Thanh Hoa Museum is an administrative unit under the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Thanh Hoa province. The museum was established under Decision no. 1291-TC/UBND issued on Dec 10th 1983 by the Chairman of Thanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee. The Museum complex includes three buildings built in the time when Vietnam was under the domination of the French-colonialists. This is not only the venue of many valuable cultural and historical masterpieces of this north-central province of Thanh Hoa and at the same time is an attractive tourist destination for both Vietnamese and foreign visitors.
Major exhibits are arranged in historical order dating back from the first homosapien’s appearance in this area to the Great victory in the spring of 1975 leading to the reunification of Vietnam. Besides the four permanent exhibition rooms namely “Thanh Hoa in the prehistory and early history”, “Thanh Hoa during the period of national construction and defence for the independent and self-reliance of the feudal state of Vietnam (from the 9th to the middle of 19th centuries)”, “Patriotism and revolutionary tradition of Thanh Hoa people during the 1858-1945”, “Thanh Hoa during the period of national construction and protection, from the 1945 to the 1975”. The museum has also three topical exhibitions including “Thanh Hoa bronze drum”, “Cultural characteristic of Muong ethnic group in Thanh Hoa province” and “Cultural characteristic of Thai ethnic group in Thanh Hoa province”. They are collections of typical, precious artifacts reflecting original identities of culture of different ethnic groups living in Thanh Hoa province.
With an exhibition area of over 1,200 square meters dividing into 7 exhibition rooms, and over 3,000 original artifacts, the main language of expression is the abundant collection of objects, combining the presentation of historical stages and events and the open exhibition method. This enables the easy update of new documents and items, refreshing the “appearance” of the exhibitions and made them to become more attractive to visitors. Moreover, the Museum regularly organizes topical exhibitions in which modern technology is utilized, including a system of modern screens and displays to provide visitors and researchers with exact scientific data and detailed information of the exhibits.
Open-air exhibition space is displayed with selected stone sculptures of Le-Nguyen dynasties, large-sized and big volume artifacts such as the cannon of the Nguyen dynasty, DT24 ploughing machine given by Uncle Ho to Yen Truong co-operative, the leading unit in agricultural collectivization movement in 1961, Mic 17 airplane of Air force regiment 921 who directly fought for the protection of Ham Rong bridge on April, the 3rd and 4th of 1965… Inspite of limited area, the open-air exhibition of Thanh Hoa museum still attracts visitors thanks to its logical arrangement and rich collection of antique, typical objects which creates a harmonious, vivid and magnitude campus for the Museum.
The museum’s basic store houses at present are preserving more than 30,000 objects including many rare and valuable items that received high appreciation of both national and international specialists. They include the collections of prehistoric and early historic artifacts, Dong Son weapons, Tam Tho ceramics, specimens of rare animal collections. The most significant and typical one is the collection of bronze drums with the biggest number to compare with other collections throughout Vietnam. The storage systems are advanced equipped and scientifically arranged and constantly updated with latest information and new, valuable objects.
To be deserved of the visitor’s love and interest, Thanh Hoa museum has always deemed its duty to constantly improve itself to become an attractive destination for tourists and people who come for visiting, learning, sharing experiences and enjoying the culture.
Thanh Hoa Museum