Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is home to countless art, culture, and history museums. These museums exhibit many topics from prehistory, and anthropology to war. When traveling to Hanoi, you should not miss visiting the museums. Coming here, you can immerse yourself in the cultural traditions and heroic histories of both Hanoi and Vietnam. Let’s explore these top 08 outstanding museums in Hanoi with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Through this blog post, you will find detailed information about these museums below.

Ho Chi Minh Museum

• Address: 19 Ngoc Ha Street, Doi Can, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.00 a.m - 12.00 p.m. & 02.00 p.m. - 04.30 p.m. (closed on Monday & Friday)
• Entrance fee: VND 40,000

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Ho Chi Minh Museum is one of the museums in Hanoi you should not miss. This is an important place to preserve and display many precious artifacts and documents about the life of President Ho Chi Minh. In addition to the artifacts kept at the museum, the management board regularly sends research teams to collect and add discoveries about President Ho Chi Minh both domestically and abroad. 

President Ho Chi Minh statue

The museum is a three-floor building with a unique beveled square block. In the middle of the main gate entrance, you can find a relief block of the national flag and the hammer and sickle image of the Communist Party, expressing the revolutionary spirit of Vietnam. The museum’s campus is extremely spacious and airy, with many trees and an artificial lake. 

Each floor in the Ho Chi Minh Museum displays different contents, revolving around the life, career, and influence of President Ho Chi Minh on the people of Vietnam and the world. When entering the main hall of the museum, you will see the brass statue of President Ho Chi Minh. The first floor of the museum is a place to exhibit artifacts and documents about President Ho Chi Minh’s biography, outstanding revolutionary milestones in the country's construction, and the process of the Vietnamese people continuing to carry out his will. 

Coming to the second floor, you can clearly understand the themes displayed on the first floor. This area recreates the arduous fighting life and glorious victories of the Vietnamese people under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh. Whereas, the third floor introduces some major events in world history from the late 19th century to the present, which have had a great impact on President Ho Chi Minh's ideology and revolutionary activities and the revolution in Vietnam. 

Overall, the Ho Chi Minh Museum is among the worth-visiting museums in Hanoi that help you learn more about the heroic historical periods of Vietnam. So, if you are a history lover, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the museum.

B52 Victory Museum

• Address: 157 Doi Can Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. & 01.30 p.m. - 04.30 p.m.
• Entrance fee: free

B52 Victory Museum

Among the museums in Hanoi, B52 Victory Museum is also a spot you should visit to learn more about the history of Vietnam during the war against America. The museum belongs to the military history category and is located in the system of museums of the People's Armed Forces. It displays and introduces the process of building, fighting, and maturing of Hanoi's armed forces through historical periods. Especially, you can learn about the victory of “Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air”, which destroyed the strategic air raid by B-52 aircraft of the US Empire on Hanoi. Let’s explore two exhibition areas of the museum!

The indoor display area

The indoor exhibition area has an area of ​​about 1,500 square meters, built in a modern architectural style, bearing the symbol of the glorious victory monument. The exhibition content includes introducing the tradition of "Determined to Brave Death for the Survival of the Fatherland" of Hanoi's armed forces through historical periods. Besides, this area also exhibits detailed information on the battle of "Dien Bien Phu in the Air". Regarding the happenings of the battle, the museum displays maps along with a map summarizing the battle's progress combined with a system of sound, lighting, smoke effects, and large-screen video that fully recreates the events of the campaign. 

The outdoor display area

The museum's outdoor display area, with an area of ​​about 4,000 square meters, is where weapons and equipment used by the Vietnamese army and people are displayed, along with some pieces of B52 aircraft. Visiting this area, you will be surprised by the courtyard in front of the museum displaying the body of a B-52 aircraft with a body length of 59.05 meters and a wingspan of up to 56.39 meters.

B52 aircraft wrecks in the B52 Victory Museum

The body of B52 aircraft wrecks in the B52 Victory Museum

Vietnam Military History Museum

• Address: 28A Dien Bien Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. & 01.00 p.m - 04.30 p.m. (closed on Monday & Friday)
• Entrance fee: VND 40,000

Vietnam Military History Museum

Vietnam Military History Museum, where the heroic memories of Vietnam are kept, is also one of the museums in Hanoi you may want to visit. The museum has a total area of ​​up to 10,000 square meters. Thousands of documents and artifacts of great historical significance are collected, preserved, and displayed here, attracting tourists from Vietnam and all over the world. 

The indoor exhibition is divided into 3 main areas: S2, S3, S4. The main contents include Vietnam's military history during the Hung King period and An Duong Vuong period, Vietnam People's Armed Forces from 1930 to 1975, the August Revolution of 1975, Dien Bien Phu in the air battle, and a summary of the work of building and defending Vietnam from 1975 until now, etc. 

The outdoor exhibition areas display artifacts such as American aircraft wrecks, tanks, cannons, artillery guns, etc. The highlight artifacts here include 2 MiG-21 aircraft with serial numbers 5121 and 4324 and the T-54B tank with serial number 843. All are original specimens clearly showing the will, and determination to fight and win, and not give up on the army and people of Vietnam. 

American Aircraft wrecks

Air Force and Air Defense Museum

• Address: 173C Truong Chinh Street, Khuong Mai Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. & 01.00 p.m. - 04.00 p.m. (closed on Friday)
• Entrance fee: VND 30,000

Air Force and Air Defense Museum

Like the three museums mentioned above in Hanoi, the Air Force and Air Defense Museum are also places you should visit. The museum is the place to store and display artifacts and documents about the two resistance wars against France and the US of Vietnam. It has a total area of 19,200 square meters divided into two main areas: the indoor and outdoor areas. Below are detailed information about each area. 

The outdoor area

The outdoor area of the Air Force and Air Defense Museum is about 16,000 square meters. This area specializes in displaying large-scale collections of artifacts below. 

• 01 anti-aircraft artillery
• Sam 2 missile base and ammunition which shot down the B.52 aircraft
• Types of weapons used by the US imperialists on the battlefield in Vietnam
• French and American aircraft wrecks shot down by the Air Defense - Air Force
• Mi-6 transport helicopter which is an artifact that visitors can enter to visit and experience

The indoor area

The indoor exhibition area of ​​the Air Defense - Air Force Museum occupies 3,200 square meters. This is where many artifacts and images introducing the achievements of the Air Defense - Air Force soldiers during the two resistance wars are kept. 

Vietnam National Museum of History

• Address: 01 Trang Tien Street, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. & 01.30 p.m. - 05.00 p.m. (closed on Monday)
• Entrance fee: VND 40,000

Vietnam National Museum of History

Vietnam National Museum of History is also one of the museums in Hanoi that you may want to visit to learn about the history of Vietnam. The heritage that the National History Museum currently preserves is over 20,000 documents and artifacts that recreate the entire historical flow of Vietnam from prehistoric times to the present. Especially, the museum has many rare antique collections and national treasures. Through these artifacts, you can learn more about Vietnam’s economic characteristics through the ages, the geographical factors, and the cultural identities of regions across the country. 

Artifacts in the Vietnam National Museum of History

Not only stopping at observation, you can also participate in many attractive interactive activities, associated with the museum's exhibition content in the Discovery Room. Visiting the museum is an opportunity for you to learn more about the history, culture, and heroic fighting tradition in the process of building and defending the country of the Vietnamese people.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

• Address: 01 Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Nghia Do Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.30 a.m. - 05.00 p.m.
• Entrance fee: VND 40,000
• Presentation fee: VND 100,000

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is one of the impressive museums in Hanoi. Coming here, you can admire documents and artifacts about the culture and history of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. The museum has three exciting exhibition areas. Let’s find more details about each area.

Bronze Drum Building

The Bronze Drum Building has an exhibition area of ​​up to 2,000 square meters. This building is mainly used to display artifacts, photos, films, and vivid recreation areas, and there are many interesting research articles about  54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. All exhibition content is presented in 3 languages (Vietnamese, French, and English). You can easily explore this area as it is arranged systematically, consistently, scientifically, and attractively. 

Kite Building with impressive design

The 4-storey building called Kite is modeled after the shape of a kite which shows one of the traditional cultural features of Vietnam. The building exhibits four permanent themes. They are the Southeast Asian Culture, A Glimpse of Asia, Indonesian Glass Paintings, and Around the World. There are also temporary exhibition areas, auditoriums, cinemas, and educational activities.  

Kite Building in the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Architectural Garden filled with lush green

The Architectural Garden is covered with many types of green trees and a cool artificial stream. It introduces 10 unique folk architectural works of 10 Vietnamese ethnic groups as below.

• The Cham House campus
• Bana communal house
• Vietnamese house
• Giarai tomb house
• Ede long house
• Cotu tomb house
• Tay stilt house
• Hmong ground floor house
• Ha Nhi rammed earth house 
• Dao half-floor, half-ground floor house

Bana communal house

Giarai tomb house

Ede long house

Cotu tomb house

Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

• Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.30 a.m. - 05.00 p.m.
• Entrance fee: VND 40,000
• Automatic presentation fee (iMuseum VFA): VND 50,000

Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

If you are an art lover, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, one of the museums in Hanoi that specializes in art. The museum is a place to research, collect, restore, display, educate, and communicate documents, artifacts, and typical works of art in Vietnam. It has three floors with a total displaying area of more than 3,000 square meters. On a large area, the museum is divided into many functional areas such as a permanent exhibition area, thematic exhibition area, creative space for children, etc. Let’s explore each area with us!

Permanent exhibition area

This area displays valuable artifacts, works of art, sculptures, paintings, and graphics from ancient times to the modern period. The number of exhibits currently reaches nearly 20,000 works, helping visitors easily learn about the historical development of diverse fine arts. The works displayed here are divided into prehistoric and early historical art, fine art from the 11th - 19th centuries, fine art from the 20th century to the present, traditional applied arts, folk arts, and ceramic collections. 

VPermanent exhibition area in the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

 Thematic exhibition area

The Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum regularly organizes many exhibitions and events of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals. The exhibitions are special occasions that help art lovers have more opportunities to learn about many unique works of diverse genres and materials. 

Creative space for children

If you come here with your children, your children will love this place. It has an open space and many attractive and useful activities to help children explore, perceive, and experience art from the museum's collections such as painting, pottery, sculpture, folk art, etc. 

Overall, the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum is one of the most amazing museums in Hanoi that is appealing to both adults and children. Let’s come here and have your own experiences!

Vietnamese Women’s Museum

• Address: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hang Bai Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 08.00 a.m. - 05.00 p.m.
• Entrance fee: VND 40,000

Vietnamese Women's Museum

Vietnamese Women’s Museum is also on the list of the must-visit museums in Hanoi. Coming here, you will have a chance to comprehensively learn about the portrait, role, contributions, and sacrifices of Vietnamese women throughout the country's history. With a total area of nearly 5,000 square meters, the museum has four floors displaying artifacts in different themes.

The first floor of the museum is the souvenir shop where you can find many items. These items bear the characteristics of the museum. They are postcards, bookmarks, and many documents including pictures, books, newspapers, the museum's successful exhibition themes, etc. The second floor displays documents and artifacts related to women's lives from birth to marriage and motherhood in different ethnic groups. Coming to the second floor, you can also find exhibitions about Mother Goddess worship. This cultural belief is expressed through three aspects: Spirituality - Beauty - Joy. 

Museum shop in the Vietnamese Women's Museum

Stepping to the third floor of the museum, you will see portraits of heroic Vietnamese mothers. Besides, there are many documentaries, videos, and propaganda posters during the wars. Whereas, on the fourth floor, you will catch up with the traditional costumes of 54 ethnic groups. You will be surprised by the techniques of makeup, weaving, and making silver jewelry and real teeth of ancient women.

Traditional costumes of ethnic groups in Vietnam

Portraits of the heroic Vietnamese mothers

Overall, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum is among the museums that are worth visiting in Hanoi. Let’s visit the museum and learn about the simple beauty and importance of Vietnamese women!

In conclusion, you have just learned about the most outstanding museums in Hanoi. Hope that these pieces of information will be helpful for you. For further information, book a Hanoi tour package, or tailor your tour in Hanoi, please do not hesitate to contact our team.