Housed in a French colonial building from the 1920s next to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, this museum traces Vietnam's history from prehistoric times through the Nguyen dynasty, with strong holdings on the Oc Eo, Champa and Khmer cultures that shaped southern Vietnam before it became part of the country. Exhibits include Dong Son bronze drums, Cham sandstone sculpture and ceramics recovered from shipwrecks. It's a quiet, low-crowd counterpoint to the War Remnants Museum, useful for understanding the region's history before French colonization and the wars of the 20th century.
Built in 1929 in a French-influenced Indochinese architectural style with a distinctive octagonal dome, the Museum of History traces Vietnamese civilization from prehistoric Dong Son bronze drums through the Funan, Champa, and Oc Eo cultures to the Nguyen dynasty. Its collection of Cham sandstone sculpture and Vietnamese ceramics is one of the more substantial in the south of the country, and a small side hall periodically hosts a traditional water puppet show, a rural art form using a pool of water as the stage. The museum sits at the entrance to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, one of the oldest zoos in Southeast Asia, making it easy to combine both in a single outing for visitors interested in Vietnamese history predating the colonial and war periods covered by the city's other major museums.
| Admission | ₫30,000 (~$1.15) adult |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00am-11:30am and 1:00pm-5:00pm, Tuesday-Sunday |
| Typical visit | 1-1.5 hours |
| Getting there | Located at the entrance to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden; a Grab taxi or 15-minute walk from downtown District 1 |
| Address | 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
Location
2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
10.7873, 106.7053 View on map
Highlights
- Dong Son bronze drums and prehistoric Vietnamese artifacts
- Cham and Oc Eo culture sandstone sculpture collection
- Nguyen dynasty ceramics and royal artifacts
- Occasional traditional water puppet performances on site
Tips for visiting
- Check the schedule for water puppet shows, which run only at certain times
- Closed for lunch from 11:30am to 1:00pm
- Combine with a visit to the adjacent Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden
- Closed Mondays
When to visit
Morning before the midday closure
Accessibility
Ground floor is accessible; some upper gallery sections require stairs.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Does the museum have water puppet shows?
Yes, though on a limited schedule; check locally or with the ticket counter for showtimes.
What period of history does this museum focus on?
It covers Vietnamese civilization from prehistory through the Nguyen dynasty, complementing the War Remnants Museum's focus on the 20th century.