11 Worth Visiting Museums in Ho Chi Minh City

In all places you come, a museum is always one of the places where you can learn most knowledge about the local culture, tradition, history, and nature. Let’s explore the top 12 Worth Visiting Museums in Ho Chi Minh City and see what to expect in each of them.

1. War Remnant Museum

• Opening hours: 7:30 – 18:00, daily (including Tet and other holidays)
• Address: 28 Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. 
• Entrance fee: 40,000 VND/adult; 20,000 VND/child aged 6-15; free for child under 6 years old

Since its establishment in 1975, the War Remnants Museum has collected and displayed priceless documents that tell the story of the Vietnamese people's valour, the invaders' horrors, and, most importantly, the lingering effects of the Vietnam War. There are souvenir shops and 7 exhibition rooms containing photographs taken by war photographers, drawings, propaganda, films, and recovered artefacts in 7 different war themes.

The museum attracts a great number of foreign tourists who are interested in learning about Agent Orange from the Vietnamese perspective. The images of Agent Orange victims or wounded troops are gruesome and upsetting, and they will undoubtedly elicit strong emotions. The museum's mission, like the symbolism of the white dove chamber, is to raise public awareness of conflict and advocate world peace.

The museum is located right in the city centre so that it is easy to reach the museum by yourself or just simply book a tour including this attraction.

War Remnant Museum

 

2. Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

• Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM from Tuesday to Sunday (except Monday)
• Address: 97A Pho Duc Chinh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 
• Entrance Fee: VND 10,000/ adult; 3,000/ child

The Fine Arts Museum is one of the major galleries in the city, dedicated to modern Vietnamese and foreign art. Was built in September 1987, it stands out as a yellow and white colonial home. In general, the exhibits of the museum of art are organized into three main levels. The first two levels include artworks by well-known Vietnamese and foreign artists. Meanwhile, the third level is regarded as a storehouse of art made between the seventh and early twentieth centuries.

A collection of traditional artworks from many parts of the nation might help extend your understanding and perception. Visitors will undoubtedly receive an insight into the developing art scene of the entire country thanks to the ingenuity and skillfulness of outstanding artists.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

 

3. Ho Chi Minh City Museum

• Opening Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM from Monday to Sunday
• Address: 65 Ly Tu Trong, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Entrance Fee: VND 15,000 per person

The museum's building is a blend of Gothic style, ancient Roman architecture, and Southern Vietnam inspiration, designed by a French architect. The diadem-wearing Spirit of Commerce at the entryway, the large paralleling pillars, and the Gothic stairway will all leave an impression.

In terms of exhibition value, the museum preserves and exhibits items and materials from old Saigon as well as the Southern region. And it appears that the city's development was properly documented, whether in terms of beliefs, commerce, or traditional customs. There are ten rooms with 133 collections in total, with Saigon Pottery and Money in the Nguyen Dynasty being the most notable. In a nutshell, it's for anyone interested in exploring Southern Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum

 

4. Southern Vietnam Women Museum

• Opening Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM only Thursday
• 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 significant museums in Ho Chi Minh City, was built to commemorate Vietnamese women for their tremendous defence of the nation as well as their commitment to its growth. As a result, the museum also acts as a gathering place for Saigon's ladies to conduct cultural and educational events, scientific discussions, traditional meetings, and cultural exchanges. It contains three levels and ten exhibit halls in total. One part focuses on the traditional attire worn by women in Southern Vietnam. Another part has a number of photos depicting their contributions during the war.

There is also a section where pictures, documents and letters about the modern Vietnamese women serving as politicians, diplomats, and administrators are on display. Don’t forget to stop by a library, meeting hall, and a movie theatre inside the museum. The best way to save a meaningful trip is to buy souvenirs from the museum’s gift shop.

Southern Vietnam Women Museum

 

5. FITO Museum

• Opening Hours: 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM from Monday to Sunday 
• Address: 41 Hoang Du Khuong, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
• Entrance Fee: VND 50,000 for adults and VND 20,000 for children

The Vietnamese were strong adherents of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as they drew much of their culture from their neighbours and rivals further north. Exhibits in the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine demonstrate this affinity, with more than 3,000 exhibits that explain the theory and practice of a localized form of TCM.

Distributed over six levels and 18 rooms, the exhibits go all the way back to the Stone Age and proceed to the present through themed displays and unique medical equipment like charts, teapots, scales, and cabinets. Complete the experience by dressing up in a Vietnamese ao dai and getting your picture taken behind a traditional medicine counter.

FITO Museum

 

6. Southeastern Arm Force Museum

• Opening Hours: From Monday to Sunday
• Address: 247 Hoang Van Thu Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Entrance Fee: FREE for all Vietnamese. VND 40,000 for foreigners, along with VND 10,000 to photograph.

This war museum, located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was founded in 1988. It houses around 18,000 artefacts and relics from guerilla fighters who fought in the wars. There are basically two sections of display: one is an outdoor area that showcases significant military equipment such as tanks and howitzers, and the other is an inside space that serves as a memorial to slain heroes and military people who died in the line of duty. The Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum is another similar museum.

Southeastern Arm Force Museum

 

7. Artinus 3D Art Museum

• Opening hours: 9:00 – 18;00 (Monday – Friday); 9:00 – 20;00 (Saturday, Sunday)
• Address: 02-04 Street 9, Him Lam Residential Area, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. 
• Entrance fee: 150,000 on weekdays; 200,000 VND on weekends.

Located in the urban area of District 7 known as the place for rich people in Ho Chi Minh City, the museum is about 4.5-5 km from District 1. Visitors can take taxis or motorbike taxis to reach the gallery.

This is a fantastic and unique museum that can definitely be called one of the best in Ho Chi Minh City, displaying exceptional talent. It's an excellent spot to take young children, who will delight in the optical illusions created by the 3D paintings. Every painting requires seeing from a specific vantage point. Once a person stands on it, they will feel as if they are a part of the artwork rather than just a bystander.

Artinus 3D Art Museum

 

8. Ao Dai Museum

• Opening Hours: 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM from Tuesday to Sunday (except Monday)
• Address: Long Thuan Garden House, Long Phuoc Ward, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City
• Entrance Fee: VND 100,000 per person

Ao Dai Museum, on a complex of more than 20,000 m2, was founded by the well-known Vietnamese artist and designer Si Hoang and opened on January 22, 2014. The museum is about 22 km from District 1, which might be the only downside of this attraction. This museum houses around 1,000 Ao Dais (traditional Vietnamese costumes), with some dating back 300 years. In addition, there are 3,000 photographs of ladies dressed in traditional clothing from various historical periods. 

Visitors to this museum will have numerous opportunities to view the beauty of Ao Dai, learn about the designs and history of this Vietnamese traditional dress, and participate in the Ao Dai making process. One of the highlights of this attraction is the spacious space with a large lake, lots of green trees, green grass, houses in Vietnamese traditional style around the Ao Dai displaying area.

 

9. Cu Chi Tunnel

• Opening Hours: 7:00-17:00
• Address: Phu Hiep ward, Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City
• Entrance Fee: VND 70,000 per person

The Cu Chi Tunnels are part of a massive war museum in Ho Chi Minh. They offer visitors a sneak-peek at the underground life of Vietnamese soldiers back in 1948. The site has over 120km of underground tunnels, with trapdoors, living areas, kitchens, storage facilities, armoury, hospitals, and command centres. 

It is now one of Ho Chi Minh’s most iconic attractions. You can enjoy plenty of activities during your visit. A popular option is following the narrow routes of the underground tunnel. Before entering the underground tunnels, visitors watch a short film of Cu Chi Tunnels so that they understand how the tunnel system works. Parts of Cu Chi Tunnels are also cemented and widened so that the crawl is less harrowing than it would have been in the past.

Let's book the Cu Chi Tunnel tour with us now.

Cu Chi Tunnel

 

 

10. Museum of Vietnamese History

• Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 AM to 11 AM and 1.30 PM to 4.30 PM (except Monday)
• Address: 25/2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
• Entrance Fee: VND 15,000 per person

Completed in 1929, the building that now houses the Vietnam History Museum was a museum from the get-go. It contained several collections of ancient Asian art until 1956 when it revised its scope to cover Vietnam’s history.

Its spacious interiors showcase two different exhibits. One explores Vietnam’s history from ancient times to the 20th century; the other covers Vietnam’s culture and ethnography, including art and cultural snippets from Vietnam’s ethnic minorities.

The Vietnam History Museum’s convenient location places it right next to Saigon’s Botanical Gardens and Zoo—it’s a perfect pit stop for a day spent exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s most touristy areas.  

Museum of Vietnamese History Saigon

 

11. Couleurs by Réhahn Fine Art Photography - InterContinental, Saigon

• Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM
• Address: InterContinental Saigon Hotel, 39, Le Duan Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

Known for being the photographer that captures the souls of his subjects, Réhahn is more than just a man behind a camera. Behind each click is a story—an ethnic girl with startling blue eyes, a woman pulling a needle through the indigo fabric, a man walking alone down a brightly painted street—these stories and the passion to learn more about the culture, diversity, and changing traditions of his subjects are what drives Réhahn’s world-renowned work. Coming to Ho Chi Minh city, Réhahn’s gallery is a really good place to spend your time.

Located next to the lobby of the InterContinental Saigon, one of the city’s most prestigious hotels. This gallery utilizes both private gallery space, with a large Fine Art Table, as well as public hotel space to show an extensive selection of Réhahn’s most iconic works. This contemporary space has given Réhahn the opportunity to display more for collectors, dedicating more than 75% of space to Limited Edition Fine Art Photography. You can easily stop by the gallery to enjoy Fine Art photography while staying at the hotel, dropping in for a meeting, or visiting one of the restaurants.

Couleurs by Réhahn Fine Art Photography - InterContinental, Saigon

Besides the famous, touristy attractions, the museums are amazing choices to visit and earn more knowledge about Ho Chi Minh City, and the country you are staying in. Hope that this article helps you somehow for finding a place to take time. Our Ho Chi Minh city tours will include visiting one of these museums, please have look if you are looking for a trip.

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Hue Pham

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