By aussiematesvietnam Vietnamese Museum of Revolution: Revolutionary Movements
G’day, fellow travellers! Aussie Mates here, bringing you another slice of Vietnamese history from my adopted home of nearly two decades. Today, Tracy and I are taking you on a journey through one of Hanoi’s most politically significant landmarks – the Vietnamese Museum of Revolution. If you’re like us and enjoy delving into a country’s historical backbone while travelling, this place is an absolute ripper!
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When Tracy and I first arrived in Vietnam all those years ago, we had a pretty limited understanding of this country’s revolutionary past. Sure, we’d heard about the Vietnam War (or the American War, as it’s known here), but the depth and breadth of Vietnam’s struggle for independence goes far deeper than what makes it into most Western history books.
A Brief History of the Museum
Tucked away in Hanoi’s French Quarter, the Vietnamese Museum of Revolution is housed in what was once the Trade Department of Vietnam, built by the French colonial government in 1917. The building itself is a beautiful example of colonial architecture, with its distinctive yellow façade and European design elements blended with Eastern influences.
The museum opened its doors in 1959, making it one of Vietnam’s oldest museums. It was established just five years after the decisive victory against the French at Dien Bien Phu, and its primary purpose was to document and celebrate Vietnam’s revolutionary struggles against foreign domination.
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Tracy always comments on how the building itself tells a story – once a symbol of French colonial power, now repurposed to showcase the Vietnamese fight for independence from that very same power. Talk about a turnaround!
Revolutionary Movements: The Early Years
The ground floor of the museum takes you chronologically through Vietnam’s early revolutionary movements. It begins with resistance against French colonisation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibits display weapons, documents, and photographs from this period, showing how Vietnamese nationalists began organizing against their colonial overlords.
One of the most fascinating aspects for me was learning about the Yen Bai uprising of 1930, led by the Vietnamese Nationalist Party (VNQDD). Though unsuccessful, it marked a significant moment in the Vietnamese independence movement and helped set the stage for what was to come.
I remember standing in front of a display of simple farming tools converted into weapons, and thinking about how determined these ordinary people must have been. It’s a bit humbling, especially when you consider how we Aussies complain when the Wi-Fi drops out!
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The Indochinese Communist Party and Ho Chi Minh
Moving through the museum, you’ll find extensive exhibitions dedicated to the formation of the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 and the rise of Ho Chi Minh. Uncle Ho, as he’s affectionately known here, is Vietnam’s most revered national hero, and his presence in the museum is substantial.
Tracy and I were particularly taken by the collection of Ho Chi Minh’s personal items – his simple sandals made from old tyres, his modest clothing, and various documents written in his own hand. These artifacts really humanize the man behind the legend.
The museum does an excellent job of explaining how Ho Chi Minh’s communist ideology was intertwined with Vietnamese nationalism. For him and his followers, communism wasn’t just about economic theory—it was a vehicle for national liberation and independence.
The August Revolution and Independence
One of the most significant events covered in the museum is the August Revolution of 1945. Following Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II, the Viet Minh (a communist-led independence coalition) seized the opportunity to take control of the country. Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence on September 2, 1945, in what is now Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi.
The exhibits covering this period include the original text of the Declaration of Independence, which, interestingly enough, borrows language from the American Declaration of Independence. Ho Chi Minh was a clever bloke – he knew how to appeal to potential allies!
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As an Aussie who grew up learning primarily about British and Australian history, I found this period particularly enlightening. Tracy often jokes that she learned more about 20th-century global politics in this museum than she did in all her years at school in Melbourne.
The First Indochina War
Despite Vietnam’s declaration of independence, the French weren’t ready to let go of their colony. The First Indochina War (1946-1954) is thoroughly documented in the museum, with an emphasis on the Vietnamese perspective of the conflict.
The exhibits display captured French weapons, Vietnamese guerrilla tactics, and maps of major battles. The crowning jewel of this section is the extensive coverage of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, where General Vo Nguyen Giap’s forces dealt a crushing defeat to the French, effectively ending their colonial presence in Vietnam.
I reckon this part of the museum will be especially interesting for history buffs. The strategic brilliance of the Vietnamese forces, who managed to drag heavy artillery up mountains and through jungles to surround the French, is mind-boggling.
The American War
What we in Australia typically call the Vietnam War is known here as the American War (or the Resistance War Against America). This conflict occupies a significant portion of the museum, with exhibits showcasing the Vietnamese perspective on what they consider their continued struggle for independence and unification.
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The displays include American aircraft shot down by Vietnamese forces, captured weapons, and propaganda posters from the era. There’s also considerable attention given to international support for Vietnam’s cause, including anti-war movements in the US, Australia, and elsewhere.
As an Aussie who remembers the controversy surrounding our involvement in this war, it was confronting but invaluable to see the conflict from the other side. Tracy and I spent a long time in this section, reflecting on how historical narratives can differ so dramatically depending on who’s telling the story.
Practical Tips for Visiting
- The museum is located at 216 Tran Quang Khai Street in Hanoi’s French Quarter
- Opening hours are typically 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM, closed on Mondays
- Entrance fee is around 40,000 VND (about $2.50 AUD) – an absolute bargain!
- English translations are available but can be a bit patchy in places
- Allow at least 2-3 hours to properly explore the exhibits
- Photography is permitted, but flash is not allowed in some sections
Final Thoughts
After nearly 20 years in Vietnam, Tracy and I still find ourselves learning new things about our adopted home. The Museum of Revolution offers a fascinating, if undeniably partisan, look at Vietnam’s struggle for independence through various revolutionary movements.
While the museum certainly presents history from a Vietnamese communist perspective, that’s precisely what makes it valuable. Understanding how Vietnam sees its own past helps visitors appreciate the national pride and resilience that characterizes this remarkable country today.
So if you’re heading to Hanoi and want to go beyond the usual tourist spots, chuck this museum on your itinerary. It might not be as famous as the Temple of Literature or as entertaining as a water puppet show, but it offers something equally valuable – a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped modern Vietnam.
Until next time, mates! Keep exploring and learning.
Aussie Mates (with Tracy always by my side)