The Vietnam National Museum of History was established on 26/9/2011 under the Decision number. 1674/QĐ-TTg issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister, merging the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution and Museum of Vietnamese History.
By the early 20th century, Vietnamese people at the first time knew a new term, “Museum” when French government in Indochina established EFFEO in Vietnam (in English can be: French School of Asian Studies) in 1900. Then, the first museum was built, called Indochina Arts Museum in 1910. Later, it was renamed to be Louis Finot Museum in 1932 for exhibiting the antiquities of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Mongol.
In 1954, the resistance war against French invaders ended, the North of Vietnam was liberated. On 22/4/1958, the North Communist Government officially took over the Louis Finot Museum and changed the name to be Museum of Vietnamese History, opening for public since 03/9/1958, exhibiting the Vietnamese history dating back from the Prehistory to the August Revolution 1945 (exactly to 1858).
President Ho Chi Minh is looking at the copied design of Dong Son Bronze in the Museum of Vietnamese History (now Vietnam National Museum of History), 02/1961
After the liberation of the North (1954), at the end of 1955, President Ho Chi Minh suggested to build the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution. On 06/01/1959, the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution was born, exhibiting history of Vietnam in the modern and contemporary periods, marking the first museum to be built by the Vietnamese people.
President Ho Chi Minh is looking at the permanent exhibition system in the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution (now VNMH), 01/1959
Since the date of establishment, the Museum of Vietnamese History and the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution had strived themselves to fulfill the duties and hold a cultural position in the society. The activities of collecting, preservation and exhibition have introduced public hundreds of objects and antiquities. Some of them are recognized as national treasures. Many are very precious tangible and intangible heritages of humanity.
People visited the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution (now VNMH) after the inauguration ceremony, 01/1959.
For the significant contribution to the cultural development of the country, the two museums have gained many prizes and awards granted by State and Party.
The Museum of Vietnamese History’s medals and orders awarded by Vietnamese State and Party:
- Labor Order, Third Class, 1975
- Labor Order, First Class, 1986
- Independent Order, Third Class, 2008
- Awards of MOCST for excellent learning to Ho Chi Minh’s moral example, 2013
The Museum of Vietnamese Revolution’s medals and orders awarded by Vietnamese State and Party:
- Labor Order, Third Class, 1967
- Labor Order, First Class, 1974
- Independent Order, Third Class, 1987
- Independent Order, Second Class, 1994
- Independent Order, First Class, 2004
- Ho Chi Minh Order, 2009
- Prime Minister’s Award, 2005 2007
- Government Triennial Flag Awards 1991,1993,1999, 2003, 2006
- Ministry Biannual Flag Awards 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007
To meet the cultural demand in the time of industrialization and modernization, Vietnam needs a national museum in big scale, modern at regional and international level. Thus, in Jan. 1994, General Secretary Do Muoi requested on his visit to the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution for merging the two museums.
9 years later, on 20/6/2003, Minister of Culture - Information issued a decision no. 1845/QĐ-BVHTT for establishment of Management Board for Study and Construction of Vietnam National Museum of History.
In 12/2006, the State Steering Board for Construction of Vietnam National Museum of History was set up, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung. On 18/1/2007, the Ministry of Construction set up a Management Board for Construction and Investment of VNMH. On 15/9/2008, MOCST set up the Board for Construction of VNMH Exhibition Types and Forms. On 17/5/2010, Prime Minister approved the General Proposal for VNMH Types and Forms of Exhibition. The time for the landmark in the Vietnamese museology came on 26/9/2011 when the two museums were merged into one to be the Vietnam National Museum of History.
VNMH succeeded in hosting the ANMA’s Conference, Hanoi 10/2013
VNMH’s bronze drums are exhibited in the exhibition, "Ancient Civilization in Vietnam, the Early Morning in Red River," in National Museum of Korea, 4/2014
VNMH and Museum of Cham Sculpture, Da Nang opened the excavation in Go Cam Mit relic, Hoa Vang, Da Nang, 2012
The establishment of the VNMH is a crucial condition in the development of Vietnamese museology. The time from 2011 to 2014 is short but what VNMH has done is a lot in terms of excavation, conservation and promotion the national cultural values.
Thu Nhuần (compiled)
EN: Tran Trang