Why does the Vietnam Military History Museum attract visitors?

On November 10, the Vietnam Military History Museum welcomed a record number of 40,000 visitors, nearly equal to the busiest day at the Louvre Museum in France.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, Head of the Propaganda and Education Department of the Vietnam Military History Museum, said that in previous winters, the museum welcomed 20,000 - 30,000 visitors.

The 40,000 visitors on November 10 were close to the busiest day at France's Louvre in 2019, which saw 45,000 visitors. 2019 was also a record year for the Louvre, with nearly 10 million visitors, according to Afar.

"My grandfather wanted to relive his past," said Tran Ngoc Lan Huong, 20, who accompanied her grandfather from Ba Vi to the museum on Sunday.

Huong’s 86-year-old grandfather was a youth volunteer. She said he was very excited and always asked Huong’s father to take him. Many of his comrades and friends were also looking forward to visiting the museum. Some came on the first day the museum opened on November 1.

Tourists crowded inside the Vietnam Military History Museum on the morning of November 10. Photo: Gia Chinh

CEO of AZA Travel Nguyen Tien Dat said there are many reasons why the museum attracts a large number of visitors. First of all, this is an alternative destination to the museum located on Dien Bien Phu Street, which is small and narrow. When the Military History Museum is built on a large scale, welcoming more visitors, displaying more artifacts, it is "understandable" that tourists flock to it.

The Vietnam Military History Museum was built in 2019, on an area of 386,000 m2 on Thang Long Avenue, in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. The main building has 4 floors above ground and one ground floor. It houses more than 150,000 artifacts and 4 national treasures along with many military equipment.

According to Mr. Dat, the history of building and defending the country of the nation is so heroic that the world "must take off their hats in admiration" and the topic of Vietnam's military is of interest to people across the country. Among them, many are veterans, youth volunteers or people who have experienced the war period and are especially interested. The museum also attracts people who are passionate about learning about history.

The museum is large, with many outdoor spaces displaying vivid visual exhibits such as airplanes and tanks that appeal to children, making it a priority destination for families on weekends. Admission is free, and the museum is heavily promoted by the media, which is also part of the reason for its popularity.

"My 3-year-old son was very excited to see airplanes in real life," said Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, 30, living in Dong Da district.

The large number of visitors led to local traffic jams in the area around the Museum. Photo: Gia Chinh

AZA Travel CEO evaluates opening time also helps this place to be crowded. In November, the weather is cool so people tend to like to go out more. If it opened in the summer, the weather is hot, the number of visitors may not be as crowded.

Chairman of Lua Viet Tourism, Nguyen Van My, also said that many people come "out of curiosity, love of new things" and "crowd effect". Some come to "take virtual photos" and "show off on social networks".

However, looking at the positive side, Mr. My said that the large number of visitors is a good thing in encouraging people to learn about history.

But the number of visitors was too large and some actions incorrect can create some "ugly" impressions in the eyes of international visitors. For better management, Mr. My said that the Military History Museum should limit the number of visitors per day like many other places in the world. The museum should require visitors to register online and send a QR code, to control the number more conveniently.

Mr. Dat assessed that the attraction of the Vietnam Military History Museum will not "cool down" in the next 2-3 months. This place will also be an ideal destination for foreign tourists.

"The world is always impressed that Vietnam defeated the most powerful empires, they will visit the museum to learn about this," Mr. Dat said.

Tourism experts also believe that the museum will soon be included in the "must visit" list of international visitors to Vietnam and will appear in the tour programs of travel companies.

"Next month, we will add this location to the tour schedule," said CEO of AZA Travel.

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