Must-visit museums in Hoi An

The charming Hoi An, located in the province of Quang Nam 30km south of Da Nang on the Thu Bon River, has a fascinating historical and cultural heritage, earning it the Unesco World Heritage status. Hoi An is an important and remarkable manifestation of merging indigenous and foreign cultures (mainly Chinese and Japanese and later, European), over time, into an international trading port. A beautifully preserved ensemble, this visual mix of cultures shows Hoi An as an open-air, living museum. The city is full of museums that showcase the extraordinary cultural and historical heritage that characterized this trading port of Southeast Asia from the 15th to the 19th century.

Museum of Folk Culture

Located in downtown at 33 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, this is one of Hoi An's special themed museums. With many photographs, a beautiful collection of original crafts and demonstration activities, the museum presents the long history of culture, creation and contributions of local generations during the construction and development of Hoi An. The folklore museum of Hoi An is in an old house typical of  the area, with its 57 m long, 9 m wide, two storey wooden structure, plus two facades in the traditional architectural style. The museum houses nearly 500 objects that trace the history of this city with a rich past through 4 themes:

+ Hoi An's traditional craftsmanship, a legacy of age-old know-how that’s deeply rooted in the local culture. Wood carvings, decorative porcelain, pottery, ceramics, cult statues, bronze statues, folk paintings, and lanterns... testify to the talent and ingenuity of the generations of artisans who lived in Hoi An.

+ The art of popular entertainment in Hoi An. A presentation of the various fun, and popular folk games which are still well-known with locals and passing travellers alike.

+ The village and peasant life presented through the various agricultural activities of the region: fishing at sea, cultivating plants, growing rice and the use of traditional medicine and carpentry, Kim Bong.

+ The daily life in Hoi An through traditional costumes and lifestyle that express the cultural traditions of the communities that have populated Hoi An society over the centuries.

Museum of Trade Ceramics

Displayed in a beautiful, 100-year-old traditional-style house, the Museum of Trade Ceramics possesses a formidable collection of more than 400 pieces of ceramics from the 8th to the 18th century, found during excavations in the area. Various drawings depict the architectural models typical of the city, witnessing the important role of the Hoi An commercial port on the "road of ceramics". This place is a perfect complimentary visit with the village specialized in the production of ceramics and pottery, Thanh Ha.

Address: 80 Tran Phu str, Hoi An
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum

Created at the initiative of the French photographer Réhahn, this museum aims to pay tribute to the extraordinary ethnic diversity of Vietnam. Eight years in Vietnam from north to south have allowed Réhan to collect more than 200 photos, about 50 traditional costumes, some of which very rare, as well as various objects such as earrings, pipes, etc. His portrait photos are especially captivating, and some have made the cover for prestigious magazines such as National Geographic. All the informative texts are written in French and the museum is free, so do not deprive yourself of a visit there.

Address: 26 Phan Boi Chau str, Hoi An
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sa Huynh Culture Museum

The Sa Huynh Culture Museum is found in the former colonial post office building and has a beautiful collection of ancient artefacts found during archaeological excavations in the Hoi An area, including 200 funerary jars, many of which are ceramics and bronze objects. The museum was established in 1994 and presents a unique collection of objects from Sa Huynh culture, considered the first inhabitants of the port city, who cooperated and traded with countries of Southeast Asia, South India and China. This collection provides visitors with useful information about the inhabitants of the ancient Sa Huynh culture and focuses on funeral customs, conceptions of life and death, the history of the region's development, and relationships with people as well as other cultures. A collection of Bai Ong - a site on the Cham Island - which traces the Sa Huynh culture for 3000 years is particularly interesting. These collections are considered the largest and most unusual collection of objects made by the Sa Huynh community in Vietnam.

Address: 149 Tran Phu - Hoi An
Opening hours: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm

Museum of Traditional Medicine

This excellent museum was inaugurated very recently, on March 15, 2019, and presents more than 200 original objects and some reconstituted objects, as well as documents relating to the traditional medicine of Vietnam in general and Hoi An in particular. Even though there are fewer and fewer traditional medicine stalls in the market of Hoi An, the locals are still attached to traditional medicine that is deeply rooted in their culture. 

Address: 46 Nguyen Thai Hoc str, Hoi An
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

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