Museum of Ethnology

Saturday we walked through the streets, hitting some markets along the way. Terrific variety of shops selling silk, bowls, light fixtures, teas, plumbing supplies, and all kinds of food.

We soon tired of the intense heat of the city and hopped in a cab to visit the National Museum of Ethnology. It reminded me somewhat of the Museum of Ethnology in Osaka (Minpaku), given its collection of artifacts (clothing, musical instruments, household items, religious objects) from Vietnam's dozens of ethnic groups. The Viet group is the largest, representing over 80% of the population of around 90 million people. Some of groups are quite small, with only around 10,000 people remaining.

Next to the museum full of artifacts are a number of reconstructed homes of different ethnic groups, offering a unique opportunity to walk around and explore the architecture.

This home has an incredible interior with a sloped ceiling 30-40 feet high. With the raised floor and the high ceiling, it was a good 10 degrees cooler inside than out.



The most interesting thing at the museum was the many couples taking wedding photos in and around the old homes. They provide a traditional background for couples, among many locations used by couples for their memories.