The Vung Tau Provincial Museum has a distinctive façade featuring white and gold art-deco style curves representing the waves of the ocean. It offers a good introduction to the province’s natural eco-systems, diverse ethnic communities, traditions, and thousands of years of history.

The museum follows a chronological journey through the region’s history, from prehistoric times and the wartime struggles to the present day. Starting at level 1 and gradually working upwards, each floor covers an important era that has indelibly shaped the region.

Exhibits

Museum of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province. Photo: Baotang Ba Ria Vung Tau

There is an engaging series of relics excavated from archaeological digs around the region. It’s particularly interesting as nearly all the items on display were only discovered in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It includes many Bronze Age tools and weapons, fossils, and jewelry. The standout exhibit is a scaled-down replica of an ancient tomb complex dating from the Iron Age.

Level 2 focuses on the political and military struggles of the war of resistance against French colonialism and the Vietnam War. It has an unmistakable patriotic tone but there are also many interesting non-military items and photographs depicting everyday life.

The colorful dioramas of the ‘Country and People’ section are among the most informative for culturally curious visitors. It is split into the natural ecosystems on land and water and the different ethnic groups of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province. There is a model of traditional house and revealing displays highlighting the various religious practices, folk art, and cuisine.

Museum of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province. Photo: Baotang Ba Ria Vung Tau

Getting There

The museum is located next to Front Beach and is close to a host of other local attractions including Ho May Tourist Area, Front Beach Park, and Vung Tau Lighthouse. It’s only a few minutes from the Greenlines DP ferry terminal in Vung Tau, which operates ferry services to and from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The journey takes about two hours from HCMC.