A place to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Vietnam’s origins

Located on Cong Quan Hill, near Nghia Linh Mountain, Hung Vuong Museum stands alongside the Hung King Temple historical site, serving as a "historical messenger." It plays a crucial role in preserving and showcasing thousands of valuable documents and artifacts that highlight the cultural heritage of the Vietnamese people.

Staff at Hung Vuong Museum diligently maintain the exhibits.

Visitors' first impression upon entering the museum is its serene atmosphere and distinctive square-shaped architecture, symbolizing a giant banh chung (square rice cake). At the center of the first floor stands a large bronze drum, modeled after the Dong Son drum, representing a round banh giay (round rice cake). This design reflects the ancient Vietnamese cosmological concept of a "round sky and square earth."

The second floor serves as the museum’s main exhibition space, dedicated to the history and development of the Van Lang State and the wet rice civilization of the Hung Kings era. Exhibits include original artifacts and supporting scientific documentation arranged into thematic sections: the country and its people in prehistoric times, the early nation-building period, the establishment of Van Lang by the Hung Kings, the historical site of Hung King Temple and its associated worship rituals, nationwide reverence for the Hung Kings, the attention of Party and State leaders, and international recognition of Hung King Temple.

Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong, Deputy Head of the Department of Relic, Culture, and Festival Management at the Hung King Temple Historical Site, stated, "The museum currently houses and carefully preserves over 5,000 scientific documents and artifacts. All items are meticulously maintained, systematically arranged, and presented with great detail. Each time a group of visitors arrives, museum staff and tour guides introduce them to tangible cultural relics and scientific evidence that trace the development of ancient Vietnamese civilization from primitive times to the era of the Hung Kings."

The museum’s tour guide is providing explanations to visitors.

The museum’s warm and intimate exhibition space brings history to life, offering unique displays found only at the Hung Vuong Museum. Through engaging narratives from tour guides, visitors are transported back to the past, reliving the struggles and achievements of their ancestors in building and defending the nation. The artifacts on display represent four distinct cultural periods: Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, Go Mun, and Dong Son.

Among them, the Dong Dau cultural artifacts are particularly abundant. These include various tools for production, weapons, hunting implements, household utensils, and jewelry crafted from diverse materials such as stone, bronze, bone, and pottery. These objects provide insight into the Dong Dau people’s permanent settlement in the midland hills, where they engaged in both hunting in the forests and farming in the fields.

As an intermediary phase between the Phung Nguyen and Dong Son cultures, the Go Mun culture is also well represented in the museum’s collection. Visitors can observe a variety of artifacts made from stone, bronze, pottery, and wood. Notably, the presence of bronze agricultural tools highlights the advancement of farming, which became the dominant economic activity of the time.

Artifacts from the Dong Son culture period, selected from major archaeological sites in the province, such as Lang Ca (Viet Tri City) and Go De (Thanh Dinh Commune), are also prominently displayed. This culture is characterized by various site types, including residential areas, burial grounds, and workshops, with bronze artifacts being the most distinctive remains.

The artifacts housed in the museum hold immense historical significance.

As visitors explore the exhibition rooms, they gain a vivid understanding of the emergence of the Van Lang State during the early first millennium BCE, a period when Dong Son bronze metallurgy reached its pinnacle. The ancient Vietnamese people, having developed advanced production techniques, accumulated surplus wealth and saw the rise of a privileged class. Simultaneously, external threats from the north necessitated greater unity among the tribes to manage floods and defend against invasions. During this time, the leader of the Van Lang tribe emerged as the strongest, uniting other tribes under one rule. This leader became known as King Hung. The Van Lang State’s administrative structure included the Hung Kings, Lac Hou, Lac Tuong, mandarins, and female attendants, with no existence of an oppressed serf or slave class.

Additionally, visitors can admire a collection of photographs showcasing the tradition of Hung Kings worship and Phu Tho Xoan Singing, which has been recognized as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The museum also features images of President Ho Chi Minh at Hung King Temple, including an iconic photograph from his visit on September 19, 1954, when he met with officers and soldiers of the Vanguard Army before their return to liberate Hanoi. On this occasion, he famously advised, "The Hung Kings built our nation. You and I must work together to defend it.“President Ho Chi Minh visited Hung King Temple again nearly eight years later, on August 19, 1962, reaffirming his message:”Just as one must reach the summit when climbing a mountain, revolutionaries must persist until they achieve their goal."

Alongside scientific research documents from both domestic and international scholars on Hung King Temple and the era of the Hung Kings, the museum also exhibits hundreds of artifacts generously donated by Vietnamese people from across the country.

Moreover, the museum displays images of Party and State leaders visiting and planting commemorative trees at Hung King Temple, reviewing and approving the master plan for the historical site, and overseeing the construction of Hung Vuong Museum. Photographs of international delegations visiting Hung King Temple further highlight global appreciation and reverence for Vietnam’s ancestral heritage.

With its impressive architecture, unique artifacts, and sophisticated exhibitions, Hung Vuong Museum not only educates visitors about the era of the Hung Kings but also offers profound and meaningful experiences. It is an essential destination for those embarking on a journey to honor their roots, pay tribute at the Hung King Temple National Special Historical Site, and express gratitude to their ancestors.

Anh Tho