The exhibition displays over 150 bronze artifacts from the Dong Son period.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse), the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum, in collaboration with the Museum of Ceramics from the Nation-Building Period and two private collectors, Lam Bao Ngoc and Mai Si Tat Thang, is organizing a thematic exhibition titled "Echoes".

The exhibition presents to the public more than 150 representative artifacts belonging to the Dong Son culture, revealing a part of the life, beliefs, and metallurgical techniques of ancient Vietnam.

Bronze hanging ornaments from the Dong Son culture, part of the Mai Si Tat Thang collection. Photo: Organizing Committee.

Building upon the achievements of prehistoric times, the Vietnamese people entered the Metal Age, ushering in a new phase of development in the nation's history. This period marked a fundamental shift for ancient communities, manifested in their mastery of metallurgical techniques, as well as the formation of distinctive social structures, beliefs, and aesthetic concepts.

Building upon the foundations of the Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, and Go Mun cultures, the tradition of metallurgy and bronze casting continuously improved and reached its glorious peak with the Dong Son culture (7th century BC to 1st century AD).

According to the organizers, the exhibition is selected and arranged according to five themes. The first thematic group, "Dong Son period pottery," introduces artifacts such as bowls, vases, basins, and patterned imprints... belonging to the Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, Go Mun, and Hoa Loc periods.

The thematic group "The Beauty of the Dong Son People" reflects the spiritual life, aesthetic concepts, and social stratification through various types of jewelry such as bracelets, earrings, hairpins, and beads.

The "Rhythm of Working Life" themed group displays artifacts such as axes, plowshares, containers, etc., associated with wet-rice agriculture . The artifacts are mainly cast in bronze, with structural improvements aimed at enhancing usability.

Bronze breastplate - Lam Bao Ngoc Collection. Photo: Organizing Committee

The theme "Power of the Era" introduces two types of weapons used by the Dong Son people: close-combat weapons (daggers, battle axes) and long-range weapons (spearheads, javelins, arrowheads). The theme "Echoes of Beliefs" presents the special role of bronze drums in the Dong Son culture.

The exhibition "Echoes" not only clarifies the role of bronze in the crafting of artifacts, but also suggests continuity, like "echoes" of the Bronze Age in the past, resonating in the cultural depth and consciousness of Vietnamese people today.

The exhibition will be open to the public 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).

Source: https://congluan.vn/trung-bay-hon-150-hien-vat-do-dong-thoi-ky-dong-son-10328031.html