Originally built in the 1930s as the private residence of a wealthy Chinese-Vietnamese businessman, the building itself, with its stained glass, tiled floors, and wrought-iron staircases, is a rare intact example of the domestic architecture of Saigon's colonial-era merchant elite. Converted into a museum in 1987, it now displays Vietnamese lacquer painting, war-era propaganda art, and a basement collection of ancient Cham and Funan sculpture.
| Admission | ₫30,000 (~$1.15) adult |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Sunday |
| Address | 97A Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
Why it matters
Preserved example of a wealthy Chinese-French merchant villa alongside a broad Vietnamese art history collection
Site facts
- Built
- 1934 (villa); museum established 1987
- Style
- Chinese-French eclectic villa architecture
Location
97A Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
10.7695, 106.6944 View on map
Highlights
- 1930s Chinese-French villa architecture
- Vietnamese lacquer painting collection
- Ancient Cham sculpture in the basement
Tips for visiting
- Closed Mondays
- Good midday heat break given its air-conditioned galleries
When to visit
Midday on a weekday
Accessibility
Stairs between floors, no elevator.
Frequently asked questions
Was this building always a museum?
No, it was originally a private residence built in the 1930s before being converted into the Fine Arts Museum in 1987.