Museum of History, Ho Chi Minh City

The History Museum was built in 1929 and called "Musée Blanchard de la Bosse" until 1956.
It has an excellent collection of artefacts illustrating the evolution of Vietnam, from the Bronze-Age Dong Son civilisation (13 BC - 1AD) and the Oc-Eo (Funan) civilisation (1-6 AD), to the Chams, Khmers and Vietnamese. There are valuable relics taken from Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
There is a research library about Indochina.

An excellent introduction to Vietnamese history and culture from the primitive era (circa 500, 000 years ago) and through the dynasties of Hung Kings, Ly, Tran, Le, Tay Son and Nguyen.

Formal dressing required and no pictures allowed.

There is also a water puppet theatre but will only performed if more than 5 persons have bought tickets. If you are going to Hanoi, the puppet show is better there.

Open Monday to Sutarday 8am=11am, 1:30pm-4pm
Sunday and holidays 8:30am-4pm

If you are visiting the Botanical garden and Zoo, then pop next door to the History museum (1929) Its a lovely, historical Pagoda style building.

The museum has a lot of items from Vietnamese history including old vases, pottery, swords, granite tablets with carvings, uniforms of mandarins and kings of yesteryears, ethnic groups and more.

It is split into two parts,

1...... On the history of Vietnam from the times when the area was first settled (about 300,000 years ago) to 1930 – eg. ....when the Vietnamese Communist Party was born. This tells about primitive period in Vietnam and through the various dynasties.


2 ... displays ethnic minority groups in Vietnam etc. and ancient pottery of a few Asian countries
A statue of the Buddha with 1,000 eyes and 1,000 arms is also part of the museum's collection.

There is also a water puppet show, with an extra charge.

OPEN 8am-11.30am & 1.30pm - 4.30pm
COST 15000 dong

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The Museum of Vietnamese History is located right next to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City. It was established on August 23, 1979 – but was formerly named “Musée Blanchard de la Brosse” (1929-1956) and then “The National Museum of Vietnam in Saigon” (1956-1975).

The museum was under reconstruction when I visited it, and not all exhibition halls were open, but normally there are two main sections: Part 1 displays the Vietnamese history from the first human vestiges (about 500,000 years ago) until the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1945). Part 2 displays various themes like “Buddha statues (12th - 19th century)”, “Ethnic minorities culture in Southern Vietnam”, “The Art of Champa (2nd – 17th century)” and more... In the museum yard is a collection of old cannons. There is also a small Water Puppet Theatre with short shows. Interesting place with many very old artefacts - absolute worth a visit...

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The museum opened in 1979, and occupies a building constructed by the French in 1927.
It is a really nice museum that starts with early stone tools and ends with the French period. It has everything from Roman coins to cannons, including items from the ethnic minorities. It is organized very well, and signs are also in English. I spent all afternoon there.

Open: Daily 08:00-11:30 & 13:30-17:00.
Admission: 15,000 VND.
They DO allow photos, but you have to buy a 30,000 VND camera ticket in addition to the admission ticket. (Small price, and worth it.)

The Den Hung Temple, located opposite the museum, is dedicated to the ancestors of Hung Vuong, the founding king of Viet Nam.

This is an outstanding museum. It is the best place to get acquainted with Vietnam’s history. Housed in a building from the early 1900s, the museum displays artefacts from the Bronze Age to the early communist presence in Vietnam. Other exhibits feature Cham art, ceramics and traditional costumes.

If there is one must-see in Saigon (or maybe "should-see"), this is it. The museum, in a rambling new concrete pagodalike structure, does a good job of presenting important aspects of Vietnam's southern area, in particular. There is an excellent selection of Cham sculpture and the best collection of ceramics in Vietnam. Weaponry from the 14th century onward is on display, including a yard with nothing but cannons. One wing is dedicated to ethnic minorities of the south, including photographs, costumes, and household implements. Nguyen Dynasty (1700-1945) clothing and housewares are also on display. There are archaeological artifacts from prehistoric Saigon. Its 19th and early 20th century histories are shown using photos and, curiously, a female corpse unearthed as construction teams broke ground for a recent housing project. There are even some general background explanations in English, something missing from most Vietnamese museums.

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HCMC's History Museum is a model of what such institutions ought to be: well laid out, with good lighting, and a fine overview the history and customs of the peoples of Vietnam. The museum also has many Cambodian items, especially from the Khmer civilization that existed in Mekong Delta region until a couple hundred years ago.

The building itself was erected by the French in 1929.

No pictures are allowed inside the museum.

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If you have nothing better to do you can visit the Museum of History but I have to admit the motorcycle ride over was much more fun than actually visiting the museum. Most of the museum talks about battles and different emperors that took over Vietnam. Only takes about 1 hour to go through the whole museum. Does contain a water puppet theater however if you didn't get a chance to see water puppetry in the North.

It’s a building over 100 years old located at 65 Ly Tu Trong ,it used to be the Palace of the Governnor of Colonialism and then the Office of the Imperial Delegate of the King .
There are numerous pics and exhibits displayed which are related to the struggle against French colonialism and American Aggressors as well as images related to the general uprising in 1968 known as Mau Than spring general uprising and the historical HCM campaign in 1975 .
U can also find some inform ‘bout the history of HCMC as well as a skeleton and things which have the era of over 1500.
It's quite deserted so u much room and time to ramble round.
Taking photo is forbitten here if u wanna take u must have permission of the manager.
Ticket costs 10000VND
But I didnt pay when i visited it ,dont know why hehehe!!