The Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum in Hà Nội has launched a 3D tour that allows the public to experience a 360-degree view of the museum's regular exhibitions on an online platform. Photo nhandan.vn

Museums in Việt Nam are now more than just venues for exhibitions, and aiming to provide comprehensive experiences for visitors encompassing both actual and virtual spaces.

These museums are gradually becoming places where education and research intersect to shape the collective knowledge of the community, spanning everything from art and history to science and technology.

In late April, on the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ battle victory, the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum in Hà Nội organised a programme titled Khi Âm Nhạc Hòa Quyện Cùng Mỹ Thuật (When Music Blends with Fine Arts), with free admission.

In an exhibition space of paintings and sculptures inspired by the historic victory of Điện Biên Phủ battle in 1954, visitors had a chance to immerse themselves in a musical atmosphere with many renowned Vietnamese classical songs being played, such as Tiến Quân Ca (the Marching Song), Làng Tôi (My Village) and Tự Nguyện (Volunteers).

The museum also hosted an outdoor concert titled Giai Điệu Mùa Xuân (Melodies of Spring) in March that attracted a large audience.

According to its director, Nguyễn Anh Minh, the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum has collaborated with various organisations and artists to organise music programmes, as a way to express gratitude to the art-loving public since 2022.

These performances have made a positive contribution to creating an exquisite artistic space in the heart of Hà Nội, where music and fine arts converge.

Musical performances at the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum are packed with art enthusiasts. Photo courtesy of the museum

Since the debut concert in 2022, the museum has successfully positioned itself as an attractive cultural destination in Hà Nội. Efforts of the museum and partners to bring music and arts closer to the public have been well received by the public, with performances always packed.

“Despite having heard the songs performed before, I found great pleasure in experiencing them first-hand within the impressive and impactful space of the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum. The performance evoked a sense of patriotism and the heroic spirit of the nation,” said Dương Minh Trí, a 34-year-old visitor at When Music Blends with Fine Arts.

The museum has pioneered digital transformation, utilising technology to display and engage the public in virtual spaces. One notable initiative is the 3D tour, launched in October 2021, allowing the public to experience a 360-degree view of the museum's exhibitions on an online platform.

Following the 3D tour, the museum launched an online 3D exhibition titled Tranh Sơn Mài Việt Nam (Vietnamese Lacquer Paintings), showcasing 50 notable lacquer artworks, including the masterpiece Bình Phong (Standing Screen) by artist Nguyễn Gia Trí.

Viewers were able to explore the history and techniques of lacquer painting through documentary films. The exhibition was presented in four languages - Vietnamese, English, Korean and German - enabling international visitors to participate in the virtual experience.

Last October, the museum introduced its Virtual Art Exhibition Space, an online art exhibition platform. This digital space is designed in a 3D format that simulates a real gallery, allowing artists to curate their artworks according to their creative vision. Visitors can access the exhibition online anytime and anywhere.

“The online art exhibition space is a strong and creative first step to introduce artistic heritage and the vitality of national art to the international community. This space also shares information about valuable artworks preserved in art museums,” said Minh.

Enchanting Huế

A visitor is seen at the Hương River Ancient Pottery Museum. Photo thuathienhue.gov.vn

Located within the premises of the Thái Family Ancestral Hall in the central province of Thừa Thiên Huế, the Hương River Ancient Pottery Museum is a fascinating attraction for tourists and cultural enthusiasts interested in exploring the heritage along the Hương (Perfume) River.

The museum is a traditional ancient house complex over 100 years old. It includes a number of constructions including a church, pagoda, tea pavilion, garden courtyard, flower ponds, and ornamental trees, resembling an architectural ensemble of the former imperial capital of Huế.

According to owner Thái Kim Lan, the museum covers about 1,500sq.m, and houses a collection of 2,410 artefacts that are divided into four main categories - pottery, clay, porcelain and stoneware.

It has collaborated with many travel companies in the province and major cities to develop tours that enable participants to explore the ancient pottery museum and the Thái Family Ancestral Garden while experiencing local cuisine. It has also been promoted by many prestigious travel websites and publications, as well as on blogs and social media.

According to Lan, the museum is the only private museum in Việt Nam displaying ancient pottery excavated from a river in Thừa Thiên Huế Province.

The museum has developed unique souvenirs based on sketch drawings, one of which is a postcard book that features a collection of sketches of the Thái Family Ancestral Garden.

Additionally, a virtual museum introducing the Thái Family Ancestral Garden, the Hương River Ancient Pottery Museum, and the Imperial áo dài (Vietnamese traditional long dress) collection will soon open at the thaikimlan.com website.

“The museum hopes to receive support from the province's authorities to advertise it through information channels and mass media to list its exceptional cultural and historical value,” Lan said.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thừa Thiên Huế, the system of private museums in the province, besides the Hương River Ancient Pottery Museum, currently includes the Nguyễn Dynasty Ceramic Museum, the XQ Embroidery Art Museum, the General Nguyễn Chí Thanh Museum, and the Cecile Le Phạm Fine Arts Museum.

They all provide a new source of energy in the organisation of museum activities in the province, attracting tourists and improving cultural experiences for the people.

Đặng Văn Bài, vice chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council, foresees a future where private museums in Việt Nam will increase and even outnumber public ones.

“This is not only a global development trend, but creates better conditions for the public to access the cultural heritage values of the nation that are being preserved by the community,” he said. VNS