Thuong Communal Halls were founded in the 18th century and are still the centres of their respective communities.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Museum of Ethnology

Address: Nguyen Van Huyen, Hanoi, Vietnam VN
Tel: +84 04 836 0350
Located in the suburbs of Hanoi, around 30 minutes from its downtown district, is this excellent museum, which tells about the histories and traditions of Vietnam's 50+ ethnic groups. An extensive collection of traditional artefacts is backed up by several full-sized original ethnic homes and lodges. This really is a must-visit, with highlights including period clothing, tools and a seemingly endless assortment of Vietnamese artefacts.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 08:30 to 12:30, 13:30 to 16:30
Admission: free

Hanoi Fine Arts Museum

Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi, Vietnam, VN
Tel: +84 04 846 5081
The Fine Arts Museum of Hanoi is situated within an attractive colonial building, where it boasts eclectic collections of various styles of art, as well as a noteworthy display of traditional folk art gathered from across the country. Modern art is well represented, especially in watercolour, and the contemporary art section is considered to be innovative. Look out for the Buddhist pieces and paintings on silk.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 08:00 to 12:00, 13:30 to 16:30
Admission: free

More information about Hanoi Museums.