Vietnamese Women's Museum

We spent over 2 hours in the Vietnamese Women's Museum after our walk around the lake. An inspiring and eye-opening tribute to the resilience, strength, and contributions of women throughout Vietnam's history. The museum tells the stories of Vietnamese women from various walks of life, showcasing their roles in the country's development, culture, and family life. From the struggles of female revolutionaries to the artistry of traditional crafts, the museum offers a profound insight into the experiences and achievements of Vietnamese women. I studied so much history about Vietnam before this trip, but I never read a single word about women's involvement and I was blown away by the educational displays here. They were a pivotal part of the numerous internal civil struggles and the American war. The textiles and traditions from all the different tribal areas were mesmerizing. What struck me were the "Three Responsibilities" that women aspire to during the American war: taking care of the family back home while their husbands were fighting, working in the fields and factories to keep the men fed, clothed and supplied, and fighting themselves. One of the pictures is a broom that was used to smuggle documents. The female revolutionary had a crafty plan to make poorly made brooms that concealed secret documents. As she traveled as an alleged broom salesman, no one would buy them because they were so poorly made and she went undetected.Read more