Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine — Attraction in Ho Chi Minh City

The only star is for the museum itself. However, I saw huge discrepancies in the way my family was treated and how 2 other guys (also European) were treated. While we were just handed out some plastic pamphlets explaining in short the history of the Vietnamese tradition medicine, the other two guys got a free of charge guided tour (it was free as I went to ask them whether they had paid for it) by one of the ladies working in the museum. The guy that sold us the tickets tucked us in a dark room and played a movie about the traditional Vietnamese medicine. After this he gave us the pamphlets and left us on our own. No introduction whatsoever. I followed a bit with the other two guys and confronted the guide regarding the tour we have not been offered and she just mumbled back that it depends on the group?! What group? They were 2 single guys and I came with my husband and daughter. So families are considered a burden for their staff and a huge responsibility if they are not even offered the option of having the tour. The lady went out of her way regarding her tour with the guys: so much that she was telling them how to stand and where to look in order to take their perfect pictures. Am I missing something here? Were they influencers this place was desperately needing in order to attract a crowd? So to sum it up: we paid 180 000 per adult and 90 000 for the 6 years old child, we were offered each one cup of free tea at the end of the tour and we were given plastic pamphlets explaining the history of the place. Nothing more for this high price. This in the Western world is clearly called discrimination. I came because I was sure there was at least one activity for the kids - obviously the same activity was very popular for adults too: to change clothes into the traditional Vietnamese ones and pretend to be an old days pharmacist mixing herbs and making medicines. We had to specifically go and ask our supposedly dedicated guide about it- he simply showed into the direction where the place in question was located, without any further explanation. Kindly re-consider bringing kids here as your “group” will automatically be a low priority in the eyes of their staff. Note: ONLY CASH accepted! P.S. to see how the lady was positioning the guys for their perfect shot - check the last picture of the ones I...

Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO Museum) – A Nostalgic Journey into Healing Heritage

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Tucked away at 41 Hoang Du Khuong Street, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, also known as FITO Museum, is a captivating gem that celebrates Vietnam’s ancient healing practices. Founded in 2003 by Dr. Le Khac Tam and opened to the public in 2007, this private museum spans 600 square meters across six floors, housing over 3,000 artifacts that trace the history of Vietnamese herbal medicine from the Stone Age to the present.

The museum’s wooden architecture, crafted from reclaimed materials of ancient Vietnamese houses, exudes a warm, nostalgic charm with intricate carvings, sloping roofs adorned with dragon motifs, and a replica of a 19th-century Northern pharmacy. Highlights include the “Vietnam Bach Gia Y” wood-carved painting, recognized by Guinness Vietnam, honoring 100 revered physicians, and tools like herbal knives, mortars, and medicinal jars from regions like Ha Dong and Hoi An. The Cham tower replica and a shrine to Zen Master Tue Tinh and Hai Thuong Lan Ong, pioneers of Vietnamese medicine, add cultural depth.

Visitors can watch a 15-minute documentary on traditional medicine, explore 18 well-organized exhibition rooms, and even try hands-on activities like grinding herbs or tasting medicinal teas. The staff, fluent in English and other languages, are knowledgeable and welcoming, though the lack of air conditioning might be noticeable in Saigon’s heat. The gift shop offers unique souvenirs like organic teas and herbal remedies.

Open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, the entrance fee is 180,000 VND for adults and 90,000 VND for students/children, a bit pricier than other local museums but worth it for the immersive experience. Located in a quiet alley, it’s a 15–30 minute taxi ride from District 1 (50,000–100,000 VND). For a budget option, buses 10, 13, 14, 65, or 91 stop nearby.

This museum is a must-visit for those curious about Vietnam’s cultural and medical heritage, offering a serene escape from Saigon’s hustle with a blend of history, art, and interactive...

What a great visit.

Historical Context & Architecture Founded by Dr. Lê Khắc Tâm, the FI­TO Museum was constructed in 2003 and opened to the public in 2007

The architectural style is a textured blend of traditional Vietnamese wood carving (often influenced by Hue and Cham styles) with six floors and over 18 exhibition rooms designed to evoke an ancient herbal medecine

What You’ll Discover on Each Floor Ground Floor & 1st Floor:

Cinema Room: A 15-minute multilingual documentary (Vietnamese, English, French, German, Russian) introduces visitors to the origins and stories of Vietnamese traditional medicine

Souvenir Shop & Herbal Pharmacy: Browse herbal teas, medicinal wines, essential oils, or sample wellness products

2nd Floor:

The Royal Medicinal Academy, recreated to represent the royal clinic with ornate decor, giving a window into historic royal healthcare systems

3rd and 4th Floors:

Rich displays of herbal tools—from metal teapots, mortars, grinders, tools for slicing herbs, scales to tincture jugs and medicine jars—offering insight into traditional preparation methods.

Interactive Experience: A model pharmacy (19th century style) with an 81-drawer wooden cabinet. Under guidance, visitors can mix their own remedies from the herbs provided

5th Floor:

Ancestral Hall & Medicinal Tree: An altar honoring legendary herbalists Tuệ Tĩnh (14th century) and Hải Thượng Lãn Ông – Lê Hữu Trác (18th century) with a carved “Vietnam Bach Gia Y” tree featuring 100 famed medical practitioners’ names.

Ancient Tools & Historical Timeline: Artifacts from the Stone and Bronze Ages and a chronological display of Vietnamese medical milestones Vietnam Discovery Travel

6th Floor:

A comparative visual journey through traditional medicine systems of Vietnam, China, Korea, and Japan.

Unique cultural features like a Cham tower replica and imagery of the Thăng Long Medical Temple from Hanoi, plus portraits of traditional...