![photo P1210701_zpsdrjtuqeg.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210701_zpsdrjtuqeg.jpg)
My friend had already taken the early morning flight back to KL so I would be going solo again just like my first day in Hanoi.
The museum was housed in a colonial-style building, which was formerly a Catholic girls boarding school. Entrance ticket was a very reasonable 20,000 VND (about US$1) and you are allowed to take as many pictures as you like! However, you need to keep your backpack in the locker which they provide free of charge.
![photo P1260649_zpszdjojqpd.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1260649_zpszdjojqpd.jpg)
I have to say that the three-storey building itself is a work of art! Don't you agree?
![photo P1210702_zpswsoo3h0n.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210702_zpswsoo3h0n.jpg)
The exhibits in the museum were arranged chronologically from the bottom to the top floor. I started with a room at the ground floor which contains some pretty ancient stuffs, probably from the prehistoric era.
![photo P1210705_zpsppbbme1w.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210705_zpsppbbme1w.jpg)
Many types of axes and spears.
![photo P1210706_zpsktx4gjaz.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210706_zpsktx4gjaz.jpg)
Bronze drum (on the right) dating back to 300 years BC.
![photo P1210707_zpsqbuyjsum.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210707_zpsqbuyjsum.jpg)
A belt buckle (left) and ancient bronze bells (middle and right).
![photo P1210710_zpslic4krgi.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210710_zpslic4krgi.jpg)
A statue of a man kneeling down and carrying lamp in both hands.
![photo P1210712_zpseglhbmj8.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210712_zpseglhbmj8.jpg)
I did not take pictures of all the exhibits - only the more interesting ones. I continued walking towards the right to cover the entire ground floor exhibits.
Here is a statue of the Buddha.
![photo P1210714_zps8nhwfyq5.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210714_zps8nhwfyq5.jpg)
Sakyamuni Buddha on snowy mount
![photo P1210715_zpsc2rg8wgl.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210715_zpsc2rg8wgl.jpg)
King Ly Nam De and the Queen. King Ly Nam De is considered by many to be the first emperor of Vietnam and founder of the Early Ly Dynasty.
![photo P1210717_zps2mhmp2rb.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210717_zps2mhmp2rb.jpg)
Giving lecture
![photo P1210719_zpsub6mpcjt.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210719_zpsub6mpcjt.jpg)
Buddhanandi made from lacquered wood
![photo P1210721_zpsmzx6sbxd.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210721_zpsmzx6sbxd.jpg)
Buddhist cultural images from the Tay Son period.
![photo P1210723_zpsaybkpb2m.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210723_zpsaybkpb2m.jpg)
Were these on the first floor of the museum? I could not remember, but they probably were.
![photo P1210724_zpstorazv6p.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210724_zpstorazv6p.jpg)
An incense pillar. This is not a real incense pillar but a reproduction. It seems that many exhibits in this museum are reproductions as many of the original items were destroyed during the Vietnam War.
![photo P1210726_zpszehinkml.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210726_zpszehinkml.jpg)
There's a section where they were many wood carvings on display.
Fighting against a tiger.
![photo P1210729_zpsrycn3h7u.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210729_zpsrycn3h7u.jpg)
Two man playing a ball game - a work of art from the 17th century.
![photo P1210731_zpsg9uanwjv.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210731_zpsg9uanwjv.jpg)
Depiction of a young girl.
![photo P1210733_zpsehyrwsmh.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210733_zpsehyrwsmh.jpg)
Can you guess what game is this carving trying to depict?
![photo P1210735_zpsf9gsfcyw.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210735_zpsf9gsfcyw.jpg)
No, not kung fu. It's boxing!
A giant Dragon and fairies riding on mini dragons.
![photo P1210737_zpsqtayo1m9.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210737_zpsqtayo1m9.jpg)
Door carved with dragon images.
![photo P1210739_zpsgficcm5w.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210739_zpsgficcm5w.jpg)
The phoenix and her cubs
![photo P1210741_zpswjzio9fx.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210741_zpswjzio9fx.jpg)
This one is pretty remarkable - The One Thousand Eye And One Thousand Arm Guan Yin.
![photo P1210743_zpsqaset8cl.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210743_zpsqaset8cl.jpg)
A closer shot
![photo P1210745_zps7ret2i6s.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210745_zps7ret2i6s.jpg)
![photo P1210746_zpsyomagyh9.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210746_zpsyomagyh9.jpg)
Duchess Yen
![photo P1210748_zpsxymo8ngr.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210748_zpsxymo8ngr.jpg)
Buddha entering Nirvana. Yes if you must know, this pose was when Buddha was dying and entering Nirvana.
![photo P1210750_zpsj8rha8uc.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210750_zpsj8rha8uc.jpg)
Scene of everyday life.
![photo P1210752_zps9gf2tbfs.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210752_zps9gf2tbfs.jpg)
Legendary lion
![photo P1210754_zpswrvhmefd.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210754_zpswrvhmefd.jpg)
Puppet offering incense sticks
![photo P1210756_zpskuvi9xvo.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210756_zpskuvi9xvo.jpg)
Majucri Bodhisattva
![photo P1210758_zpsfzcpfz8n.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210758_zpsfzcpfz8n.jpg)
Princess Trinh Thi Ngoc Co
![photo P1210760_zpsclitmokv.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210760_zpsclitmokv.jpg)
Fairies and a fairy riding a dragon (bottom right)
![photo P1210762_zpscgk72jzq.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210762_zpscgk72jzq.jpg)
Buddha Guan Yin
![photo P1210764_zpscdjllku3.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210764_zpscdjllku3.jpg)
Duke Nguyen The My
![photo P1210766_zpsdsrwnhrz.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210766_zpsdsrwnhrz.jpg)
Amitabha Buddha
![photo P1210768_zpseec4pl3c.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210768_zpseec4pl3c.jpg)
A closer shot.
![photo P1210769_zpsdt5bhujw.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210769_zpsdt5bhujw.jpg)
The room where the statue of Amitabha Buddha was placed.
![photo P1210772_zpsfxi1owv2.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210772_zpsfxi1owv2.jpg)
More carvings on the wall, but I did not take pictures of them all.
![photo P1210773_zpscrjrvcgp.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210773_zpscrjrvcgp.jpg)
A side shot of the Buddha Guan Yin with thousand arms.
![photo P1210774_zpslrx5aldq.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210774_zpslrx5aldq.jpg)
The room where the statues reside.
![photo P1210776_zpseei2pe7f.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210776_zpseei2pe7f.jpg)
Not exactly sure what this was.
![photo P1210777_zps38ekwlyw.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210777_zps38ekwlyw.jpg)
A hideous looking creature at the top. I could not find any labels or information anywhere near it.
![photo P1210778_zpss9kjziof.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210778_zpss9kjziof.jpg)
OK, there is information regarding this building, but I forgot to take a shot so I really have no idea what building this is!
![photo P1210779_zps2ktjvpcb.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210779_zps2ktjvpcb.jpg)
Sculpture of a Lion.
![photo P1210780_zpswxv4kkt2.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210780_zpswxv4kkt2.jpg)
Not your usual lion, but one of those mythical creatures.
![photo P1210781_zpswkeuijur.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210781_zpswkeuijur.jpg)
Garuda beating the drum.
![photo P1210783_zpshikfkxjl.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210783_zpshikfkxjl.jpg)
A portrait
![photo P1210785_zps6q83o7vy.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210785_zps6q83o7vy.jpg)
Nice piece of art!
![photo P1210787_zpsxaixcpzu.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210787_zpsxaixcpzu.jpg)
Finished with the first floor exhibits, I walked up to the second floor. This is the passageway of the first floor, I think.
![photo P1210788_zpsjatlrmaz.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210788_zpsjatlrmaz.jpg)
Mother and child sculpture at the corridor.
![photo P1210789_zpsllf1ewnv.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210789_zpsllf1ewnv.jpg)
Many sculptures displayed along the corridor.
![photo P1210791_zpshk9ohtdj.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210791_zpshk9ohtdj.jpg)
On the second floor, there were some war related bronze sculptures on display.
![photo P1210792_zpscz0ldn6n.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210792_zpscz0ldn6n.jpg)
Rice jar to feed the army
![photo P1210794_zps51yhfwsg.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210794_zps51yhfwsg.jpg)
The caption for this reads "While eating its fruits, think of those who have grown the tree".
![photo P1210796_zps2iqfvg8k.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210796_zps2iqfvg8k.jpg)
I like the expression on the faces of these sculptures.
![photo P1210797_zpsunlw5fuh.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210797_zpsunlw5fuh.jpg)
I took some time to take a view outside the opened window of the museum building.
![photo P1210799_zpsaxefphb6.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210799_zpsaxefphb6.jpg)
Pretty nice view, no?
![photo P1210800_zpsovejmox4.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210800_zpsovejmox4.jpg)
Back to the exhibits. This one depicts a lady sharpening the bamboo spikes.
![photo P1210801_zps758zowzm.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210801_zps758zowzm.jpg)
A drawing simply titled "Miss Lien". I wonder who she is!
![photo P1210803_zps38mb7phs.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210803_zps38mb7phs.jpg)
Kim Dong
![photo P1210806_zpsirldeu5w.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210806_zpsirldeu5w.jpg)
Cock fighting
![photo P1210808_zpsyebv1bvj.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210808_zpsyebv1bvj.jpg)
I kind of like this sculpture!
![photo P1210810_zpsn3sls6hd.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210810_zpsn3sls6hd.jpg)
Reading a book
![photo P1210811_zpsa0ub2pmh.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210811_zpsa0ub2pmh.jpg)
A handful of land from the South
![photo P1210814_zpstglheyxh.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210814_zpstglheyxh.jpg)
Very nice sculptures!
![photo P1210815_zpscffdpnyy.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210815_zpscffdpnyy.jpg)
Dien Bien Phu victory
![photo P1210817_zpsjg6eg4mi.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210817_zpsjg6eg4mi.jpg)
Oil on canvas titled "Central Region".
![photo P1210820_zpsihqcgyop.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210820_zpsihqcgyop.jpg)
Memorial
![photo P1210822_zpsbah02huq.jpg](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/jesselton88/Bali%20Souvenirs/P1210822_zpsbah02huq.jpg)
I completed the whole tour of the museum in about one and a half hour. I could have taken longer but time was not really on my side. As it was my last day in Hanoi, I had to make full use of my time as I still have several places that I needed to visit.
Overall, the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum is worth visiting and I would certainly recommend it as part of your itinerary in Hanoi.