The museum welcomed 10,000 visitors by 9 a.m. and the number of visitors nearly tripled by around 11 a.m., with no signs of cooling down.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, head of the museum's Propaganda and Education Department, estimated that the total number of visitors reached around 40,000 by the end of Sunday.
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 Nov. 1.
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).
All entrances and exhibition areas inside the museum were packed with crowds.
"Since opening to visitors, Sunday marked a record-breaking day," Huong said.
The museum welcomed 25,000-30,000 visitors during its first two days.
Free access will be available until the end of the year.
"The museum was so packed that access to the exhibits was limited," said 20-year-old Dao Lan Huong, who visited with her friend on Sunday morning.
Inside the main hall, many visitors sit throughout the area to rest. Here, they watch videos about the history of kings who built and defended the country.
The hall is also where airplanes deemed national treasures are displayed.
Visitors to the museum span many generations, including veterans, families with young children, teenagers, and tourist groups.
"We brought our one-year-old son to visit the museum, but it was so crowded we mostly just watched people," said Do Ngoc Phuong, 28, a resident from Hanoi's outlying Ha Dong District.
Another visitor, who lives 4-5 km from the museum, shared that her family had to leave halfway through and plans to return when it's less crowded.
The area outside the museum is spacious, featuring models of fighter planes and tanks. Many visitors take advantage of the shade provided by these exhibits to escape the sun and rest.
Nguyen Thi Tham, 70, a veteran from Hanoi's Chuong My District, traveled nearly 30 km to the museum on Sunday with her daughter and three grandchildren.
After their visit, the whole family rested on the sidewalk near the museum.
A museum representative expressed readiness to welcome visitors but advised those planning to visit on weekends to consider scheduling their visit carefully to ensure a more enjoyable experience.
Many visitors use the underpass on Thang Long Avenue to access the museum, avoiding traffic congestion.
The museum features a modern design, with display areas arranged chronologically to showcase historical developments. It incorporates interactive display technologies, including 3D models, film presentations, sound and light projections, and QR code information search, offering visitors a fresh and engaging experience.
