Since its opening in early November, the museum has drawn significant attention, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors daily, with a record 60,000 guests on November 17—a historic high for any museum in Vietnam.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Dung, the museum’s Deputy Director, highlighted the diverse visitor demographics. Weekday visitors are largely students and young adults, while families, veterans, local residents, and school groups tend to visit on weekends. The museum also attracts guests from government and military sectors and foreign visitors. Dung described the popularity of the museum as a “cultural phenomenon,” noting it reflects the strong public interest in military history and national heritage, which has often been overlooked by museums in the past.
Dung attributes this surge in visitors to several factors. First, the museum’s expansive, modern design and interactive exhibits offer an engaging experience through the use of advanced technologies. Secondly, the exhibits themselves are particularly compelling, with displays ranging from ancient artifacts chronicling Vietnam’s history to large military equipment and wartime relics. These artifacts narrate the Vietnamese people’s journey from the early days of nation-building to the present.
Patriotism, especially among the younger generations, is another draw, with many eager to learn about the country’s historical resilience. Free admission has also contributed to the spike in attendance, and the museum will remain free until the end of the year before adopting a paid entry model similar to other Hanoi museums.
Ticket prices are yet to be announced; previously, admission at the museum’s former site ranged from VND 10,000-20,000 for Vietnamese citizens and VND 40,000 for foreigners. Dung assured the public that measures are in place to optimize visitor flow and ensure a secure, smooth experience. This includes working closely with local authorities and security forces, as well as enhancing on-site services.
Additionally, the museum has fostered strong relationships with tour companies and educational institutions, hosting annual conferences to explore ways to improve visitor services. With a new, larger campus, the museum looks forward to greater collaboration, offering more educational programs and tailored experiences to meet the needs of schools and tour groups alike.
The museum is also focused on digital innovation, incorporating technologies like mapping, 3D and 2D films, virtual reality, and multimedia experiences to create immersive displays, especially appealing to young audiences. Future plans include virtual tours, 3D presentations of large artifacts, and national treasures, allowing people to explore the museum online and engage with the exhibits in novel ways.
The Vietnam Military History Museum, a prominent national museum and the leading institution in the Military Museum system, houses over 150,000 artifacts and documents, including unique collections and four National Treasures: the MiG-21 aircraft with serial numbers 4324 and 5121, the Ho Chi Minh Campaign Determination Map, and the T-54B tank with serial number 843.
The museum, newly opened in November 2024, is located at Km 6+500 Thang Long Boulevard in Tay Mo, Dai Mo Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Previously, it was situated at 28A Dien Bien Phu Street in Ba Dinh District, across from Lenin Park.
Related
Source: Vietnam Insider