Bảo tàng lịch sử Quốc gia

On November 26, 2011, the delegation held a meeting and worked with the Leader Board of the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Koreato review the results achieved in recent years and discussed the plan of cooperation between two agencies in the next years. Vietnam and Korea have been strategic partners for 25 years establishing diplomatic relations. Along with the economic cooperation, the fields of culture and science cooperation have always been interested and promoted by two agencies. Collaboration in research, preservation, excavation and promotion of maritime cultural heritages has been a special priority of Vietnam and Korea.

Working with the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea

Visiting the exhibition hall of the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea

It has been nearly 10 years since initial meetings of the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea and the VNMH, whereby the two official agencies signed the Memorandum of Understanding. Since then, every year, the delegations of the two agencies have regularly cooperated to implement research in the history of maritime trade, ancient ports of Vietnam, excavation, preservation and promotion on the maritime cultural heritage. Many bilateral and international conferences and seminars have also been held in Vietnam and Korea. Research publications have also been published.

Through these activities, the VNMH’s staff has learned a lot from colleagues at the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea about research methods, excavation and conservation experiences on underwater cultural heritage.

On November 27, 2017, the VNMH delegation visited a reconnaissance ship and an archaeological excavation ship, visited the Conservation Center of the Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea, exchanged their experiences, and suggested specific directions for cooperation in the field of research, excavation, preservation of underwater cultural heritage in Korea and Vietnam.

Visiting the archaeological excavation ship of the Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea

Visiting the archaeological reconnaissance ship of the Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea

Visiting the Conservation Center of the Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea

In the afternoon, a solemn opening ceremony for the special exhibition, “The Age of Discovery: Asian Ceramics Found Along the Maritime Silk Road”, was held at the special exhibition hall of the Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea

Panorama of exhibition’s opening ceremony

Delegates attending the ceremony took a memorial photo

Attending the opening ceremony were the Deputy Mayor of Mokpo City, the directors of the national museums directly under the National Museum of Korea, the Vietnamese Association in Korea and scholars, scientists and Mokpo city public. The special exhibition, “The Age of Discovery: Asian Ceramics Found Along the Maritime Silk Road”, has been an important and meaningful event expressing the effective cooperation between the two agencies. Many ancient ships have been discovered in the South Sea of Vietnam. The two agencies have also organized many field trips, research on ancient ports, traditional craft villages, and prepared for future cooperation on archaeological excavations. The research and excavation of these ships have given the museum valuable materials and artifacts, and developed Vietnam's underwater archaeology, particularly giving an understanding about the history of Vietnamese marine trade in international trade. The Vietnamese sea is keeping their cultural assets and historical "mysteries" waiting for further cooperation between the two agencies in the coming years.

Introducing the exhibition to the delegates

Delegates and public visiting the exhibition

Along with the special exhibition, “The Age of Discovery: Asian Ceramics Found Along the Maritime Silk Road”, VNMH and Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea have collaborated to publish a book with the same theme to introduce to the Korean public about the cultural heritage of Vietnam.

Exhibiton’s catalogue

On November 28, 2017, the Delegation came to Gwangju City to visit and work with the Gwangju National Museum. VNMH Director Nguyen Van Cuong discussed the cooperation issues on archeological research and archaeological excavations between the VNMH and Gwangju National Museum. In December, 2017, Gwangju National Museum’s delegation will work with the VNMH on a trip and plan on researching the Vietnamese ceramics from the 14th-15th centuries for a special exhibition intended to be held in Gwangju in the near future.

Working with the Gwangju National Museum

Taking photo with the Gwangju National Museum

On the afternoon, the Delegation had two presentations on the Vietnamese maritime cultural heritage and excavated shipwrecks in a seminar organized at the Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Korea.

On November 30, 2017, the delegation visited and worked with the National Museum of Korea.

Working with the National Museum of Korea

Mr. Bae Kidong, Director of the National Museum of Korea Central, was glad with the results of the close cooperation on research, archaeological excavation, exhibition between National Museum of Korea and VNMH. He also desired to further strengthen the cooperation of the two agencies in the future. In April, 2018, a delegation will come to Vietnam to select the artifacts for the special exhibition on Vietnam at the National Museum of Korea. They will continue to strengthen the research, especially on Vietnamese blue ceramics in the 15th century to serve the special exhibition scheduled in 2019-2020 in Korea.

Exchanging some books with the National Museum of Korea

Taking photo with the National Museum of Korea

Dr Nguyen Van Cuong writing on visitor’s book

Author: Nguyễn Quốc Bình

Translator: Chu Bích