Lying on Thang Long Avenue in Tay Mo and Dai Mo wards of Nam Tu Liem District, the Vietnam Military History Museum opened with free admission on Friday.
Built by the Ministry of National Defense, the museum spans 386,600 square meters and is marked by the 45-meter Victory Tower at its entrance. The main building includes four above-ground floors and a basement, with a total investment of approximately VND2.5 trillion (US$9.88 million).
Despite its location over 20 km from central Hanoi and opening on a weekday, the museum attracted a large turnout, including early morning arrivals.
Visitors were drawn to the outdoor exhibits, which showcase tanks, aircraft, and other military vehicles.
Inside, a large screen displays videos recounting the history of Vietnam's monarchs who contributed to the country's formation.
Hundreds of students from Dai Hung Primary School in Gia Lam District were registered for a guided tour.
The Vietnam Military History Museum houses over 150,000 artifacts, including four national treasures and various military assets.
The national treasures include two MiG-21 fighter jets (numbered 4324 and 5121), a T-54B tank (numbered 843), and a battle map of the Ho Chi Minh campaign, the final military operation conducted by North Vietnamese forces in 1975 during the Vietnam War.
Students pose for photos with Tank 843.
During the war against the U.S., this tank played a critical role in the liberation of Hue and Da Nang and was part of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign.
On April 30, 1975, Tank 843 led the charge into Saigon, destroying three enemy tanks and ramming through the secondary gate of the Independence Palace, marking an end to the war.
Among the visitors, veteran Hoang Van Hoi (pictured) from the northern port city of Hai Phong said he and nearly 100 others had traveled from 4 a.m. to visit the museum.
"The Dien Bien Phu campaign exhibit impressed me, reminding me of my own wartime experiences," Hoi said.
The Dien Bien Phu Campaign was a critical battle between the Viet Minh forces, led by General Vo Nguyen Giap, and the French colonial forces in 1954 during the First Indochina War.
The campaign took place in Dien Bien Phu, a valley in northwestern Vietnam, and marked the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.
Cao A Di and Vang A Tuong, two students in their fourth year at the University of Industry, explored the exhibit on primitive weapons.
“The chronological layout makes it easy to understand. There are items here that you won’t find in books,” A Di said.
Young students were introduced to the history of Co Loa Citadel, an ancient fortified city located about 16 kilometers north of Hanoi, Vietnam. It dates back to the 3rd century BC and is considered one of the oldest and most significant historical sites in Vietnam.
The citadel served as the capital of the Au Lac Kingdom, ruled by King An Duong Vuong, and is famous for its unique structure as it was built in a spiral or "snail shell" shape with multiple layers of earthen walls and moats.
An interactive 3D model of the Dien Bien Phu campaign combines film, sound, and light effects to recreate the sight of French planes dropping supplies over Dien Bien City, and artillery exchanges between the opposing forces.
Innovative display methods, including 3D mapping technology, searchable screens, media archives, automatic audio guides, and QR codes for information access, enrich the experience. Over 60 videos on campaigns, battles, and historical figures provide a new level of engagement for visitors.
For those planning a visit, there are several bus routes service to the museum, including routes 71B, 74, 87, 88, 107, 157, E05, E07, and E09.
