Exhibition traces Vietnam’s revolutionary milestones through rare artifacts and historic memories
The new thematic exhibition in Hanoi brings together rare artifacts from Vietnam’s revolutionary era, offering insight into how documents, elections and currency shaped the country’s path to independence.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Vietnam National Museum of History on January 6 opened a thematic exhibition titled “Spring – The Dawn of Victory”, presenting rare artifacts that trace the nation’s pivotal moments of revolution, independence and renewal.
The opening ceremony of the “Spring - The Dawn of Victory” exhibition at the Vietnam National Museum of History in Hanoi. Photos: Thanh Dung/The Hanoi Times
The exhibition celebrates several major national milestones, including the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 80th anniversary of the first Vietnamese National Assembly, the 85th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s return to Vietnam and the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
It brings together 150 photographs, documents and artifacts organized into three themes: “The Spring of Revolution”, “The Spring of Independence” and “The Spring of Aspiration”. Together, they trace Vietnam’s political and social transformation across the 20th century.
Key highlights include early Party resolutions issued between 1930 and 1945, revolutionary newspapers published before independence and personal items used by President Ho Chi Minh during his time in the northern mountain province of Cao Bang.
The exhibition also features ballot boxes and voter cards from Vietnam’s first general election, along with a collection of national currency, commonly known as “Ho Chi Minh banknotes”, issued after the August Revolution in 1945 to affirm national sovereignty.
Hanoi exhibition draws visitors with rare Vietnamese revolutionary artifacts.
The museum’s Director Nguyen Van Doan said the exhibition honors milestones of the Vietnamese revolution while reinforcing enduring values of self-reliance, resilience and civic responsibility.
Vietnam’s modern history, he noted, has unfolded through a series of defining “springs” from the founding of the Communist Party in 1930 and President Ho Chi Minh’s return in 1941 to the establishment of the National Assembly in 1946, the Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954, national reunification in 1975 and four decades of economic reform.
“Throughout this journey, the goal of national independence linked with socialism remains the guiding principle,” Doan said, emphasizing the Party’s leadership and the collective strength of the people.
Old newspapers are on display at the thematic exhibition.
Historian Duong Trung Quoc said the concise, comprehensive exhibition offers visitors a clear perspective on major turning points in Vietnam’s revolutionary history.
"Through original documents and everyday objects, the exhibition conveys the sacrifices and determination that shaped the nation," said Quoc.
These simple artifacts help visitors, especially young people, better understand the hardships and aspirations of earlier generations and carry that legacy forward."
The exhibition runs through July 30, giving visitors a rare opportunity to view historical documents and everyday objects that helped shape modern Vietnam.
The edition of Cuu Quoc (Save the Nation) Newspaper in 1939.
