Special exhibition “ECHOES”

The exhibition, organized to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse (2026), is a collaboration between the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum, the Museum of Ceramics of the Nation-Building Period, and two private collections, Lam Bao Ngoc and Mai Si Tat Thang. Through more than 150 representative artifacts, "Echoes" not only recreates the material appearance of ancient Vietnamese people but also reveals the depth of culture, aesthetic thinking, and the spiritual world of an era that laid the foundation for national identity. From the achievements of the prehistoric period, ancient Vietnamese people gradually mastered metallurgy techniques, opening a new stage of development for ancient society. Building upon the Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, and Go Mun cultures, the tradition of metallurgy and bronze casting was continuously perfected and reached its peak with the Dong Son culture (approximately 7th century BC – 1st century AD). It was in this context that copper was not only a material for crafting tools, weapons, or household items, but also became a means of expressing the power, beliefs, and aesthetic concepts of the community.
The exhibition content is organized into four main themes:
- The theme "Rhythm of Labor" reflects the rice-farming agricultural economy through bronze production tools such as axes, plowshares, and containers, while also introducing the pottery system from the Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, Go Mun, and Hoa Loc periods – evidence of the continuous and diverse development of handicraft techniques during the nation-building era.
- The theme "The Beauty of the Dong Son People" highlights the spiritual life and social stratification through various forms of jewelry such as bracelets, earrings, hairpins, and beads. These small but exquisite artifacts are important sources of information for identifying the aesthetic concepts and cultural identity of ancient Vietnamese people during the Metal Age.
- In the theme of "Echoes of Faith," the bronze drum holds a central position as a symbol of power and sacredness. More than just a musical instrument in community life, the bronze drum reflects the worldview, philosophy of life, and layers of religious meaning through its rich and expressive patterns.
The theme "Power of the Era" showcases the close-combat and long-range weapons of the Dong Son people, thereby demonstrating a high level of metallurgical technology and a clearly differentiated social context during this period.

Titled "Echoes," the exhibition goes beyond simply showcasing archaeological artifacts; it also explores the continuity of history – like the echoes of the Bronze Age still resonating in the depths of Vietnamese culture and consciousness today. Through its interdisciplinary and storytelling approach, the exhibition contributes to bringing archaeological heritage closer to the contemporary public.
The exhibition is open from January 27th to March 31st, 2026 at the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City).
Here are some photos from the exhibition: