Ho Chi Minh Museum — Attraction in Hà Nội

Interesting, but with a skosh of unnecessary touch...

To begin with, this museum is another exciting museum in the city, but this time with some additional ( and artificial ) objects/articles, which generally are not meant to be in such kinds of museums.

The Museum has three floors. At the base, there are a plethora of wares. When I went here, there was an exhibition going on the second floor which was conducted in collaboration with another country's relevant authorities. About 2/5th of the boards ( on this floor ) were only in the local language. It was knowledgeable to know about the struggle, freedom movement, and action plans of the leaders back then i.a., and there is information available about plans, their implementation and after-effects during the early and mid-70s. There are also various quotes shown with the names of the leaders ( incl. photos in some cases ), and information about conferences, key strategic decisions and landmark movements/achievements i.a. There is also a succulent mention of the present global relations of the country.

The second and largest floor of the museum has a lot. Due to the time constraint courtesy to their lunch break time, I couldn't get to see even half the museum properly, but based on what I saw, it was again very interesting. There is a collection of objects used during the War times ( like various types of arrows, and prisoner uniforms ), personal items used by popular personalities, some historical paintings, stuff about the life of the founder ( incl a statue ), i.a.

And now the superfluous elements.  The most surprising thing was the presence of some totally unconnected/unrelated items like fake fruits, metal flowers and leaves, and fake masks, i.a. Surely they look more better when they are seen in other shops, but definitely not inside the historical sites like a museum. I am not sure why the organisers saw it worthwhile to have them here, and the same space would have been used for other apposite boards/articles.

The entry ticket is VND 40,000, and like its counterparts, this museum too is closed for the lunch break and on Mon and Fri. There is also a cafeteria on the premises at the base near the exit. As for other museums in Hanoi, it would be in the good interest of the visitors if this lunch closing time is done away with. Surely, staff can go for lunch, but visitors should be allowed to continue to explore the museum. In the absence of the same, it becomes difficult for people who love history and museums to see the whole site in one visit given...

The Building and Facilities: Very nice architecture from the outside and most of the inside is to the same quality of the outside, except for the bathrooms. The bathrooms were not ver clean, half of the urinals were covered in plastic so you couldn’t use and their was water or pee all over the floors. If was also pitch black. Please keep the bathrooms more tidy and working.

The Exhibits: Me and my Vietnamese girlfriend had a hard time understanding these. All the written articles are in one of three languages and that’s it. If you can’t understand Vietnamese, French, or English, then you are out of luck. They should have a translation for each article. All three languages would be nice, but at the bare minimal, if it’s in French or English, then make a Vietnamese translation. If it’s in Vietnamese then make an English translation. Which goes into how a lot of the articles are displayed, they are incased in heavy plastic flip book on a stand where the pages will occasionally fall back down. This is a terrible way to display this information to a lot of people at once. Most of the walls are so empty they should spread all these articles vertical along the path you walk with translations, then multiple people can enjoy at once and you don’t have to fumble with those horrendous black plastic flip books. The next problem is there are several exhibits that make absolutely no sense at all. Even if you try to think abstractly, the outcome before you is so low effort, I feel embarrassed because someone during the design and building process must have realized these art exhibits make no sense at all. There are also several unfinished places. The map of the places he has been had several lights that weren’t working… why not fix that. Overall I don’t think I learned anything at all, even my gf had a hard time understanding what was going on. I think there is a lot of wasted potential on how the information is shared. That museum should be a walking Netflix documentary of Ho Chi Minh’s life and his influence on Vietnam, but instead of feels like you are going through all the citations of the sources about a report some guy wrote about Ho Chi Minh at a community college with random abstract art.

The Hours: The hours were awful. We didn’t know about the short hours but we were lucky and it was open in the afternoon. However about 15-20 minutes early they were making...

The Ho Chi Minh Museum, located in Hanoi, Vietnam, is a captivating museum dedicated to honoring the life, achievements, and ideology of Ho Chi Minh, the revered leader and founding father of modern Vietnam. The museum provides a comprehensive and immersive experience, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Ho Chi Minh's role in shaping the nation's history.

The museum building itself is a striking architectural masterpiece, designed in a modern style that stands in stark contrast to the traditional Vietnamese architecture surrounding it. Its unique shape, resembling an open lotus flower, symbolizes purity and enlightenment. The museum covers a vast area and comprises several exhibition halls, galleries, and outdoor spaces.

Inside the museum, visitors embark on a chronological journey through Ho Chi Minh's life. The exhibits showcase his early years, his travels, his time as a revolutionary leader, and his role in the struggle for independence and reunification. Artifacts, photographs, and documents are skillfully curated, providing insights into the personal and political aspects of Ho Chi Minh's life.

The museum employs various multimedia techniques, including interactive displays, audiovisual presentations, and dioramas, to engage visitors and bring history to life. Visitors can explore replica environments, such as Ho Chi Minh's study and living quarters, gaining a sense of his daily life and work. The museum also features galleries dedicated to showcasing international support for Vietnam's cause and exhibits that illustrate Ho Chi Minh's influence on modern Vietnamese society.

One of the highlights of the museum is the outdoor area, where larger installations and monuments are displayed. The garden surrounding the museum is meticulously landscaped, with statues, sculptures, and commemorative structures honoring Ho Chi Minh's memory and his contributions to the nation.

The Ho Chi Minh Museum is not only a historical museum but also serves as an educational and cultural center. It hosts various events, conferences, and exhibitions related to Vietnamese history, culture, and social issues. The museum actively promotes research and academic studies, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge about Ho Chi Minh's life and Vietnam's...