The Dong Son drums
The museum's best-known pieces.
Alistair Morrenger — Public domain · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — CC0 · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — CC0 · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — CC0
The National Museum of History covers Vietnam's past from the Stone Age to modern times in two buildings near the Opera House. The main one, at 1 Trang Tien Street, was built for the French School of the Far East and opened in 1910, then redesigned between 1925 and 1932 by the architect Ernest Hébrard in the Indochinese style: a pagoda-like building under a cupola, with double walls and deep balconies that keep the air moving and the sun out. The government of North Vietnam took it over and opened it as a national museum on 3 September 1958. The galleries run in order of time, from prehistoric tools and burials to the Dong Son culture, whose great bronze drums are the museum's best-known pieces, then through the dynasties to the Nguyen court, with ceramics, lacquer and royal costume, and a separate hall of stone sculpture from the kingdom of Champa. The ticket also covers the second building nearby at 216 Tran Quang Khai Street, which tells the story from the mid-19th century to today. Allow about two hours for both. Labels are in Vietnamese and English, and the main building's architecture is worth the visit on its own.
The museum's best-known pieces.
Designed by Ernest Hébrard.
Stone sculpture from central Vietnam.
1 Trang Tien Street, behind the Opera House
Vietnamese Women's MuseumThe Vietnamese Women's Museum, run by the Vietnam Women's Union, tells the count11 minutes walk4.4
Hoan Kiem LakeA small lake at the edge of Hanoi's Old Quarter, and the city's best-known landm11 minutes walk4.6
Ngoc Son TempleA small temple on Jade Island at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, reached acr13 minutes walk4.5
St Joseph's Cathedral, HanoiSt Joseph's Cathedral is the oldest church in Hanoi and the seat of its Catholic15 minutes walk4.6
Hoa Lo PrisonA prison the French built in the heart of Hanoi between 1896 and 1901 and called17 minutes walk4.4Yes. One ticket covers the main building at 1 Trang Tien Street and the second at 216 Tran Quang Khai Street.