For over two decades, businessman Nguyen The Hong, founder of the Nam Hong Royal Museum, has diligently searched from traditional craft villages to international auctions, transforming his passion for collecting antiques into a cultural institution in the historically rich land of Bac Ninh . Currently, the Nam Hong Royal Museum houses nearly 4,000 rare and valuable artifacts, while also creating exhibition spaces that combine traditional heritage values ​​with modern technology.

Tourists visit the Nam Hong Royal Museum.

The collection is highlighted by two National Treasures. The first is a Dong Son bronze jar dating back approximately 2,300 years, considered a unique artifact with its lid and body intact. Its special feature lies in the animal pattern running counter-clockwise, a rare detail among the hundreds of jars ever discovered in Vietnam. The other treasure is the "Emperor's Seal" of King Minh Mang, associated with a turbulent historical journey. The seal, crafted in the fourth year of Minh Mang's reign (1823), was once a symbol of the supreme power of the Nguyen dynasty. After King Bao Dai's abdication on August 30, 1945, the seal was lost abroad for more than seven decades before being brought back from France by Mr. Nguyen The Hong. On December 31, 2024, the Prime Minister recognized the "Emperor's Seal" as a National Treasure.

The museum space is organized into four main exhibition areas, each reflecting a different historical and cultural aspect. The first area is dedicated to the "Emperor's Seal" gold seal, along with imperial decrees, gilded and lacquered wooden objects, and Hue court embroidery from the Le Trung Hung to the Nguyen dynasties. The second area showcases collections of ceramics, porcelain, ivory, and bronze from China, Japan, and Europe, demonstrating the intermingling of many major art forms. The third area displays the "Ký Kiểu" porcelain line, products commissioned by Vietnamese people from famous Chinese kilns to serve the needs of the court during the Le, Trinh, and Nguyen dynasties. The fourth area focuses on indigenous Vietnamese heritage with collections of bronze and ceramics from the Dong Son culture to the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties. Highlights include over 40 bronze drums along with many typical celadon, white glaze, and brown-glazed ceramic artifacts.

Another highlight of the Museum is the application of VR360 virtual reality technology for tours. Currently, the Museum has developed virtual tours for three exhibition areas: Dong Son bronze artifacts, agarwood roots, and treasures from the Minh Mang dynasty. Through phones or computers, viewers can observe the space from a 360-degree perspective, accessing details of artifacts from a distance. This is considered a suitable approach in expanding accessibility to heritage. Along with exhibition activities, the protection of artifacts is always emphasized. According to Mr. Nguyen The Hong, the exhibition area is located within the Museum complex, which spans thousands of square meters and is privately owned, with a security force on duty 24/7.

In 2025, coinciding with the Temple Festival and the 1,015th anniversary of King Ly Thai To's coronation, the museum will leverage its strengths as a non-governmental institution by organizing an auction of 129 artifacts under the theme "Spring Art." Many items, ranging from Dong Son bronze artifacts and porcelain to imperial embroidery, have been meticulously appraised before being presented to the public. The auction not only provides opportunities for exchange and collection among antique enthusiasts but also contributes to connecting heritage with the community. The proceeds from this activity will be used for conservation, research, and expansion of the exhibition space in the future. This is a noteworthy way to mobilize social resources for a non-governmental museum model.

Following a period of construction and development, in early 2026, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province issued a decision recognizing the Nam Hong Royal Museum at 225 Tran Phu Street, Tu Son Ward, as a provincial-level tourist destination.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/mot-thiet-che-van-hoa-hap-dan-tren-dat-kinh-bac-1039300