Vietnam Museum of Ethnology ( Bảo Tàng Dân Tộc Học Việt Nam)

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Vietnamese: Bảo tàng Dân tộc học Việt Nam) is a museum in Hanoi, Vietnam, which focuses on the 54 officially recognised ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is located on a 43,799-square-metre (10.823-acre) property in the Cầu Giấy District, about 8 km from the city center.

If you’re planning on going trekking to the north and northwest of Hanoi, this museum should be considered essential.

The displays, labelled in English throughout, are both comprehensive and fascinating, covering all the main minority groups you’re likely to come across on a trek. Plentiful audiovisual displays are offered along with more typical museum fare.

The best part of the museum, however, is found outside to the rear. Here in a lovely green garden you’ll find well-crafted examples of traditional houses in ethnic minority regions. The Banhar communal house with its impossibly high roof and creaking bamboo floor is a stunning piece of work, with nary a nail used in its construction. It’s also delightfully cool even in summer. And don’t miss the replica of a Giarai tomb with its cheerful, rather well-endowed, fertility symbols carved from wood.

Back inside, be sure to check out Mr Pham Dang Uy’s bicycle, loaded down with 800 wooden and bamboo fishtraps. Also on display: shaman masks, a recreation of the Sapa market and a ruler to measure pigs. We’d been looking for one of those.

Guides are available for a fee and you’ll have to pay more if you want to take photographs or video.

This is the most recent yet probably the largest and undoubtedly the most interesting Museums in Hanoi and Vietnam.

Address: Nguyen Van Huyen, Hanoi
Opening hours: Everyday except for Monday, 8:00-17:30
Entrance fee: 40,000 (or USD 1.80)

Book Hanoi city tour to visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

EMAIL: contact@vietflametours.com

WhatsApp/Hotline: +84 986 282 217

TEL: +84 462.594.708