SAIGON MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND CULTURE

Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City

Throughout its more than 300-year history, this city was created by people from all over the country and the world. The people here are considered generous and friendly, they welcome anyone who comes to live and work in this city. In many corners, we can discover marks of its golden periods in the past, the diverse cultural values representing the groups of people who lived and contributed to turning this city into the most modern and developed city in Vietnam.

Urbanization Threats

The rapid increase in population is not only leading to a lack of infrastructure, public services, and spaces for greenery and community but also threatening the city’s unique character. Many heritage buildings, which once defined Saigon, are now being demolished to make way for new residences. This rapid urbanization is erasing the city’s historical and cultural identity.

According to statistics, up to one-third of heritage buildings have been destroyed in the past twenty years, including renowned structures such as the Ba Son ship dock, Tax Trade Center, Quach Thi Trang roundabout, and more than 500 old mansions. The city’s long-established values are progressively being buried by the movement of the new era.

The museum’s functions consist of three main spaces:

Space for displaying artifacts: The spaces on each floor are arranged according to the city’s historical formation process. In addition, there are artifacts about culture, beliefs, religions, and local craft villages.

Space for seminars and art performances: Many traditional art forms have been brought here and developed in this city, such as the art of Don ca tai tu, Cai luong (reformed opera), and water puppetry, … This space was designed to be separate from the exhibition block to ensure security.

Community space: Half of the first-floor area is designed as a sunken square, creating a friendly, open, multi-purpose space under a roof to provide shade and make more public space. This space can hold temporary exhibitions and organize events open to everyone. The sunken square space can remain open after the museum closes because it is separated from the exhibition block. Additionally, there is a cafe, shops and elevators leading to the performance area, which is also designed to remain operational at night.

Encouraging the public to learn about the history and culture of the city by applying a passive attraction method and stimulating people’s curiosity so that they want to learn on their own is a good way. Therefore, the entrance to the sunken square from the direction of Thu Thiem Central Square provides a direct view into the semi-open atrium space inside the exhibition block. In this space, a model of Gia Dinh Citadel, an ancient citadel once located in the city center, is placed, creating a visual axis to attract visitors to explore the museum.