Lam Dong Museum covers the overall history of Vietnam, from prehistory to the war with the USA. It focuses on Lam Dong and Dalat, giving a general overview of each era, as well as the archeology used to study their history. With over 15,000 artefacts, it’s a good place to explore for a few hours.
The museum starts, as many do, with the natural history of Dalat. Cases show the kind of rocks and minerals that can be found in the area, as well as some of the wildlife in the area.
One impressive case showed the various species of butterfly and moths you could find in the area, including Blue Moon and Common Grass Yellow Butterflies, as well as the Atlas Moth, the largest moth species. They may not have been alive, but it was my first time seeing one up close.
Moving on there are displays portraying the various ethnic groups living in Dalat. Examples of cultural food and clothing are displayed here, giving a glimpse of the local culture.
After this the museum has exhibitions on prehistory, with various stone tools, pottery, and religious items carved out of rock. Here there are also examples of how these artefacts looked when they were found, as well as models of the various archeological sites where they were discovered.
The museum then displays recreations of what life may have looked like back then, with models of houses made from bamboo and thatch, reconstructions of ancient canoes, and various drums and musical instruments.
It ends with displays portraying the resistance movement against the French and, ultimately, the USA. The war touched every part of Vietnam, and Dalat is no exception.
While a small museum, it is still an educational experience. Photos and blog posts will never do a place like this justice, so if you find yourself in Dalat, it will be worth the couple of hours it takes to explore this place.
