Museum of Da Nang was founded in 1989 and was originally located in Le Duan Street.  In 2005 it was relocated to 24 Tran Phu Street where it officially opened on 26 April 2011.

The new museum incorporates the reconstructed walls of a citadel built by Emperor Minh Mang at the beginning of the 19^th century.  The three-floor museum houses more than 2,500 photos and artifacts,  more than 1,900 of which are original and have been collected from Da Nang and neighbouring areas since national reunification in 1975.  Many are on public display for the first time.

The museum entrance

Stones taken from the Truong Sa archipelago, as evidence of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, were presented to the authorities and people of Da Nang on 29 April, 2011. The 21 pieces of stone were collected from each of the 21 islands of the Truong Sa archipelago, where sailors from the Vietnam People’s Navy are based.

19th century cannons from the Nguyen Dynasty

As they enter the museum, visitors will be impressed by a large sail-shaped relief representing Da Nang’s founding history.

Relief depicting King Le Thanh Tong, in 1471, standing on the Hai Van Pass looking over the Dong Long area (now called Da Nang Bay) when he was leading his army to expand his territory to the south.

The first floor displays Da Nang’s prehistoric times and its culture, the construction and development of the city, and the local traditional craft villages such as the Nam O fish sauce making village, Tuy Loan rice paper village and Non Nuoc stone carving village.

Exibits on Da Nang’s prehistoric times

A replica of temporary housing (locally called Nha Cho) on the Han River where about 350 poor households lived. These houses have disappeared since 2005 when all of these families were moved to the Nai Hien Dong fishing village resettlement area in Son Tra District.

Non Nuoc village stone carvers

Fish sauce making at Nam O village

One of Da Nang’s typical fishing vessels

The second floor houses exhibits on war crimes and the aftermath of the various wars fought on Vietnamese soil, especially relating to the French and Americans in Da Nang.

Door from the Con Ga (Chicken) prison from the resistance wars against the French and Americans

A replica of a guillotine. Bill 10/59 caused the nepotistic regime of Ngo Dinh Diem to drag the guillotine around the South, and barbarously massacre patriots.

Victims were brutally tortured by American and Vietnamese puppet soldiers

The third floor showcases the cultural features of minority ethnic groups in the central region, especially Da Nang.  Also on this floor is a 30-seat cinema where visitors can view documentaries on Da Nang’s history and culture.

Admission is free and the museum opens every day except Mondays, from 8.00am to 11.30am and 2.00pm to 4.30pm.