CSO Gallery at 229 Cua Dai Street, Hoi An City. Photo: VL
Located at 229 Cua Dai Street (Hoi An City), CSO Gallery is a three-story building divided into six exhibition areas showcasing 77 collections, including the Tale of Kieu, coins, banknotes, and stamps from Vietnam and 200 countries worldwide . The total number of items ranges from over 50,000 to over 2,000 years old.
Most impressive are the collections themed around the Tale of Kieu. The museum currently displays more than 10 collections with 1,630 publications and over 600 publications published in newspapers, magazines, paintings, etc. Highlights include editions of the Tale of Kieu written in Nom script and manuscripts; editions of the Tale of Kieu from the late 19th and 20th centuries; foreign-language editions of the Tale of Kieu published in 16 countries (England, France, Germany, the USA, Russia, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Poland, Hungary, South Korea, Japan, Syria, etc.); an edition of the Tale of Kieu collection by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh; paintings of the Tale of Kieu; artifacts related to the Tale of Kieu (artistic stones, porcelain vases, CDs, etc.); the Tale of Kieu calendar; and the Tale of Kieu in fashion .
The museum displays and introduces more than 10 collections with 1,630 editions of the Tale of Kieu. Photo: VL
The second floor of the museum houses an exhibition space displaying 58 collections of rare coins and banknotes. Coins are the most numerous, with 47 collections. Some collections are quite unique, such as animal coins, a collection of coins printed with Islamic years (AH year), a collection of porcelain coins from Germany and Japan, a collection of British Queen coins, and collections of ancient coins from Vietnam and other countries such as China, Japan, India, Korea, France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Among them, the collection of ancient Vietnamese coins from the time of King Dinh Tien Hoang (980 AD) to the Nguyen Dynasty (1945) is considered to be the oldest known collection today.
The collection of banknotes is also quite impressive, featuring 11 collections such as overprinted banknotes (1902-1989), Vietnamese banknotes (1903-1994), women's banknotes (1883-2018), emergency banknotes, military banknotes (17th century - 1973), smallest and largest banknotes (1896-1941), banknotes with the highest denominations, etc.
More than 10 collections of banknotes are on display at the CSO Gallery. Photo: VL
The exhibition space displays valuable themed stamp collections such as the World Horse Stamp Collection (1891-2017), the World Colonial and Occupied Overprint Stamp Collection (1873-1973), Ho Chi Minh Stamps (1956-2020), Impressionist and Perforated Stamps, Dog Breeding Stamps in Ireland (1898-1904), Fishing Stamps in the USA, Hunting Stamps, Potato Harvest Tax Stamps, Mineral Tax Stamps... SCO Gallery is like a miniature world of colorful and vibrant postage stamps, from antique to modern.
In addition, CSO Gallery also displays and introduces several themed collections such as British Regimental badges from World War I and II (1881-1969), watches that show the time in 200 countries around the world, lucky coin trees, etc.
According to Mr. Tran Huu Tai, the director of CSO Gallery, cultural heritage is not just about artifacts displayed in glass cases, but also about historical stories and spiritual values conveyed vividly and emotionally. CSO Gallery is a journey back in time, exploring these unique cultural heritages.
“ If printed editions of the Tale of Kieu demonstrate the Vietnamese people's appreciation and preservation of their national literary treasure, then currency plays a crucial role in people's lives, reflecting the economic, political, and cultural changes of humanity. Meanwhile, each stamp is a story, a childhood memory, the ups and downs of time. With the establishment of CSO Gallery, we want to highlight the cultural and historical value that artifacts bring, because each artifact contains its own historical story.” - Mr. Tran Huu Tai
Mr. Tran Huu Tai (50 years old) is also a renowned collector who has been recognized by the Vietnam Book of Records for two records: the person who collects the most copies of the Tale of Kieu in Vietnam (2022) and the person who holds the Vietnamese record for the largest collection of horse-themed stamps (2023).
CSO Gallery is not only a tourist attraction but also helps convey Vietnamese cultural and historical values to visitors and viewers, especially the younger generation. Photo: VL
To acquire these valuable collections, Mr. Tran Huu Tai has invested time, money, and over 20 years traveling extensively both domestically and internationally, including diligently studying Chinese characters and researching ancient documents, all to satisfy his passion and desire to preserve the values and essence of humanity.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/den-hoi-an-chiem-nguong-bo-suu-tap-tem-tien-xu-tien-giay-va-truyen-kieu-tai-cso-gallery-3131723.html
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