Ton Duc Thang Museum

5 Đ. Tôn Đức Thắng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam +842838297542 bt.tdt.svhtt@tphcm.gov.vn http://www.baotangtonducthang.vn/

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Description

This little patriotic museum is devoted to Ton Duc Thang, the Vietnamese president who succeeded Ho Chi Minh. Born in Long Xuyen, Mekong Delta, in 1888, he passed away in office in 1980. Photos and displays honor his role in the Vietnamese Revolution, with some informative displays on the cruelty of French colonial rule. The Ton Duc Thang Museum is one of the few museums offering free admission to all guests.

This museum, named after Uncle Ton Duc Thang, a historical figure who played a pivotal role in Vietnam’s decolonization, is the first museum in Vietnam to display exhibitions about a single man. Despite being less popular than other tourism museums such as the War Remnants Museum or the Museum of Vietnamese History, the Ton Duc Thang Museum is a must-visit for those interested in learning more about Vietnam’s struggle to decolonize and escape French dominion.

The primary focus of the museum is Uncle Ton Duc Thang’s life and profession. In addition to its five permanent parts, the museum features a temporary exhibition. The first portion showcases almost fifty items offered to Uncle Ton by the Ho Chi Minh Museum on the 37th anniversary of his passing.

Uncle Ton’s contributions to the Vietnam Communist Party’s revolution and decolonization are displayed in the exhibition “Uncle Ton with the south of Vietnam,” which is required viewing to learn more about Uncle Ton’s role in the south of Vietnam.

Uncle Ton was detained by the French and put to the notoriously brutal Con Dao jail, where he spent fifteen years of his life. Visit the display area titled “15 Years of Con Dao Prison” to discover more about this time of his life.

Last but not least, there is a large room dedicated to honoring Uncle Ton, which is also the location of the annual commemoration of the second president of Vietnam’s passing.

From one chamber to the next, a vivid portrayal of a humble but magnificent president emerges: how he lived, worked, struggled, and is adored and respected.

The museum is adjacent to Ham Nghi or Nguyen Hue Street, approximately 1 kilometer from Dragon Wharf House, and 500 meters from Saigon Square Shopping Center. During a visitor’s walking city tour, it is most convenient to pause here for a bit.

Exhibits Of Ton Duc Thang Museum

Ton Duc Thang Museum is comprised of a memorial room, five permanent galleries (Uncle Ton with the workers; Life and career; 15 years in Con Dao prison; Uncle Ton at the ATK – Viet Bac; Uncle Ton through the Fine Artworks) and one thematic showroom (Gifts of President Ton Duc Thang), with a total area of over 700 square meters. Numerous objects, documents, and photographs at the museum eloquently illustrate and generalize the life and career of Ton Duc Thang. The museum’s exhibition system has approximately one thousand items, documents, and photographs. As a result of several gifts, the Museum today houses more than 16,500 artifacts, documents, and photographs, including priceless items relating to the revolutionary life and career of President Ton Duc Thang and the Party, State, and Government leaders of Vietnam throughout time.

A childhood house at Ong Ho islet (My Hoa Hung commune – An Giang); a photograph of a young Ton Duc Thang at age 18 going to Saigon to study and work as a mechanic; a wooden chest used during his time as a student at Asian Mechanical School; events pulling anti-war flags in the Black Sea; founding the guild and leading the Saigon workers’ movement in the 1920s.

Architecture of Ton Duc Thang Museum

The museum was constructed on a 2500 m2 plot of land; the front building has two stories and an area of 700 m2. The rear structure contains only one floor. The two-story building’s architecture is simple and contemporary; it is cube-shaped and its exterior is painted white and cream. On the building’s left are a tiny pond with water lilies and Uncle Ton’s automobile, which is adorned with a Vietnam flag.

The expansive garden is adorned with an abundance of green grass, trees, plants, and flowers, as well as lampposts. In the center of the garden is a black granite pedestal with the inscription “Chủ Tịch Tôn Đức Thắng (1890 – 1960)” and a statue of President Ton Duc Thang (President Ton Duc Thang, year of birth and year of death).

The memorial room facing the museum’s main entrance is the museum’s most solemn space. Visitors typically enter the room, burn incense, and show Uncle Ton respect. On the birth and death anniversaries of President Ton Duc Thang, as well as at significant national events, the Vietnamese government and people traditionally come here to offer Uncle Ton with incense.

The memorial room was created in accordance with South Vietnam’s religious tradition. Wood-tile flooring, clay-tile walls, and a wooden ceiling warm the space. The wooden pillars, carved wood ornaments in traditional Vietnamese style, and lotus decorations on the walls make the memorial space recognizable to Vietnamese individuals.

In front of the room are two large ceramic vases, one depicting the portrait of President Ton Duc Thang and the other depicting Uncle Ho and Uncle Ton shaking hands. In the chamber are two paintings representing Uncle Ho’s stilt house and the surrounding environment.