(VOVworld) – Dozens of museums in Hanoi are being renovated to make them more attractive to tourists. On today’s edition of Discovery Vietnam, Thu Hoa looks at the results.

Vietnam Women's Museum in Hanoi

Located in the heart of Hanoi, the Vietnam Women’s Museum covers an area of nearly 2 thousand square meters. Its 25 thousand artifacts reflect the role of Vietnamese women in different historical periods and provide insight into their culture and history. With help from French experts, the museum has made its displays more gender themed to provide a more dynamic and modern perspective on women. The three main displays portray women in the family, women in history and female fashions. They vividly demonstrate wedding and birth rituals and customs, family life, and traditional costumes and portray women during the struggles for national liberation.

The Vietnam Women’s Museum organizes frequent special events, educational activities, themed exhibitions and workshops. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Director of the museum, says it is trying to make a difference:“Along with the permanent displays, we also work to expand the museum’s activities. A restaurant stands ready to serve drinks and fast food for visitors. Our other services are being upgraded. A discovery room for kids has been built.”

Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said:           “The museum has adopted a surprising new method of operation compared with other museums in Vietnam. As tourism managers, we find this a very attractive destination for visitors.”

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, just 8 km from Hanoi center, is popular for its accessible display of ethnic tangible and intangible culture. The museum is successful in holding events, outdoor activities, special exhibits and artifact exchange programs with other museums, including several in the US. Alain Philippe is a tourist from France:“It’s interesting. I didn’t know that there were 54 minorities in Vietnam. And I see fascinating customs. I just hope all the customs and the differences between people are permanent. They stay, not swayed by one culture or Western culture. I hope your country will preserve all the traditions because it’s very important for the future.”

However, some other museums in Vietnam are struggling to find a way forward. Le Thi Minh Ly, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, people need to shed old thinking about museums: “Many people think that only old items constitute a museum. I want to prove that it’s not true. When the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology was established in 1997, there were no antiques, just ordinary artifacts of life. Now we have to accept that this museum is a not-to-be-missed attraction of Hanoi. Many heads of state visit the museum when they come to Hanoi. Scientists point out that the museum’s value lies in its ordinary artifacts.”

Experts are calling on Hanoi’s museums to continue to diversify their services, boost promotion campaigns and work with travel agencies to attract more visitors.