Photo Essay: Ho Chi Minh Fine Art Museum

Cris Weber
Jul 24, 2017 · 4 min read

One of the best things about the Fine Arts Museum of Ho Chi Minh City is its setting, across three spectacular colonial era mansions. The three buildings were built in the late twenties and early thirties by the Hui Bon Hoa family, one of the city’s wealthiest Chinese families. The three dwellings are an impressive mix of French and Chinese styles in the design. Even if art is not your thing, the fact that for the ridiculously cheap cost of admission, 50 cents, you can explore these three “mansions” and imagine what it would have been like to live here.

The museum is in a strange state of disrepair. The old, paint cracked shutters are open on many doors and windows as the style of the homes were meant to facilitate the flow of air through the building to keep it cool. The lighting is poor, at best and some spot lighting is flickering to create a disturbing strobe effect that is not really conducive to viewing art. The air conditioning consists of fans placed on the floor in most rooms. Much of the art has acrylic over it, making it hard to photograph. In some ways it feels like the city could care less about its museum and the reflection it casts back at them. I loved being here despite these things and wandered the mansions for over 2.5 hours. It felt like exploring an abandoned home, which those who know me well know that this used to be my favorite pastime in the delta land around Sacramento.

I have included images of works that moved me as well as architectural details of the buildings. I hope you enjoy it.

Cris Weber

Written by

Hi! I’m Cris…adventurer, artist, spouse, parent, art director, chicken keeper, cyclist, dreamer, builder, travel and food channel fiend, infp, animal lover

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