With six floors of exhibits, the Museum of Vietnamese Traditional Medicine, or FITO, is a must visit for Ho Chi Minh City. Find yourself walking through the centuries as you learn about the Vietnamese and Chinese medicine used throughout history. The many exhibits offer plaques in both English and Vietnamese. Guided tours are available and are a great to gain a deeper understanding of ancient medicines and herbs once used by healers.
Situated in a three story building with 10 rooms, this museum pays tribute to Vietnam's women of the South. Visitors here can see artifacts such as clothing, ethnic garments, paintings and jewelry. What is most impressive are the historical accounts of roles that women played in history such as in war. We're not talking about nurses, but women who were in combat, martyrs for their causes. Letters and documents were also preserved capturing the era and the strong rhetoric of these bold women. With free admission, this museum is well worth seeing when visiting Ho Chi Minh City or for a day excursion.
A former military base located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh, this museum was inaugurated in 1988 to showcase Vietnam's military might. A visit to this museum will give you a detailed history lesson regarding the various invasion attempts that were made by some of Vietnam's neighbors as part of their expansion campaigns. Indoor exhibits include an array of historic photographs, firearms, and legal documents, whereas outdoor exhibits comprise of a series of tanks that are displayed near the museum's entrance. Entry is free for Vietnamese citizens.
Home to over a 100 larger than life, three-dimensional paintings, Artinus is a museum that is quite unlike any other. The museum showcases the artwork of over 15 contemporary artists who use shadows, color and perspective to create 3D paintings that will leave you speechless with wonder and awe. Painted directly onto the walls, ceiling and floor, these paintings are excellent examples of optical illusion art that use the principles of perspective to create a false sense of depth and distance. Unlike most museums that discourage visitors from getting too close to the art, Artinus invites visitors to get really close and literally become a part of the artwork. Do not forget to bring your camera along, for this place is a treasure trove for shutterbugs and social media mavericks. Ask the friendly docents and they will help you set up the perfect shot to capture these optical illusions on film with you at heart of each scene.
Opened in 2014, this museum in district 9 is a tribute to Vietnam's national attire, the Ao Dai which symbolizes prosperity, elegance, and beauty. The Ao Dai was primarily worn by women who came from noble families and was an indication of their status in society. This privately-owned museum has an impressive collection of Ao Dai that is arranged according to their date of manufacture, manifesting the evolution of Vietnamese fashion. A must visit for tourists, this is where you should head to if you really wish to experience a major component of Vietnamese culture.