Ho Chi Minh City is not only an economic center, it also bears many cultural and historical imprints. Visitors can explore this city by visiting its unique museums.
If tourists or locals want to know more about the city they are in, the best suggestion is to visit the museums here. Ho Chi Minh City has countless museums with a variety of topics to visit.
1. Ho Chi Minh City Museum
- Hours of operation : 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Sunday
- Address : 65 Ly Tu Trong, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Entrance fees : 15,000 VND per person
The museum building is a mix of Gothic style, ancient Roman architecture and inspiration from southern Vietnam, designed by a French architect.
In terms of exhibition value, the museum preserves and displays objects and materials from Old Saigon as well as the Southern region. And it seems that the development of the city has been well documented, whether in terms of beliefs, trade or traditional customs.
There are ten halls with 133 collections in total, the most notable being Saigon pottery and Nguyen dynasty silver. In a nutshell, it is for anyone interested in exploring southern Vietnam.
2. Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
- Hours of operation : 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday (except Monday)
- Address : 97A Pho Duc Chinh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Entrance fees : 10,000 VND/adult; 3,000/child
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the city’s main galleries, dedicated to modern Vietnamese and foreign art. Built in September 1987, it appears as a yellow and white colonial house. Generally, art museum exhibits are organized into three main levels. The first two levels include artworks by renowned Vietnamese and foreign artists. The third level is considered to be an art warehouse created between the 7th and the beginning of the 20th century.
A collection of traditional artwork from many parts of the country could help broaden your understanding and perception. Visitors will undoubtedly gain insight into the developing art scene across the country thanks to the ingenuity and skill of exceptional artists.
3. Ho Chi Minh City History Museum
- Hours of operation : Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Monday)
- Address : 25/2 Nguyen Binh Khiem street, Ben Thanh neighborhood, district 1
- Entrance fees : 15,000 VND per person
Completed in 1929, the building that now houses the Vietnam History Museum was a museum from the start. It contained several collections of ancient Asian art until 1956, when it revised its scope to cover the history of Vietnam.
Its spacious interiors feature two different exposures. One explores the history of Vietnam from ancient times to the 20th century; the other covers the culture and ethnography of Vietnam, including excerpts of art and culture of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities.
The Vietnam History Museum’s convenient location places it right next to the Saigon Botanical Gardens and Zoo. It’s a perfect stop for a day exploring the most touristy areas of Ho Chi Minh City.
4. War Remnants Museum
- Hours of operation : 7:30 – 18:00, daily (including Tet and other public holidays)
- Address : 28 Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Entrance Fee : VND40,000/adult; VND20,000/child aged 6-15; free for children under 6
Since its establishment in 1975, the War Remnants Museum has collected and exhibited priceless documents that tell the story of the courage of the Vietnamese people, the horrors of the invaders, and most importantly, the lingering effects of the Vietnam War. There are souvenir shops and 7 exhibition halls containing photographs taken by war photographers, drawings, propaganda, films, and salvaged objects on 7 different war themes.
The museum attracts a large number of foreign tourists interested in learning more about Agent Orange from a Vietnamese perspective. The images of Agent Orange victims or injured soldiers are horrific and distressing, and they will undoubtedly arouse strong emotions. The museum’s mission is to raise awareness of conflicts and advocate for world peace.
The museum is located right in the city center, so it is easy to access on your own or simply book a tour that includes this attraction.
5. Southern Vietnamese Women’s Museum
- Opening Hours : 9am-6pm on Thursdays only
- Address : 202 Vo Thi Sau Street, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Entrance Fee : FREE
The Southern Women’s Museum, one of the most unique and important museums in Ho Chi Minh City, was built to commemorate Vietnamese women for their formidable defense of the nation as well as their commitment to its growth. As a result, the museum also serves as a gathering place for Saigon ladies to hold cultural and educational events, scientific discussions, traditional meetings and cultural exchanges. It contains three levels and ten exhibition halls in total. One part focuses on the traditional outfit worn by women in southern Vietnam. Another part contains a number of photos illustrating their contributions during the war.
There is also a section displaying photos, documents and letters about modern Vietnamese women serving as politicians, diplomats and administrators. Don’t forget to stop by the library, meeting room, and movie theater inside the museum.
6. FITO Museum
- Hours of operation : 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Sunday
- Address : 41 Hoang Du Khuong, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
- Entrance fees : 50,000 VND for adults and 20,000 VND for children
The Vietnamese were avid followers of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as they derived much of their culture from their neighbors and rivals further north. The Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine’s exhibits demonstrate this affinity, with more than 3,000 exhibits explaining the theory and practice of a localized form of TCM.
Spread across six levels and 18 rooms, the exhibits date back to the Stone Age and extend to the present through themed exhibits and unique medical equipment such as tables, teapots, scales and cabinets. Complete the experience by dressing in Vietnamese ao dai and having your photo taken behind a traditional medicine counter.
7. Ao Dai Museum
- Hours of operation : from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday (except Monday)
- Address : Long Thuan Garden House, Long Phuoc neighborhood, district 9, Ho Chi Minh City
- Entrance fees : 100,000 VND per person
Ao Dai Museum, located on a complex of more than 20,000 m2, was founded by the famous Vietnamese artist and designer Si Hoang and opened on January 22, 2014. The museum is approximately 22 km from District 1, which might be the only downside to this attraction.
This museum houses around 1,000 Ao Dais (traditional Vietnamese costumes), some dating back 300 years. In addition, there are 3,000 photographs of women dressed in traditional clothing from different historical periods.
Visitors to this museum will have many opportunities to experience the beauty of Ao Dai, learn about the designs and history of this traditional Vietnamese dress, and participate in the process of making Ao Dai. One of the highlights of this attraction is the spacious area with a big lake, many green trees, green grass, traditional Vietnamese style houses around the Ao Dai exhibition area.
