Top 10 Must See Museums In Hanoi

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is home to many important museums, which fall into two main categories: military history museums, and culture/art/society museums. Each of these museums plays an essential role in displaying and preserving ancient documents and artifacts related to different ethnic groups or historical periods. There are about 20 museums in Hanoi, but we’ve handpicked the top 10 must see museums in Hanoi, along with some essential information about them. So let’s get into it!

Hanoi Museum of Ethnology

• Address: Nguyen Van Huyen, Nghia Do, Cau Giay district, Hanoi

• Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (except Mondays and Lunar New Year)

• Entrance fee: 40,000 VND

About the Museum

The Hanoi Museum of Ethnology is a must see museum in Hanoi, offering an immersion in Vietnamese culture and history. The exhibitions showcase the lifestyles, traditions, and customs of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. Visitors can explore three different exhibition spaces:

Bronze Drum Area

Designed in the shape of a bronze drum from the Dong Son civilization, this museum was inaugurated in 1997, in the presence of former French president Jacques Chirac. It showcases Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups through objects, films and photos. Many tourists are interested in the funeral customs of the Muong people, the manufacture of conical hats, the weaving process of the Dao people, or the wedding rituals of the Mong people.

Kite Exhibition Area

The Kite Building is designed to resemble a kite, symbolizing the cultural beauty of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It also showcases cultures from outside Vietnam, with permanent and temporary exhibitions, and educational activities. The museum also collaborates with other museums and cultural agencies in Southeast Asia.

Architecture Garden

The garden presents 10 popular Vietnamese architectural works in a 2-hectare open-air green space. It showcases traditional houses and structures from Vietnamese ethnic groups, such as the Cham, Ede, or Bana communities.

>>> Read more: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Vietnamese Women’s Museum

• Address: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hang Bai district, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

• Entrance fee: 40,000 VND

About the museum

The Vietnamese Women's Museum aims to showcase the roles of women throughout history, in different aspects of life, and to promote gender equality. The museum houses thousands of documents and objects collected from all over Vietnam, bearing witness to the history and culture of Vietnamese women. For those interested in finding out about the culture and lives of Vietnamese women, this one is top of the list for must see museums in Hanoi.

Permanent exhibitions

• 2nd floor – “Women in Family”: Explore the life of Vietnamese women through rituals, customs of marriage, childbirth, and family life.

• 3rd floor – “Women in History”: Discover their role in historical and contemporary events, as well as their experiences during the war.

• 4th floor – “Women's Fashion”: Presentation of costumes, jewelry, and beauty practices of women from Vietnamese ethnic groups.

In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum organizes temporary exhibitions and night tours.

>>> Read more: Exploring The Vietnamese Women's Museum In Hanoi

National Museum of History of Vietnam

• Address: 1 Trang Tien, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi | 216 Tran Quang Khai, Trang Tien District, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 AM to 12 PM, and 1:30 PM to 5 PM.

• Entrance fee: 40,000 VND

About the museum

History enthusiasts, this is a must see museum in Hanoi! The National Museum of Vietnamese History presents a rich collection of historical artifacts and documents from prehistory to 1945, including many national treasures. It offers a variety of rare objects, from the Dong Son culture to artifacts from the Le Nguyen period, as well as sculptures from the Champa civilization and foreign decorative arts. It also exhibits more than 80,000 documents and objects relating to the history of the Communist Party of Vietnam and its leaders, including Ho Chi Minh. 

The museum has two addresses, each with artifacts from different historical periods:

The one on Trang Tien Street: 

Preservation of artifacts from prehistoric times to the Nguyen dynasty (1945). Built by the French in 1926, it combines Eastern and Western architecture, displaying:

• Prehistoric Vietnam

• The nation-building period

• Vietnam from the 1st to the 10th century

The one on Tran Quang Khai Street: 

Displays of Vietnamese historical objects and documents from the 19th century onwards. It covers:

• Struggles for national independence (1858-1945)

• 30 years of resistance against the invaders (1945-1975)

• Vietnam's development since 1976

Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts

• Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

• Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Sunday

• Entrance fee: 40,000 VND

About the museum

The Hanoi Museum of Fine Arts, formerly a French residence for the daughters of civil servants in Indochina, was renovated in 1962 to become an exhibition space. It opened in 1966, blending French antiquity with Vietnamese essence. With 3 floors, it offers various spaces such as permanent exhibitions, themed exhibitions, creative exhibitions for children, and a restaurant.

The museum's galleries cover chronological periods from prehistory to the modern period, presenting a variety of works including paintings, ceramics, and sculptures.

As well as discovering Vietnamese fine art, the museum regularly organizes artistic activities combined with music and national and international events, offering art lovers a plethora of unique works to explore.

Good to know: The Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts is located in the heart of Hanoi's Ba Dinh district. After your visit, take the opportunity to explore nearby attractions such as the Temple of Literature Quoc Tu Giam, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

>>> Read more: Vietnam Fine Arts Museum In Hanoi

Bat Trang Pottery Museum

• Address: 28, Village 5, Bat Trang Street, Gia Lam, Hanoi

• Opening hours: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Friday and 8 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays

• Ticket price: 50,000 VND 250,000 VND

The Bat Trang Ceramics Museum, located in the heart of the famous village of the same name, is one of the must see museums in Hanoi for lovers of Vietnamese handicrafts. It houses a remarkable collection of ceramic works that attract many visitors in search of authenticity.

As soon as you arrive, you'll be captivated by the museum's impressive facade, which includes seven giant intertwined spirals that resemble ceramic turntables. Using local building materials such as fired bricks and Bat Trang tiles, the architecture celebrates the rustic simplicity of the traditional craft village. 

The museum complex includes exhibitions, a cafeteria, and ceramics workshops. When you visit the Bat Trang Ceramics Museum, you'll also have the opportunity to explore the surrounding village and even try your hands at pottery, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Vietnamese art and culture.

Hanoi Museum

• Address: Pham Hung Street, Me Tri District, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi City

• Opening hours: 8 AM 11:30 AM | 1 PM. 4:30 PM. Tuesday to Sunday

• Entrance fee: free

Which museum is more deserving of a spot on the top 10 must see museums in Hanoi than the one dedicated to the city itself? The Hanoi Museum was rebuilt for Hanoi's 1,000th anniversary in 2010, adopting an impressive architecture reminiscent of an inverted pyramid inspired by the iconic One Pilar Pagoda. Its main hall features a circular spiral atrium, which makes it unique. In 2016, it was named one of the 36 most beautiful museums in the world by Business Insider.

The Hanoi Museum currently houses more than 70,000 documents and artifacts, bearing witness to the millennia-old history of Thang Long Hanoi. The museum's permanent exhibitions include Nature, Thang Long during the Dai Viet period, Hanoi in the 19th and 20th centuries, etc.

• 1st floor: Exhibition of the dragon throughout different dynasties in Vietnam, ceramics, and historical documents; souvenir shop.

• 2nd floor: Pre-Thang Long exhibition, nature and biodiversity.

• 3rd floor: Modern art, private collections of antique objects, ceramics, and coins.

• 4th floor: Exhibition on the history of Hanoi, with a focus on the resistance against the French and American colonizers.

In addition, experimental discovery areas, themed exhibitions, and open-air performances are also available.

Hoa Lo Museum

• Address: Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

• Opening hours: from 8 AM to 5 PM

• Entrance fee: 50,000 VND

Also known as “Hanoi Hilton”, Hoa Lo used to be a prison during the French colonial war and later during the Vietnam War. Initially built by the French in the late 19th century to arrest Vietnamese nationalists, the prison became notorious for the abuses and harsh conditions faced by political prisoners. During the Vietnam War, Hoa Lo Prison became famous for housing captured US pilots, including the famous case of pilot John McCain.

Today, part of the Hoa Lo Prison has been preserved and transformed into the Hoa Lo Museum, which displays exhibits on the history of the prison and its role in the struggle for Vietnam’s independence. Visitors can explore the ancient cells, see artifacts and exhibits related to Vietnamese resistance against French colonial rule, and learn about the experiences of prisoners during the conflicts. 

Why is Hoa Lo one of the must see museums in Hanoi, you may ask? The Hoa Lo Museum offers a sobering perspective on Vietnamese history and is a significant visit for those who wish to understand Vietnam’s tumultuous past and struggle for self-determination. You also get to visit night tours which offer a totally different perspective compared to day tours, and enjoy snacks and tea made from the ancient Bàng tree (Country Almond Tree) that is still on the campus to this day. 

>>> Read more: Hoa Lo Prison

Ho Chi Minh Museum

• Address: 19 Ngoc Ha street, Doi Can district, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi.

• Opening hours: From 8 AM to 12 PM; then from 2 PM to 4:30 PM. Closed on Mondays and Fridays

• Entrance fee: 40,000 VND

The Ho Chi Minh Museum is an institution dedicated to the life and legacy of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. The museum is a modern and imposing building, built in the Soviet style. Its main purpose is to preserve and present artifacts, photographs, and historical documents related to the life of Ho Chi Minh and the struggle for independence of Vietnam.

Inside the museum, visitors can explore fascinating exhibits that tell of Ho Chi Minh’s life from his youth to his years as a political leader. Personal artifacts, such as clothes, books, and everyday items, offer an intimate view of the man behind the icon. The museum also addresses the historical and political context of the time, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of Ho Chi Minh’s role in the history of Vietnam and the international communist movement.

Air Defense Museum – Air Force

• Address: 173C Truong Chinh Street, Khuong Mai District, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi

• Opening hours:

Monday to Thursday: from 8 AM to 11 AM and from 1 PM to 4 PM

Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: from 4 PM to 6:30 PM

Friday: reserved for pre-registered groups

• Entrance fee: 30,000 VND

One of the best war museums in Hanoi, the Air Defense Museum, founded in 1963 and officially opened in 1979, houses artifacts of historical value. It offers two distinct areas of exposure: exterior and interior. The museum multiple weapons used during the war and other artifacts, such as:

• Anti-aircraft artillery: a national treasure

• Sam 2 missile and ammunition platform: the weapon that shot down the aircraft B-52

• Types of imperialist armaments used by the US on the Vietnam battlefield

• French and American aircraft shot down by the Air Defense and the Air Force

• Mi-6 transport helicopter: artifacts that visitors can visit and experience

B-52 Victory Museum

• Address: 157 Doi Can, Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh, Hanoi 

• Opening hours: from 8 AM to 11 AM; and from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM on weekdays, except Mondays

• Entrance fee: free

Last but not least on our top 10 must see museums in Hanoi, is the B-52 Museum. The B-52 Victory Museum displays weapons, equipment, and wreckage from B-52 aircraft as well as images and artifacts from the "Dien Bien Phu on Air" (1972) battle with the US Air Force. 

The B-52, an iconic bomber used extensively during the Vietnam War, still evokes painful memories for many Vietnamese. For lovers of military history, visiting this museum is a must. The only one of its kind, this museum offers an immersive experience with realistic artifacts, witnessing the victory of the B-52 aircraft, a poignant testimony to Vietnamese history. 

 

We hope this helps! Whichever museum you choose, you’ll learn a lot about the city’s cultural and historic heritage. If you’re interested in a museum tour in Hanoi, please reach out to the experts at Vietnam Original Travel. We would be more than happy to create an itinerary tailored to your interest!

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