Opened to visitors in early November 2024, the Vietnam Military History Museum has quickly become one of Hanoi's top destinations, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists.
New attractions
With a total area of nearly 400,000m2, the museum is not only a place to preserve and display valuable military artifacts but also a unique architectural symbol of modern Vietnam.
Located on Thang Long Avenue, Tay Mo Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi, the Vietnam Military History Museum stands out with its 4-storey design and 1 basement, of which the 45-meter-high Victory Tower is an impressive architectural highlight.
The project is a harmonious combination of modern architecture and traditional Vietnamese cultural elements, creating a unique space that attracts at first sight.
Two tourists, Adam Van Der Voorn and Nathanael Van Der Voorn from New Zealand, shared: “We were just passing by but were overwhelmed by this extraordinary architecture. Compared to museums in my home country - New Zealand, which usually focus on one period such as World War II, this museum provides a comprehensive view of Vietnam's military history from the beginning to the present.”
Sharing the same view, Dale Christensen, an American visitor, shared: “I have visited the museum since its opening. I was so impressed by the scale and architecture of the museum that I brought my son to visit this time.
I have been to many famous museums in the world, all of which are very large and magnificent, but honestly the scale of the Vietnam Military History Museum is far superior.
The museum scores highly with international visitors
The Vietnam Military History Museum currently preserves and displays more than 150,000 artifacts, including four especially valuable national treasures.
The exhibition areas are organized in chronological order, helping visitors easily follow the flow of Vietnamese military history through the ages.
Richard, a visitor from England and the son of a veteran, was particularly impressed with the museum's layout and wealth of information.
“What impressed me most was the architecture and the way historical documents were presented. Compared to other museums in Vietnam that I have been to, everything here is beyond my imagination,” he said.
As for Dale, he shared: “The most interesting thing I realized when coming to this museum is that any country that intends to invade or attack Vietnam needs to come here to learn a history lesson. From Mongolia, France, Japan to America... all have failed.”
He especially appreciates the way the museum tells vivid historical stories: “Compared to other major museums in the world such as the Louvre in Paris (France) or museums in Washington D.C. (USA), these are two completely different types of museums.
Museums around the world usually only display works of art without telling any stories, while this museum told me many interesting historical stories.”
The Louvre is the world's most visited museum, with over 9 million visitors each year. This art museum houses an impressive collection of works of art, from antiquity to the 19th century, including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
Meanwhile, the National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. houses the world's largest natural history collection, attracting more than 4 million visitors a year. It is one of the most visited museums in the United States.
In terms of information access, Dale also praised the high-quality Vietnamese-English bilingual information board system.
“The explanatory panels and introductions are all written in very clear English, making it easy for foreign visitors to grasp the content. The translation is also excellent, and the historical stories are presented very coherently,” he shared.
As for Richard, what particularly caught his attention was the large number of domestic visitors, especially school children - something rarely seen in museums in other countries.
He commented: “The number of Vietnamese visitors to this museum is very large, while in other countries, museums mainly have only foreign visitors. In particular, everyone is very friendly. It can be said that this is the museum with the friendliest staff and visitors I have ever met.”
The Vietnam Military History Museum is gradually affirming its position as a leading destination in the capital Hanoi.
With its unique architecture, rich display content and modern approach, the museum is not only a place to preserve history but also a cultural bridge to help international visitors gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam's military history.
The combination of historical values and modern technology has created a unique cultural space, becoming an unmissable destination on the Hanoi tourist map.
