Vietnamese Women's Museum Hanoi 2026: Tickets and Guide

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum (Bảo tàng Phụ nữ Việt Nam) at 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, about 1 km south of Hoan Kiem Lake, tells the story of Vietnamese women through family life, history and fashion across 54 ethnic groups. Run by the Vietnam Women’s Union, it is open daily 8:00–17:00; adult tickets cost 40,000 VND.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal, 8:00–17:00 including holidays; adult tickets are 40,000 VND. Temporary exhibitions change through the year (in 2026 these have included shows on highland women and sustainable living), so check the museum’s website for what is on.

Why the Vietnamese Women’s Museum is worth seeing:

Human stories: marriage, childbirth, market life and wartime courage told through objects, photos and personal accounts.
Costumes of 54 ethnic groups: the top-floor fashion gallery is one of the best textile displays in Vietnam.
Excellent English labels and an audio guide in several languages.
Central and compact: 1.5–2 hours, air-conditioned, close to Hoa Lo Prison and the French Quarter.
Ethical shop: crafts made by ethnic minority women and other craftswomen.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Bảo tàng Phụ nữ Việt Nam
Location	36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi (French Quarter)
Distance	About 1 km south of Hoan Kiem Lake; about 500 m from Hoa Lo Prison
Known for	Women in Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion galleries; ethnic costumes
Operator	Vietnam Women’s Union; established 1987, opened 1995, reopened after redevelopment in 2010
Opening hours	Daily 8:00–17:00, including holidays
Entrance fee	40,000 VND adults (about US$1.50); reduced rates for students
Time needed	1.5–2 hours
Best time	Weekday mornings; a good rainy-day or midday-heat option
Nearby	Hoa Lo Prison, St Joseph’s Cathedral, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Opera House
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Official website

Is the Vietnamese Women’s Museum Worth Visiting?

Yes, it is one of the best-presented museums in Hanoi. Where many Vietnamese museums focus on dynasties and battles, this one shows everyday life: how women marry, raise children, trade, worship and dress, and the roles they played in war. Labels are clear, the building is modern and comfortable, and the visit fits easily between Hoan Kiem Lake and Hoa Lo Prison.

Best for: culture lovers, families, textile and fashion fans, and anyone wanting to understand Vietnamese society beyond the war.
Skip if: you plan to visit the larger Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and only have time for one ethnography museum.
Short on time: go straight to the 4th-floor fashion gallery and the 3rd-floor Women in History section (about 45 minutes).

History of the Vietnamese Women’s Museum

Plans for the museum began in 1985 under Nguyen Thi Dinh, then president of the Vietnam Women’s Union and the first female general of the Vietnam People’s Army. It was officially established in 1987, the building designed by architect Tran Xuan Diem was built from 1991, and the museum opened on 20 October 1995. Between 2006 and 2010 it closed for a major redevelopment and reopened in 2010 with a new permanent exhibition focused on gender and women’s lives rather than a purely historical display. The collection now holds tens of thousands of documents and objects, of which more than 1,000 are on permanent display.

What to See at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum

1. The lobby and the statue of the Vietnamese Mother

The atrium is dominated by the statue of a Vietnamese Mother, the winning design of a 1995 sculpture competition. It sets the tone for a museum that celebrates women’s strength in everyday life.

2. Women in Family (2nd floor)

This gallery follows a woman’s life cycle across Vietnam’s ethnic groups: matchmaking and wedding rituals, betel and areca offerings, childbirth customs, raising children and household work. The displays compare customs among different ethnic groups, with photos and short films.

3. Women in History (3rd floor)

This floor covers women’s roles in national history, above all in the 20th-century wars: guerrilla fighters, nurses, porters on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, whose portraits fill one wall. Personal objects such as letters, diaries and handmade items make the stories moving.

4. Women’s Fashion (4th floor)

The highlight for many visitors: traditional costumes, jewellery and textile techniques of women from the 54 ethnic groups, with weaving and dyeing techniques, jewellery and traditional beauty customs.

Traditional costumes displayed in the Women's Fashion gallery of the Vietnamese Women's Museum, Hanoi — Traditional costumes in the Women’s Fashion gallery. Photo: Aumusee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

5. Temporary and thematic exhibitions

The museum regularly runs themed shows on topics such as Mother Goddess worship, street vendors, single mothers and sustainable living. These are often the most thought-provoking part of a visit; check the official website for the current programme.

6. Museum shop and café

The ground-floor shop sells textiles, clothing and handicrafts, with proceeds going to the women who make them. A small outdoor café serves drinks and light snacks.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum Tickets and Opening Hours (2026)

Item	Details
Adult ticket	40,000 VND (about US$1.50)
Students	Reduced rate (10,000–20,000 VND) with a valid card
Audio guide	For rent at the counter; around 60 stories in Vietnamese, English, French, Japanese, Korean and other languages
Opening hours	8:00–17:00, Monday to Sunday, including holidays
Facilities	Free lockers and Wi-Fi, lift, wheelchair access and accessible toilets, café, shop

Prices and programmes are set by the museum; check the official visit page before you go.

How to Visit the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, Step by Step

Buy tickets (and the audio guide if you want it) at the ground-floor counter; leave large bags in the free lockers.
Take the lift to the 4th floor and work your way down: fashion first, then history, then family.
Allow time for the video rooms and personal stories on the 3rd floor.
Check the temporary exhibition space before leaving.
Finish at the shop and café, then walk 5–7 minutes to Hoa Lo Prison.

How to Get to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum

From	How	Time
Hoan Kiem Lake	Walk south via Hang Bai and Ly Thuong Kiet streets (about 1 km)	12–15 minutes
Old Quarter	Grab or taxi (1.5–2 km)	5–10 minutes
Hoa Lo Prison	Walk along Hoa Lo and Ly Thuong Kiet streets (about 500 m)	6–8 minutes
Temple of Literature	Grab or taxi (about 2 km)	10 minutes
Noi Bai Airport	Taxi or Grab (about 30 km)	40–60 minutes

For buses and ride-hailing tips, see our Hanoi transport guide.

Best Time to Visit the Vietnamese Women’s Museum

When	What to expect
Any month	Indoors and air-conditioned: a good choice in summer heat (May–September) or winter drizzle (January–March)
8:00–10:00	Quietest time; school groups tend to arrive later in the morning
Midday	Ideal escape from the heat between outdoor sights
8 March and 20 October	International Women’s Day and Vietnamese Women’s Day: special events, busier

Local Expert Tips for the Vietnamese Women’s Museum

These tips come from years of arranging Hanoi tours for international travellers.

Take the audio guide: the personal stories behind the objects are the best part.
Combine it with Hoa Lo Prison in one morning; both are in the French Quarter and together give a fuller picture of 20th-century Hanoi.
Families: the museum runs children’s activities, and the lift and lockers make it easy with young kids.
Budget a little for the shop; many items are fair-trade crafts from minority women.
Plan to see the Museum of Ethnology as well? Do the Women’s Museum first; it is a gentler introduction to ethnic cultures.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum vs Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

	Vietnamese Women’s Museum	Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Location	French Quarter, 1 km from Hoan Kiem Lake	Cau Giay area, about 7–8 km west of the centre
Focus	Women’s lives, history and fashion	All 54 ethnic groups and Southeast Asian cultures
Highlight	Costume gallery, wartime stories	Outdoor garden of full-size traditional houses
Time needed	1.5–2 hours	2–3 hours
Best for	A central, compact visit	A deep dive into ethnic diversity

Our view: if you only have one day, the Women’s Museum is easier to fit in; with two or more days, visit both, as they complement each other well.

Nearby Attractions

Hoa Lo Prison Museum: about 500 m.
St Joseph’s Cathedral: about 800 m.
Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple: about 1 km.
Hanoi Opera House: about 1.2 km.
Vietnam National Museum of History: about 1.5 km.
Temple of Literature: about 2 km.

Sightseeing in Hanoi for First-Time Visitors: Where the Vietnamese Women’s Museum Fits

A French Quarter morning: start at Hoa Lo Prison when it opens, continue to the Women’s Museum, then walk to St Joseph’s Cathedral and Hoan Kiem Lake for lunch in the Old Quarter. Spend the afternoon at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area or the Temple of Literature. Read our Hanoi travel tips before you go.

Plan your trip with our Hanoi travel guide and Hanoi tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Vietnamese Women’s Museum

1. How much is the ticket to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum?

An adult ticket to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum costs 40,000 VND (about US$1.50); students pay a reduced rate with a valid card.

2. What are the opening hours of the Vietnamese Women’s Museum?

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00, including holidays.

3. Where is the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hanoi?

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is at 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Cua Nam Ward, in the French Quarter about 1 km south of Hoan Kiem Lake.

4. Is the Vietnamese Women’s Museum worth visiting?

Yes. The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is one of Hanoi’s best-presented museums, with clear English labels and moving personal stories.

5. How long do you need at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum?

Most visitors spend 1.5–2 hours at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum; 45 minutes is enough for the fashion and history floors only.

6. What is on each floor of the Vietnamese Women’s Museum?

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum has the shop on the ground floor, Women in Family on the 2nd floor, Women in History on the 3rd and Women’s Fashion on the 4th.