The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a little out of the way from Hanoi’s main sights, but as one of the city’s best and most informative museums, it’s worth seeking out. If you’re planning on going trekking to the north and northwest of Hanoi, this museum should really be considered essential, but it goes well beyond covering the groups who live there.
-
Ad Visit the Mekong Delta and experience
the waterways first hand. From U$25
The museum is set in three distinct parts. An older indoor area focuses on Vietnam’s various ethnic groups, while a significant portion of the museum behind this is spread across a lovely sprawling garden filled with well-crafted examples of traditional houses from ethnic minority groups. A rather spectacular newer building off to the right features an exquisite Southeast Asian handicraft collection, that as of mid-2017 was only partially complete, with several empty rooms, but is still worth exploring.
Nothing beats a good diorama. Photo: Samantha Brown
The older building features exhibits from the everyday lives of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups: the Viet (Kinh) and 53 minority groups, who together speak languages spread across five linguistic families. Displays, labelled in English, French and Vietnamese throughout, are both comprehensive and fascinating, covering all the main minority groups. Plentiful audiovisual displays are offered along with more typical museum fare and dioramas. Some items on display are simply breathtaking.
Check out, for instance, Mr Pham Dang Uy’s bicycle, loaded down with 800 wooden and bamboo fishtraps. There’s a 1956-built Cham buffalo cart from Ninh Thuan province, which is able to pull two tonnes worth of goods; funerary statues from Gia Lai; a diorama of an initiation ceremony of the Red Yao in Yen Bai province, and another of Hmong weavers. We particularly liked the various windows from a Black Thai stilt house in Son La province, recreated from 1960s sketches and mounted on a wall of the museum.
Black Thai house windows are on display on the wall at the back. Photo: Samantha Brown
Look out for the educational room where visitors can do various activities. When we stopped by, it was a simple stencil rubbing, aimed more at children than adults, but the staff were keen for us to give it a ... please log in to read the rest of this story.
Don’t miss the boat!
Please subscribe to Travelfish.org to read the rest of this article, or log in here.
Subscribing to Travelfish costs A$35 per year and it gets you access to more than 200 downloadable guides to specific destinations, fabulous discount coupons and 50% off our personalised travel planning service. Sign up here.
By
Samantha Brown.
Last updated on 21st September, 2017.
-
Ad Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter and
eat street food as you go. From US$20
Location map for Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
/105.7986,21.0405,16/960x400.png?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidHJhdmVsZmlzaCIsImEiOiJSdGI5endFIn0.NFfNjYzAAn9OBSxs64ptJA)
Start planning your holiday today
Sent every Monday, our newsletter is full of travel advice, news & special deals. Read past issues.
Popular attractions in Hanoi
A selection of some of our favourite sights and activities around Hanoi.
Best places to stay in Hanoi
A selection of some of our favourite places to stay in Hanoi.
What next?
Browse our independent reviews of places to stay in and around Hanoi.
Check prices, availability & reviews on Agoda or Booking
Read up on where to eat on Hanoi.
Check out our listings of things to do in and around Hanoi.
Read up on how to get to Hanoi, or book your transport online with Baolau.
Do you have travel insurance yet? If not, find out why you need it.
Planning on riding a scooter in Hanoi? Please read this.
Browse the web securely while travelling with TunnelBear. Try with a 7–day free trial.