Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi
Before leaving for Mai Chau, there was time for a group visit to the Museum of Ethnology that gives an excellent introduction to the ethnic diversity in Vietnam composed of 54 distinct groups. The Museum has 54 collections from each individual ethnic group. Clothing, jewelry, weapons, antiquities, everyday objects, artifacts relating to the various religions, all extremely interesting and this is coming from me, a non-museum type person.
This museum was a joint effort between Vietnam and France. Extremely crowded with family groups and schools since it was a Sunday. The lower level had displays and objects relating to craft making, arts and spiritual practices. The Viet (or Kinh) people make up almost 86% of the population of Vietnam, the biggest of the 54 ethnic groups.
Two favorite displays: A bicycle more than loaded to the brim with 800 fish traps and actually used by Mr. Uy between 1982-1997...View image... as he peddled from village to village selling fish traps. Don't know how he ever managed to see where he was going loaded like that; and an old water puppet of a man plowing with his buffalo. Bought one in 2001. Don't know if ours is old or new but it stands plowing the fireplace bricks in Chicago.
The second level of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology displayed clothes...View image..., crafts, flags...View image and information about the Thai Thanh, Yao, Nung Loi, Hmong, Lolo, Sedang, Giarai, Cham and Hoa minorities....
...while the grounds contained an open-air exhibition of houses from a few of the ethnic groups. The spectacular communal house of the Bahnar (Central Highlands of Vietnam) is a standout. A height of approximately 19 m/60'! According to the Bahnar, their houses are "...a symbol of skill, strength of the villagers...especially the power of men." There was also a water puppet show being presented and an exquisite bride posing for her formal wedding portraits.
As if all this hadn't been interesting enough, a very talented craftsman sat outside the Museum creating and selling different animals, flowers and people out of a rice mixture. Not for eating, but display. John bought us each a flower and, would you believe, it made an 8,000 mile journey back home...intact?
Find time to visit the Hanoi Museum of Ethnology. A must if you are heading North or Northwest into the minority regions for a healthy background in what you are about to see...
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