Hanoi Museum – with an impressive collection of 50,000 artistic and historical artifacts tracing the history of the country and its capital through several stages of its cultural development – opened Wednesday morning to coincide with 1,000th Thang Long-Hanoi anniversary.
Speaking at the ceremony, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong who cut the inaugural ribbon, referred to Hanoi as the cradle of Vietnamese culture with a history of thousand of years, beginning with Loa Thanh-Co Loa citadel 2,300 years ago.
“We must have a large museum to store and preserve both tangible and intangible cultural heritages of Thang Long–Hanoi and pass them on to the next Vietnamese generations,” he said.
“Failing to do so would be a disgrace.”
Occupying an area of 54,000 square meters, the 30.7 meter-high structure housing the museum was built in the shape of an inverted pyramid with total capital of over VND2,300 billion (US$118 million).
It is comprised of a two-storey basement and an additional four floors above-ground. A spiral walkway along the walls allows visitors a wider view of the facilities as they travel between floors.
Among its prized artifacts are a 2,000 years old bronze collection and a ceramic collection dating from the 11th-19th centuries including porcelain vases, candelabra, and flower pots.
Attesting to Vietnam’s ongoing diversity, cultural relics of various ethnic groups such as the Cham, Mong and Dao also are on display at the museum.
In addition to exhibits, the museum houses research facilities, restoration facilities, a library and functional rooms for meetings and workshops. The outside area is dedicated to an outdoor exhibition of Hanoian ornamental animals and plants.
The large cultural project with unique architecture, designed by Germany’s GMP International GmbH-Inros Lackner and the Vinaconex Corporation, is the largest and most modern of its kind in Vietnam.
Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao, Construction Minister Nguyen Hong Quan, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hoang Tuan Anh, UNESCO representatives and several local officials and international guests attended the museum’s opening ceremony.
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