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Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture is currently the place to exhibit the richest collection of religious sculpture art of the ancient kingdom of Champa - a kingdom that existed and flourished for decades with many heritages that are now well-kept and preserved. It is also one of the best places to visit in Da Nang in terms of culture and heritage.
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The Brief History of Cham Sculpture Museum Da Nang
From 1895 to 1915, many Cham sculpture artifacts were found in Da Nang, Quang Nam, and neighboring provinces and gathered at the location where the Cham Sculpture Museum is today, it was then called the Tourane Park.
The idea of building a museum originated in 1902; the construction of the first building started in 1915, was completed in 1916, and finally opened in 1919.
The collection marks the merits of French archeology aficionados working for the French School of the Far East (L'École Française d'Extrême - Orient, abbreviated as EFEO). Some sculptural objects were transferred to France, others were transferred to museums in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but most of the typical works remain in Da Nang.
The original building design belongs to two French architects, Delaval and Auclair, based on suggestions from Henri Parmentier (Head of the Department of Archeology of EFEO).
Although it has undergone many expansions, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture still retains its almost intact original architectural features after more than 100 years.
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The Design Diagram of the Cham Museum Da Nang
The building has a total area of nearly 1,000 square meters and is arranged into basic galleries including Tra Kieu, My Son, Dong Duong, Thap Mam, and the corridors of Quang Nam and Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Kon Tum.
By 2016, a comprehensive project invested by Da Nang City had completely restored the buildings and renovated the galleries to connect the museum's buildings and create a unified visiting route.
The main exhibition hall displays the collections of Cham sculpture. Other rooms present inscriptions, ceramics and music, festivals, and traditional crafts of the Cham people. The space for performances and educational activities is situated on the second floor and the renovated service area is located in the garden.
In 2011, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture was ranked as a first-class museum in Vietnam. Thereby, affirming the role and contributions of the Museum of Cham Sculpture in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Champa and Vietnam.
What's Inside The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture has more than 300 artifacts including national treasures and many works reaching the pinnacle of Champa sculpture art from around the 5th to 15th centuries such as thematic artifacts of Hindu and Buddhist deities, fertility symbols, mascots, architectural decorations, etc.
The collection is divided into 12 rooms corresponding to the geographical areas where parts of the collection were discovered, including Tra Kieu, My Son, Dong Duong, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Thap Mam, Binh Dinh, Kon Tum; and 04 thematic galleries are Champa Inscriptions, Sa Huynh - Champa Pottery, Festivals and Traditional Crafts of Cham people in Ninh Thuan, Introducing Archaeological results at Champa Phong Le relic (Da Nang City).
In September 2020, the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center piloted the 3D Scanning experience at the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture.
Tourists can now experience the 360-degree multi-dimensional 3D viewing angle at 04 galleries including Tra Kieu, My Son, Dong Duong, and Thap Mam at: scan3d.danangfantasticity
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Audio Guide Service
Tourists can access the audio service at Cham Sculpture Museum by:
Step 1: Access the wifi system at the Museum.
Step 2: Open a web browser and visit the address: https://chamaudio.com
Step 3: Select the language (Vietnamese, English, or French) and the object you want to listen to. Visitors can scan the barcodes attached next to the artifacts or follow the tour sequence introduced in the app.
Tour Guide Service
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture also provides tour guide service for:
Groups of 5+ people, in languages: Vietnamese, English, French.
Service hours: From 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Groups with accompanying guides or requiring English/French-speaking guides, please contact at least 3 days in advance.
Contact: Education and Demonstration Department
Phone number: (84-236) 3572935
Email: gdtt-baotangcham@danang.gov.vn or ecdchammuseum@gmail.com.
In addition, the museum also has a coffee shop and souvenir shop that operate according to the Museum's opening hours.
Address, Ticket Price, Opening Hours of Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Address: No. 02, September 2 Street, Hai Chau District, City. Danang
Electronic news website: chammuseum.vn
Opening hours: From 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Ticket price: 60.000 VND(2.50 USD)/person/1 visit
To make the trip more convenient, visitors should also consider reasonable times to visit Danang in advance.
Rules for Visiting the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Visitors must show tickets before visiting.
Dress neatly and politely, just like visiting other sacred places in Da Nang.
Do not bring weapons, explosives, flammable substances, toxic substances such as acid, corrosive substances, and other dangerous items into the Museum.
Do not bring large luggage into the Museum. Luggage weighing more than 3 kg must be stored at the baggage counter (only bring in money and high-value items).
Do not smoke, wear raincoats, eat or drink in the galleries. Maintain public hygiene. No street vending within the Museum premises.
Do not bring banners, or pets into the Museum. Keep silent when visiting the Museum.
Do not touch artifacts or the pedestal displaying artifacts in the Museum.
Do not use a tripod or flash to take photos. Filming and photography programs must be approved by Museum Leadership.
Visitors are responsible for any damage caused to the Museum.
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