From themed exhibition spaces and workshops showcasing traditional crafts to the art program "Heritage Connects Excellence," locals and tourists have the opportunity to explore heritage through various interactive forms, contributing to making the museum a welcoming and vibrant cultural destination.
Connecting with heritage through vivid experiences.
As the lights in the Ho Chi Minh City Museum grounds gradually came on, more people began to flock in. Groups of young people, families, and tourists leisurely strolled through the museum's doors to experience a cultural atmosphere at night that was quite different from its usual quietness.
Visitors' journey of discovery begins at the thematic exhibition "Ho Chi Minh City - 50 Years of Honor and Pride in Bearing the Name of Uncle Ho." Through images, documents, and artifacts arranged chronologically, viewers look back at the city's journey of construction, development, and integration over the past 50 years. Many people linger for a considerable time in front of each photograph to read the explanations and discuss the city's milestones with their companions.
Leaving the exhibition area, the atmosphere became more lively in the traditional craft experience zone through activities such as painting and decorating Lai Thieu pottery and conical hats. On long tables, white conical hats, rustic pottery products, palettes, and paintbrushes were already prepared. The artisans' instructions mingled with laughter and conversation, making the area bustling. Notably, in addition to domestic tourists, many foreign visitors also participated in the activities.
|
The children enthusiastically participated in the hands-on experience of decorating conical hats. |
In the conical hat decorating area, everyone was free to express their creativity according to their own ideas. Some chose to paint lotus flowers, others added simple patterns, and some combined many colors to create a hat with a unique touch. Right next to it, the pottery painting and decorating area also attracted many participants. Under the guidance of the artisans, the pottery products gradually took on layers of vibrant colors. No molds were set, so each finished product was unique.
Nguyen Hoang Anh (born in 2000, residing in Cho Lon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) shared: “Combining sightseeing, art appreciation, and the experience of painting pottery and conical hats helps me feel the heritage more intimately and vividly, instead of just observing the exhibits.”
|
The area for painting and decorating Lai Thieu pottery attracts many tourists who come to participate in the experience. |
Beyond simply creating souvenirs, the experiential areas also help participants better understand the value of traditional crafts through the hands-on experience. Huynh Hoan Hao, a ceramic artist from Nang Ceramics (a partner of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum for the series of workshops on painting and decorating Lai Thieu ceramics), shared: “We hope that participants will not only take home a product they made themselves but also understand the story behind Lai Thieu - Song Be ceramics, a typical pottery style of Southern Vietnam, and the values that traditional pottery has preserved through generations.”
The freshly painted conical hats or pottery pieces still smelling of fresh paint were taken home by participants as personalized gifts. More importantly, behind each brushstroke was a story about traditional crafts told in an intimate way, so that the heritage no longer remained in a glass case but was present in the viewers' own experiences.
The performing arts stage extends the journey of discovering heritage.
While the galleries tell the story of history and the experiential areas offer a creative space, the art program "Heritage Connects Excellence" enriches the journey of discovering Southern culture through unique artistic performances. The seats in the hall where the art program is held quickly filled up. Many chose to stand at the back to watch the performances from a distance.
Mr. Hoang Tan, Head of the Performance Organization Department, Ho Chi Minh City Drama Theatre, the unit coordinating the program, expressed: "Through art, the public can not only visit and observe artifacts but also feel a colorful picture of Southern cultural heritage, in which many art forms are connected and integrated in the same experiential space."
|
A performance at the art program "Heritage Connects Excellence". |
Strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and the United States.On July 3rd, as part of the Pacific Partnership - Friends of the Pacific 2026 program, the U.S. Army Pacific delegation, led by Lieutenant General Joel Vowell, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, paid a courtesy visit to the Quang Tri Provincial Military Command. The opening drumbeat transports the audience into the world of traditional Vietnamese opera. Elaborate makeup and distinctive body movements create an atmosphere that is both solemn and captivating. Every glance and every step of the artists contributes to recreating a theatrical form that has long been intertwined with the cultural life of Southern Vietnam.
The performance then shifted to the vibrant colors of the "shadow puppet dance," introducing the public to this folk performance art form deeply rooted in the cultural and religious life of Southern Vietnam, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. In dazzling costumes, the performers gracefully executed the spinning disc dance with masterful balancing techniques. The drums and folk music blended with the fluid movements, creating a performance that was both highly theatrical and deeply imbued with the cultural and religious essence of Southern Vietnam. Many audience members watched intently, constantly raising their phones to capture the memorable moments.
When the melodies of traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music begin to play, the atmosphere seems to quiet down. The rustic sounds of traditional instruments, combined with the distinctive Southern Vietnamese accent, create a sense of intimacy and profound emotion. Within the museum setting, these familiar tunes help connect the past with the present through the language of music .
Moreover, the fashion show featuring collections of ao dai and ao ba ba dresses, showcasing the beauty of Vietnamese attire in a culturally rich setting, also attracted visitors. Without the need for a large stage or elaborate effects, the combination of traditional clothing and the museum's architecture created a harmonious and distinctly Vietnamese atmosphere.
The combination of history, art, and experience has breathed new life into the museum space. Ms. Doan Thi Trang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, shared: “The ‘Connecting Heritage’ week is a trial run to develop nighttime cultural products, aiming to make museums cultural meeting points where the public not only visits artifacts but also directly experiences and connects with heritage.”
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/dua-di-san-den-gan-voi-cong-chung-1047384
