For a better understanding of the many different ethnic groups in Hanoi and the rest of Vietnam then take a look at the Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology. There are 54 recognized Ethnic groups in Vietnam and this museum will give you a better understanding about each of them.

The museum officially opened in 1997. A member of an ethnic group designed the exhibition room and a French architect designed the exterior. Visiting the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology at the start of your trip through Vietnam is a wonderful way to get an idea about the country’s culture before diving into it yourself. There are traditional houses reconstructed by villagers to demonstrate how different cultures lived.

This is also a great museum to visit if you have kids as there is an interactive children’s part of the museum. Also, don’t miss the beautiful gardens located just outside of the museum itself.