On the morning of May 16, 2025, the National Museum of History hosted the opening ceremony of the special exhibition titled “Ly Dynasty Zen: Heritage meets Tech”. This event was jointly organized by the Vietnam National Museum of History, the Institute for Asian Civilizations Research, and C.M.Y.K Vietnam Co., Ltd., in celebration of International Museum Day and Vietnam Science and Technology Day (May 18), as well as the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025).
Attending the opening ceremony were Prof. Dr. Luu Tran Tieu - Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council; Mr. Dang Ha Viet - Director of the Department of Science, Technology, Training and Environment, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST); Mr. Pham Dinh Phong - Deputy Director General, Department of Cultural Heritage (MoCST); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Mai Hung - Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Minh Tri - Director of the Institute for Asian Civilizations Research; Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac - Head of the Culture Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Mr. Pham Trung Hung - Director of C.M.Y.K Vietnam Co., Ltd; Dr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of the Vietnam National Museum of History. Representatives of various agencies, museums, heritage sites, researchers, as well as central and Hanoi-based media organizations also participated.
Panoramic view of the opening ceremony of the special exhibition
The exhibition showcases 13 of the most remarkable artifacts of Buddhist art under the Ly Dynasty (1009 - 1225) currently held by the Vietnam National Museum of History. It focuses on four major aspects of Buddhist art:
1. Architecture of pagodas and stupas
2. Buddhist sculpture
3. Music and dance in Buddhist rituals
4. Buddhist art on ceramics
These are presented with the aid of modern technologies such as holograms, 3D mapping, digital revival, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Dr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of the VNMH delivering his speech
Distinguished guests cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the exhibition
Delegates visiting the special exhibition
Through an innovative curatorial approach that blends in-depth academic research with contemporary digital presentation, the exhibition offers a multisensory experience - visual, auditory, and emotional - allowing visitors to deeply engage with the cultural and historical essence of the Ly Dynasty. Ornamental patterns on the artifacts are vividly reimagined through digital techniques, accompanied by dynamic interpretations, making it easier for audiences, especially younger generations, to approach traditional culture in a creative and captivating way. The exhibition allows the public to perceive heritage as a living presence and vividly imagine a brilliant era of Buddhist art in Vietnam's past.
Visitors engaging with the exhibition
In his speech at the opening, Dr. Nguyen Van Doan emphasized: “With selected exemplary artifacts representing the finest values of Ly Dynasty Buddhist art preserved by the Vietnam National Museum of History, and with modern interpretive and digital techniques, this exhibition seeks to reconstruct, revive, and bring to life invaluable cultural heritage. It aims to provide visitors with deeper, more engaging and enriching experiences”.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until the end of July 2025.
Thu Hien