The Museum of Da Nang, which officially opened on 26 April 2011, will be moved out of the Dien Hai citadel site to relocate to the current headquarters of the municipal People’s Council at 42 Bach Dang. The relocation of the museum aims to give space for restoring and embellishing the citadel.

The existing headquarters of the municipal People’s Council at 42 Bach Dang

In the spotlight at Monday’s meeting, chaired by municipal People’s Committee Standing Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung, were discussions about architectural designs for the museum at its new site.

In particular, the new museum could offer more in larger space so its expansion plan was also taken into careful consideration.

According to the Consultancy Company Limited of University of Civil Engineering (CCU), the consulting unit for the rebuilding of the museum, the existing hall at the headquarters of the municipal People’s Council at 42 Bach Dang will be kept unchanged.

Also, other focuses will be on refurbishing the current work place for the municipal People’s Council staff, building a new building covering an area of nearly 800m2, dismantling heavily downgraded facilities facing Tran Phu Street, and building a basement parking, and exhibit storage areas.

In addition, the main entrance to the museum will be located on Tran Phu Street and there will be information stalls, coffee shops, rest stops, and other auxiliary facilities.

With regard to exhibition space, as proposed by the consultants, the soon-to-be-refurbished site will be used as a permanent exhibition area, whilst the new building will be used for the organisation of specialised galleries, and educational and administrative activities.

The exhibition plan will feature 4 parts: Da Nang’s development history from past to present with its maps; the nature, the first inhabitants, the feudal periods, the August Revolution until the present; the development progress highlighting architecture, urban planning, transportation and small scale industries; and Da Nang’s marine cultural values, and cultural features of minority ethnic groups in the Central Highlands region as a whole. 

Associate Professor Pham Van Duong, the Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology proposed that the new Museum of Da Nang must affirm its new stature as the best in the central and Central Highlands regions.

Of special note, based on the gallery space at the current museum, Mr Duong underlined an emphasis on displaying exhibits showing off the urban development in the city over the past years.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Mr Le Tu Gia Thanh, the Head of the municipal Construction Planning Institute, voiced his concern over the development of the 800m2 building at the new site of the museum because the new construction might adversely affect the existing architecture and urban construction density.

Mr Huynh Van Hung, the Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports pointed out to the fact that the new site of museum at 42 Bach Dang covers only around 2,230m², which is much smaller than the existing one at 24 Tran Phu with nearly 3,500m². Therefore, he suggested that, in addition to 42 Bach Dang, facilities at 44 Bach Dang and 31 Tran Phu should be used for the museum’s space expansion, hereby creating a cultural architectural complex that stretches from the existing General Science Library to the Dien Hai Citadel.

Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung presiding over the meeting on architectural designs and display plans for the museum at its new site

Addressing the meeting, Standing Vice Chairman Dung noted that work will start on the 2nd stage of the citadel restoration and embellishment project on 31 October. This important project is of great significance to mark 160 years since the French colonialists attacked Da Nang, and began the war to invade Viet Nam in 1858.

Mr Dung also urged concerned units, as soon as possible, to complete the master plan of the establishment of a square with the Dien Hai Citadel being at the central position.

Alongside, more suitable adjustments to the architectural designs and display plans of the museum at its new location should be made in prompt fashion.

In addition, Vice Chairman Dung remarked that the new museum should be viewed as an important  architectural part of the cultural square, and this venue will become the best in the central and Central Highlands regions, and a ‘do not miss’ site for visitors arriving in this inviting seaside city to learn more about the culture and history of Da Nang.