National museum displays 30-year collection in HCMC

A stone yoni, considered to be the largest in Vietnam, at the exhibition The National Museum of Vietnamese History–Ho Chi Minh City launched an exhibition Sunday of some 300 of nearly 30,000 items collected since its establishment.

Running until the end of this year, the exhibition highlights various articles ranging from Vietnam’s largest stone yoni dating from the 12-13th century, to two Bertin vases made in the mid 19th century by France’s National Manufacture of Sèvres. Antiques belonging to Vietnamese royal families and Chinese pottery dating from the 18th century are also on display. Director Tran Thi Thuy Phuong said the items were gathered from different sources including collectors and police and customs officers who confiscated them in smuggling operations. Local and foreign benefactors, including famous antique collector Vuong Hong Sen, have also contributed to the collection, Phuong added. Titled Typical Antiques: 30 Years’ Collection, the exhibition marks the center’s celebration of its 30th anniversary. The museum is located at No.2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1. Reported by Giao Huong