While somewhat inconveniently located, this museum is absolutely
worth making the effort to reach. If you're planning on going trekking
in the mountains to the north and northwest of Hanoi, this museum should
be considered an essential research stop. 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 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 of
the museum. 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.
The museum is easily reached by the number 14 bus followed by a 10-minute walk down Nguyen Van Huyen St.
More details
Nguyen Van Huyen St, Western Hanoi
http://www.vme.org.vn/
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun , 08:30-17:30 |