Last weekend, the Vietnam Military History Museum welcomed a record number of visitors. On the morning of November 10 alone, more than 30,000 people flocked to the museum. The number continued to increase to about 40,000 by the end of the day, the highest number since the museum opened.
The influx of visitors has caused the museum to be crowded both inside and outside. The overload has caused many unpleasant scenes related to visitors' awareness.
On November 11, the online community was recently stirred up by an 8-second video recording a girl climbing onto the roof of the Vietnam Military History Museum to pose, jump up to film and take photos. The girl's behavior made many people angry, and at the same time raised questions about security and visitor control at the museum.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh (Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi) visited the museum on November 10 and said: "I arrived at the museum at around 9:40 a.m. It took nearly an hour to travel the 3-4 km road because of the long traffic jam."
When we arrived, the museum was packed with visitors. At the gate, the flow of people and vehicles was dense, with no lanes to separate the paths. "Many families had small children, so the atmosphere was even more chaotic," the female tourist said.
Going deeper inside, Ngoc Anh was overwhelmed by the noisy, crowded atmosphere here. Many visitors, including adults and children, freely touched and even climbed on the exhibits.
"When I arrived, I only saw security guards outside the parking area. Inside the museum, there were no staff, tour guides or security guards surrounding the models or artifacts," the female tourist reported.
According to Ms. Anh, the outdoor aircraft display area has staff holding loudspeakers, reminding people to keep order and not touch the exhibits. However, many people make the museum too noisy, making it impossible to hear the staff's instructions clearly.
"I often go to museums in Hanoi and many other places, but I have never seen such a crowded and noisy scene as the Vietnam Military History Museum," Ms. Anh exclaimed.
Ms. Nguyen Le Nhat, a tour guide (Hanoi), also had a tour and survey at the Vietnam Military History Museum last weekend.
After the trip, Ms. Nhat commented: "Perhaps in December, the crowded and jostling situation at the museum will continue to occur and last until the free tickets run out. Therefore, I will not advise tourists, especially groups of students, to come here during this time."
However, the female tour guide commented that this is an interesting destination for tourists to learn more about Vietnamese history. Each historical period is divided into time frames so that tourists can easily follow and learn. Some artifacts are put into the gallery so that visitors can feel the reality.
On the other hand, Ms. Nhat said that the number of staff at the museum is currently quite small, not enough to serve and guide the overloaded number of visitors. Visitors only hear the loudspeaker announcements faintly, but do not see museum staff directly managing and guiding at the tourist attractions.
Regarding visitors, including adults and children, touching and climbing on exhibits without permission, Ms. Nhat said that it was mostly due to people's lack of awareness. The museum also has not been strict in managing and protecting the exhibits.
Sharing with Lao Dong, Mr. Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute (ATI), said: "The Vietnam Military History Museum currently attracts a large number of visitors, which reflects the public's increasing interest in the country's military history and culture.
The large number of visitors can be considered a positive signal showing that the museum is playing a good role in educating and communicating about cultural heritage. On the other hand, this is also a very special and unique new architectural work that increases the curiosity and desire to visit and experience of many tourists."
According to Mr. Quynh, visitors climbing and touching artifacts is a matter of concern. The reason for this situation may be that the newly opened museum lacks security guards or tour guides, leading to visitors not following the regulations.
"Visitors, especially children, tend to want to explore and learn directly about artifacts. Insufficient or unnoticeable warning signs can make visitors unaware that they should not touch artifacts," said Mr. Quynh.
This expert said that in many famous museums around the world, the preservation of artifacts is often carried out very strictly. Many museums use impact-resistant glass to protect artifacts from environmental and human impacts, use cameras and security guards to monitor visitors' activities, and have specific sanctions for each violation...
In addition, major museums around the world often organize presentations and tutorials to raise public awareness about heritage protection, using modern materials and technology to preserve artifacts and avoid environmental damage.
Mr. Quynh commented: "The current situation at the Vietnam Military History Museum can be considered an issue that needs to be seriously considered. The fact that visitors do not comply with regulations on protecting artifacts can be considered a violation in the preservation of cultural heritage."
Accordingly, it is necessary to improve the management, supervision and education of visitors. Cultural management agencies need to have clear regulations and support museums in protecting artifacts. Each individual also needs to be aware of and respect historical artifacts.
"Solving these issues not only helps to better preserve artifacts but also enhances the visitor experience at the museum," Mr. Quynh affirmed.
