Vietnam Military History Museum

Where in Hanoi can give you thorough understanding of Vietnam’s great victory against the French colonialists and American imperialists? Here it is, the Military History Museum.

I. History of Vietnamese Military History Museum

Most tourists have heard about Vietnam’s historical and heroic struggle against powerful invaders from France and the USA. As a result, they now flock to Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular to understand how such a small country could triumph in these resistance wars.

To preserve the historical objects, artifacts, and vivid proof of the great national heroic struggle, the Ministry of Defense, under the Vietnam Communist Party’s policy, had the Army Museum (renamed to Military History Museum in 2002) constructed in late 1954. The museum held its opening ceremony on December 22, 1959, on the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army foundation.

II. What to See in the Museum?

Located in the center of Hanoi, near V.I. Lenin’s statue, the Military History Museum is only 600m east of President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and covers a 10,000-square-meter area.

1. Highlight of Military History Museum

This museum is not only one of the seven national museums but also serves as the headquarters of the army museum system. The exhibitions present Vietnamese military history from the country’s founding to the Ho Chi Minh era.

One of the well – known ancient monuments on the grounds of the museum in Hanoi flag Tower, classified as a national historic cultural monument. The construction of the Tower started in 1805 and was completed in 1812, with a height of nearly 31 m and a circumstance of 180 m.

Visiting the museum, tourists can see thousands of exhibits, photographs, maps, scale models of the past Vietnam war. Thanks to this, visitors will have a good general knowledge of the process of the birth, growth and victories of the Vietnamese people’s armed forces for the cause of peace, independence and freedom.

These days, the Vietnam Military History Museum is widely open to all visitors, many of whom are from France and the USA, to come and explore the great victory’s secrets. Up to now, it has received more than 17,000,000 visitors including more than 2,141,000 foreigners from 150 countries worldwide.

2. Structure of the Museum

The museum content covers the six following periods:

Early History and Origins (Prior to 1945)

• The history of the Vietnamese nation
• The formation of the Vietnam People’s Army

The French Colonial Period (1945-1954)

• Documentation and artifacts from the Vietnamese resistance against French colonialism
• Key battles and military campaigns

The American War Period (1954-1975)

• Comprehensive coverage of the conflict with American forces
• Strategic operations and significant victories

Military Modernization (1975-Present)

• The Vietnam People’s Army’s evolution into a regular modern force
• Post-war military development and modernization
• Contemporary military capabilities and organization

Civil-Military Relations (All Periods)

• The historic unity between the People and the Army
• Examples of military-civilian cooperation during wartime and peacetime
• The army’s role in national construction and defense

Outdoor Exhibition

Extensive collection of military hardware from various periods (1945-1975), including:

• Aircraft
• Tanks
• Heavy artillery
• Rockets
• Mortars
• Bombs
• Other military equipment

After your time here, you will realize that the museum is the concentrated embodiment of the Vietnamese people’s spirit revealed in President Ho Chi Minh’s writing: “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom” in the historic Nation’s Independence Proclamation.

III. Tours to Vietnamese Military History Museum

Available tours to the Vietnam Military History Museum can be found at any travel agency that offers Hanoi city tours or day tours in and around Hanoi.

The prices for these one day tours are reasonable and the short duration (usually one day or even half a day) makes them popular among tourists who wish to have an overview of things to see and do in Hanoi. 

If you’re interested in Vietnam’s culture and history, stay tuned and explore our curated tours designed especially for you.

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