1. Where is the Southern Women’s Museum?
The Southern Women’s Museum is located at 200 – 202 Vo Thi Sau Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is about 2 km northwest of the city center and about 6 km southeast of Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
2. How is the Southern Women’s Museum unique?
The Southern Women’s Museum is a famous tourist destination, visited by many tourists when traveling to Saigon. The museum was established to honor the cultural beauty, traditional values, and struggles of Vietnamese women in general and Southern women in particular through the ages.
Currently, the Southern Women’s Museum is a place to display about 31,360 different artifacts. Of which, 930 are on display and 30,430 are in storage. Along with nearly 15,000 documents and films on science. Of which, 2/3 are related to war and 1/3 are about traditional culture with a variety of materials.
The artifacts at the museum are divided into 24 collections with many different themes and materials, of which the most prominent are 6 collections of rare artifacts. In addition, there is a museum library with more than 11,000 books about women.
3. How to get to the Southern Women’s Museum?
You can easily get to the Southern Women’s Museum by many different means of transport. Such as:
- By motorbike or private car: If you start from the city center, you go in the direction of Truong Chinh Street. Next, you turn onto Cong Hoa Street, go straight to the end of Vo Thi Sau Street. Then, you will see the museum right on the side of the road.
- By bus: In case you do not have a personal vehicle, you can get to the museum by bus. Some bus routes pass by or stop near the Southern Women’s Museum. Including bus routes: 04, 10, 28, 91, 150, 152, …
- By taxi: For large groups, especially with the elderly and children, taxi is the most suitable means of transport. You can call a taxi right on the street or through online booking applications. Reputable taxi companies that you can refer to are: Vinasun taxi, Mai Linh taxi, Xanh SM taxi.
4. Opening hours and entrance fees to the Southern Women’s Museum
4.1 Opening hours:
- From 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
4.2 Entrance fee:
- Free.
5. History of the Southern Women’s Museum
The Southern Women’s Museum was originally the private residence of an official of the Republic of Vietnam regime. Then, on April 29, 1985, it was converted into the Southern Women’s Traditional House with an area of 200m2, including 6 exhibition rooms.
However, with such a modest area, it will be difficult to convey the entire content and typical activities of Southern women through the stages of building and defending the nation. Therefore, on March 8, 1986, the new museum began construction.
The new museum has a usable area of 5,410m2, a hall with a capacity of nearly 1,000 people and a storage system of over 700m2. It currently manages about 31,360 different artifacts along with nearly 15,000 film documents and 12,000 books about women. The artifacts here are mainly related to revolutionary and cultural wars.
The museum also has 2 dedicated galleries to recreate the revolutionary activities of women who have made their names in the history of Vietnam and the world such as: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Le Thi Hong Gam, Vo Thi Sau, Nguyen Thi Dinh, …
On May 18, 1990, the Southern Women’s Museum was officially inaugurated and welcomed visitors.
6. Specialized rooms of the Southern Women’s Museum
The museum has a number of permanent thematic exhibition rooms such as:
- Traditions of Vietnamese women before the Party.
- Uncle Ho with Southern women and Southern women with Uncle Ho.
- The process of formation and development of the Vietnam Women’s Union.
- Southern women in building and defending the Fatherland since the reunification of the country.
- Southern women in political struggles.
- Their role in the armed forces.
- Southern women in diplomacy.
- Southern women in colonial and imperialist prisons.
- Beliefs in worshiping Ba,
- Costumes and jewelry of ethnic women in the South.
- Traditional handicrafts.
- …
7. Exploring the Southern Women’s Museum
7.1 Huge system of artifacts and scientific documents
As of June 2022, the Southern Women’s Museum is managing 44,108 scientific documents and artifacts. Of which, half are cultural artifacts including many different materials and more than half are revolutionary war artifacts. Based on the material or theme, these artifacts are divided into 24 collections, including 6 rare artifact collections.
Most of the artifacts are preserved according to the instructions of the Department of Cultural Heritage according to each material with appropriate temperature, light, and humidity. Not only that, the library has more than 12,000 books on women and thousands of magazines, newspapers and books. Specifically as follows:
7.1.1 Diverse thematic exhibition system
In addition to the 11 fixed topics from before, after expanding the area, the gallery will introduce 27 topics to visitors. The exhibition topics are diverse in both form and content, suitable for the needs of the public, the development trend of the museum system in the country and the region.
7.1.2 Unique collection of intangible cultural artifacts
The Southern Women’s Museum actively collects artifacts and documents about the contributions of Southern women in the fight against foreign invaders. Not only that, artifacts and documents related to the contributions of Southern women. In preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the nation are also sought and kept by the museum. In particular, the most prominent are intangible cultural artifacts related to community cultural activities, festivals, beliefs, traditional craft villages, etc.
Up to now, this place has had many unique collections such as jars, ao dai, jewelry, costumes, utensils in wet rice agricultural production, kitchen utensils, etc. Along with hundreds of hours of recorded documentary films on intangible culture such as traditional craft villages, folk songs, Ba worship festivals, etc.
7.2 Modern 3D/3600 virtual reality technology application gallery
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of its establishment, the Vietnam Women’s Museum inaugurated a technology application gallery with the theme “Southern women in the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism”.
The gallery is a connection between modernity and tradition when recounting heroic historical lessons using technological tools and equipment. This helps you easily interact, experience the 3D museum model, observe artifacts on 3D projections from many different angles…
7.3 Regularly organize meaningful meetings and exchanges
With the goal of attracting the younger generation to learn about history and traditional culture. The Southern Women’s Museum has organized many attractive and meaningful activities such as:
- Meetings and exchanges with outstanding women in the Southern provinces and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers
- Meetings and exchanges with female political prisoners, female youth volunteers, female business managers. Female People’s Artists, Meritorious Artists, heroes of the armed forces, etc.
- Summer activities for students, competitions to learn about Vietnamese women’s traditions.
- Consumer goods fair for women, cooking competitions for children with disabilities.
- Organizing scientific seminars on street children, mothers teaching their children, female journalists who died in the resistance war, etc.
You can find out and refer to information about these activities on the official websites. Or contact the museum directly for the most accurate updates.
8. Special collections at the Southern Women’s Museum
8.1 Collection of Vietnamese women’s ao dai
Over the years of development, ao dai has become a costume that bears the mark of the people’s culture. It has also been constantly improved to bring high aesthetic value. The ao dai collection at the Southern Women’s Museum has up to 65 artifacts. It helps visitors have the most comprehensive and closest information about the transformation and change of ao dai through the ages.
8.2 Collection of costumes of women of ethnic groups in the South
Each ethnic group in the South has a different aesthetic concept, cultural communication characteristics, and psychology, creating its own unique characteristics. Besides the Kinh people, the South also has Chinese, Cham, Khmer, Ta Oai, Ba Na, … living together. A total of 600 artifacts in the collection “Costume of women of ethnic groups in the South” are introduced. It helps to promote the role of women and re-evaluate the cultural, technical and aesthetic values in the production process.
8.3 Collection of documents and images of the Vietnam Women’s Union
From 1926 – 1927, in the South, there were bases of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth League founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc. With the participation of many women such as Nguyen Thi Luu, Nguyen Thi Nho, Thai Thi Nhan, … The first platform of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1930 also clearly stated “Equality between men and women”, women are an important part of the revolution.
The collection of 1,315 documents and images at the Southern Women’s Museum provides a lot of rich data. Such as: women’s movement in the early 20th century, equipping the Association’s cadres during the resistance war,… It will help us easily visualize the process of growth and development of the Vietnam Women’s Union and its contributions to the country’s construction.
8.4 Collection of production tools at the Southern Women’s Museum
Socio-economic development leads to changes in daily life. And no matter where we live, we humans have to work, produce, and process food to survive. That is also the reason why each Vietnamese ethnic group will have a different labor tool, bearing the elements of that region. The preservation of tools is also clearly shown through the collection of 350 artifacts of Chinese, Cham, Khmer women,… in the Truong Son – Tay Nguyen region.
8.5 Collection of lime pots and betel chewing utensils
As our ancestors said, “A piece of betel is the beginning of a conversation”, this custom has long been considered a cultural value with a strong philosophical meaning. Betel helps people become closer and more open to each other. Rich people in the past also had betel trays, lacquered and gilded betel trays.
Since 1988, artifacts demonstrating the custom of betel chewing have been collected at the Southern Women’s Museum. With 316 current artifacts, we will learn more about the materials of lime pots made of Southern pottery, Cham Pa bronze lime pots, Khmer, … Or bronze betel bowls, areca nut knives (made of materials such as horn, bone, shell).
8.6 Collection of traditional crafts and craft villages in the South
Women often play a leading role in traditional craft villages. Such as: weaving, knitting, dyeing, pottery making, etc. Through many studies and collections, the Southern Women’s Museum currently owns 460 images and many documentary films about traditional Southern occupations undertaken by women.
8.7 Money collection
Money plays an extremely important role in any country, and each feudal dynasty in our country has different coins. These are coins cast in copper, zinc, aluminum, iron, or paper money that appeared for a short time during the Ho Dynasty. Coming to the money collection of the Southern Women’s Museum, you will admire 650 Southern Uncle Ho banknotes.
And Indochina (French) money with the stamp of the Southern Resistance Administrative Committee from 23 provinces and cities such as Vinh Long, Ben Tre, My Tho, etc. There are banknotes that only circulate in the restricted areas of Long Chau Sa provinces (currently no longer named on the administrative map of Vietnam).
8.8 Jar Collection
The wine jar is a place to send feelings, requests, wishes,… to the gods when drinking wine or throwing wine into the air in the Central Highlands. Moreover, ethnic minorities also consider jars as assets that show the prosperity of each family, and the right to hold those jars also falls into the hands of women. The collection of 107 jars at the Southern Women’s Museum hopes to give visitors an overview of the culture in the Central Highlands provinces such as Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, …
8.9 Central Highlands gong collection
Gong culture has been famous for generations and is closely associated with the bronze culture from about 3,000 years ago. Not only a musical instrument, gongs are also a unique cultural and historical form of the Central Highlands ethnic minorities. To understand its importance, the Southern Women’s Museum will introduce to visitors 144 gongs, 15 sets of which have been assessed and evaluated as complete by experts.
9. Enjoying Saigon specialties when visiting the Southern Women’s Museum
When visiting the Southern Women’s Museum, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the rich cuisine of this beautiful and bustling land. Famous Saigon snacks such as: mixed rice paper, grilled rice paper, spring rolls, beef offal, dried beef salad, fried flour, vermicelli with crab, rice cake, crab noodle soup, etc. These are very popular dishes, you can easily find them around the city center.
10. Accommodation when visiting the Southern Women’s Museum
When visiting this famous landmark, you can refer to some of the following accommodations:
- Hotel des Arts Saigon Mgallery Collection. Address: No. 76 – 78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel. Address: No. 17 Ton Duc Thang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh. Address: No. 07 Ngo Van Nam, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Cochin Zen Hotel. Address: No. 46 Thu Khoa Huan, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint. Address: No. 59 – 61 Pasteur Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Êmm Hotel Saigon. Address: 157 Pasteur, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- La Vela Hotel Saigon. Address: 280 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ward 8, District 3, Vietnam.
- Laverne Hotel. Address: No. 5/24 No Trang Long Street, Ward 7, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
11. Some other famous tourist attractions near the Southern Women’s Museum
End the journey to explore the Southern Women’s Museum. You can combine visiting some famous tourist attractions recently such as:
- War Remnants Museum: Established on September 4, 1975. This place specializes in researching, collecting, preserving and displaying evidence of crimes and consequences of wars of aggression in Vietnam.
- Independence Palace: One of the iconic structures in Saigon. This structure has witnessed many heroic historical events of the nation. Especially the event of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country on April 30, 1975.
- Notre Dame Cathedral: With a strong breath of ancient French architecture. With a spacious, airy space from inside the cathedral to the outside, this is one of the check-in locations that tourists cannot miss.
- Ho Chi Minh City Theater: Stands out with its trendy European architectural style. When you come here, you can enjoy professional stage shows such as drama, music performances, reformed opera, ballet, etc.
12. Some important notes when visiting the Women’s Museum
For a smooth and safe journey to explore the museum. You should note some of the following issues:
- Dress politely and neatly when visiting the museum.
- You can take pictures and check-in at the museum, but you should avoid areas with prohibited signs.
- Do not touch, feel or change the position of objects displayed in the museum.
- Do not put your hands on the glass cabinets.
- Find out about opening hours in advance to avoid having to wait too long.
- You can hire a tour guide if you want to understand more information about the museum.
After more than 30 years of operation, the Southern Women’s Museum has become an attractive destination, attracting a large number of visitors every year. It can be seen that this place contains many valuable documents and artifacts, with profound educational significance about the patriotism of the nation, especially Vietnamese women.
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