Multiple Narratives in Vietnam Museums

The first week in Hanoi has demonstrated how museums employ different museological approaches to national history, minority communities and Vietnamese women. In some cases, we have learnt how museums use a combination of different approaches to focus on communities using varying narratives forms and modes of representation. Both the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (VME) and the Vietnamese Women's Museum (VWM) are cases in point.

The VME employs a predominately anthropological discourse common to such museums throughout the world. Galleries are organised around anthropological categories of religion, everyday, household, textiles etc as well as ethno-linguistic groups, demonstrating minority groups. In some cases, key objects are named, with short biographies of makers or former owners of these objects. The individual and personal framing of key objects is a technique to bring visitors closer to minority cultures, and to emphasis the part/whole relationship -- that life narratives or biographical approaches to one person could stand for any and all of people in the society under focus.

The new South East Asia Wing of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The VWM employs two main approaches to its galleries. An anthropological narrative is used in the three main galleries of the museum while a community-focussed approach is evident in the temporary exhibition spaces. A reason for this is that, as the director Ms Bich Van explained, community work takes time and resources, and is invariably a risk. 

Other museums in Vietnam use different museological approaches in subtle ways. The Museum of Nature was a case in point. The new displays followed a familiar pattern of human evolution and insect classification (incorporated brilliantly to aesthetic effect). But I wonder how many noticed the nationalist message incorporated into the model of the Earth?

Vietnam Museum of Nature

The first week has demonstrated how curators use many approaches to exhibitions in Vietnam. And it has shown how, through an analytical approach to voice and narrative, we should be observe, question and so learn about how the museum communicates messages, as authority, inviting participation, or as activist. And it emphasises how the approach shifts, used in combination, to different effect.

Graeme Were