The Vietnam Military History Museum's new campus on Thang Long Boulevard in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi, whose construction began in 2019, has now completed the first phase with an investment of VND2.5 trillion (US$101 million).

The state-of-the-art museum displays some 150,000 artefacts, including national treasures and rare items.

Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by the 45-meter-tall Victory Tower atop a 386,000-square-meter museum commemorating the historic moment in 1945 when President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed Vietnam's independence, marking the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

In the outdoor exhibition area, on the left-hand side, there are weapons and equipment used by the Vietnamese military and people during the resistance against the French colonialists and American forces, and for training and defence during the country's development. On the right, visitors can see French and American armaments used during the war in Vietnam.

As visitors continue their tour of the museum, they will pass through six exhibition areas arranged in chronological order, with each section highlighting a key historical theme: The Early Days of Nation Building and Defense; Defending Independence from 939 to 1858; Resisting French Colonialism, National Independence from 1858 to 1945; Resisting French Invasion, 1945-1954; Resisting the US from 1954 to 1975; Nation Building and Defense from 1976 to the Present.

The Vietnam Military History Museum is an important landmark that commemorates several important anniversaries, including the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of National Defense Day. Admission is free until the end of December. After that, visitors will have to pay an entrance fee of VND40,000 (about US$1.6).

The museum covers an area of 386,000 square meters and features a modern design with a striking front courtyard and the 45-meter-high Victory Tower. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Panoramic view of the museum. Photo: Hoang Quan/The Hanoi Times

The outdoor area features a variety of armaments including 85mm cannons, 57mm anti-aircraft guns, PT67 tanks, MiG-17 fighter jets and SU22 aircraft. Photo: Hoang Quan/The Hanoi Times

In the exhibition area, on the left, are weapons and equipment used by the Vietnamese military and people during the resistance against the French colonialists and American forces. Photo: Hoang Quan/The Hanoi Times

The water drop symbol reflected in mirrors represents Vietnam's long history of national building and defense, from the era of the Hung Kings to the 20th century. The symbol reinforces the idea that the Vietnamese people have strived for peace for thousands of years, enduring hardship and sacrifice to achieve independence, freedom and happiness. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Symbolizing the quest for peace, the wings of the building are adorned with images of tree branches, green buds, and doves rising from the wreckage of airplanes. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

The wreckage of the first B-52 shot down by the combat crew of Battalion 59, Missile Regiment 261 (Hanoi Air Defense Unit) on December 18, 1972, as the US launched the "Dien Bien Phu in the Air" campaign. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

The "Silver Swallow" MiG-21 fighter jet greets guests as they enter the main lobby. Nine pilots flew this model during the War of Resistance against the United States, taking part in 69 sorties, 22 encounters with the enemy and 14 successful shoot downs of American aircrafts. The plane was declared a national treasure on January 14, 2015. Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times photo