Mui Ne Antiquities Museum preserves and spreads cultural heritage values

In the middle of a peaceful coastal village in Mui Ne ward, Lam Dong province, there is a special cultural address - Mui Ne Antiquities Museum, founded and operated by collector Nguyen Ngoc An.

This is considered the first private antiquities museum in the coastal area of the province, which not only preserves tens of thousands of valuable artifacts but also contributes to community education , cultural promotion and sustainable tourism development.

Unique museum of antiquities

Established in 2023 in Quarter 5, Mui Ne Ward, the museum is directly managed by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An - a person who has been passionate about antiques since childhood. On a campus of more than 2,500m², the exhibition space is divided into houses and outdoor areas.

This place is preserving about 50,000 artifacts and antiquities dating from 1,500 BC to before 1975.

The artifacts are arranged by topics including: paintings and statues of famous artists; Champa culture and other ethnic groups; ceramic and porcelain culture through the ages; ancestor worship styles; ceramics and fish sauce making industry; outdoor display area of ancient tombstones through the ages; display of ancient religious statues and beliefs of Vietnamese people through the ages.

Among them, many antiques have special value, reflecting the development process of ancient cultures such as Dong Son, Sa Huynh, Oc Eo, Khmer, Champa, as well as Vietnamese dynasties.

The ancestral worship space of ancient Vietnamese people in the 19th century has been completely restored at the Mui Ne Antiquities Museum. (Photo: Hong Hieu/VNA)

Each exhibit has clear explanations in Vietnamese and English, along with illustrations, helping visitors easily access information.

Talking about the origin of his passion for collecting, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An shared: "I started to like antiques since I was 11 years old, when I saw pictures of prehistoric people holding stone axes hunting mammoths in history books. The more I learned about history, the more passionate I became. And that passion has lasted until now."

In the late 1980s, when many ancient tombs in Mui Ne were broken into by thieves at night, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An went to the scene to ask for the pieces of bowls and ceramics left behind.

He quietly brought them home and buried them under a coconut tree in the garden to keep his family from worrying. Many years later, when they were dug up, they became his first "treasure trove" of antiques. "At that time, I didn't think they were antiques and I didn't think I was keeping them. I just wanted to keep what belonged to history, afraid that if I didn't store them carefully, they would be lost tomorrow," Mr. An confided.

In the "warehouse" of antiques that Mr. An has collected and preserved for nearly 40 years, each item holds a valuable historical, cultural, and archaeological story.

Mr. An's favorite collection is the jewelry and silverware of the Champa Royal Family through the ages. This is a unique collection with typical historical, cultural and artistic values representing the dynasties of the Champa Kingdom.

Or the 20-tone five-tone lithophone set dating back over 3,000 years, found at the foot of Gia Bac Pass, Di Linh District, Lam Dong Province (old). This is one of the rare intact, standard-sounding lithophone sets in Southeast Asia.

With the desire to promote and spread the quintessence of national culture, over the years, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An and his family have donated nearly 50,000 artifacts 81 times to schools, research centers and museums across the country.

He believes that preserving antiques, conserving and promoting cultural and historical values is not only the responsibility of the cultural sector or the government, but requires the cooperation of the whole community.

Not only owning a huge collection of antiques, Mr. An also owns a special collection of no less value - more than 100 certificates of merit awarded by localities, units and organizations across the country.

In particular, he was honored three times to receive the Medal for the Cause of Cultural Heritage awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Cultural Heritage Association and the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations.

Appreciating the role of Mui Ne Antiquities Museum in preserving and promoting cultural values, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province Vo Thanh Huy said: "Mui Ne Antiquities Museum is a private museum that possesses a variety of antiquities and artifacts of great historical, cultural and archaeological value."

According to Mr. Vo Thanh Huy, in the coming time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to accompany and create favorable conditions for the museum to operate stably and open to visitors in accordance with legal regulations.

At the same time, the Department will closely coordinate with the museum in promoting and gradually building this place into a unique cultural tourist destination, contributing to enriching the tourism map of Lam Dong - a land rich in identity.

A place of inspiration

Since officially opening in 2023, Mui Ne Antiquities Museum has quickly become an attractive destination for tourists.

Every day, Mr. An is still present to explain to visitors, especially students and young people who love history.

Many artifacts and antiquities dating from 1,500 BC to before 1975 are preserved at the Mui Ne Antiquities Museum. (Photo: Hong Hieu/VNA)

In the context of a strong shift in tourism trends from relaxation to cultural experiences, museums become a special highlight.

Charging no admission fee and regularly collaborating with educational institutions and cultural organizations, the museum is increasingly known as a prestigious place for study and research.

Sharing his passion, Mr. An said: "Antiques should not just be in glass cabinets. They need to be revived in the hearts of the community, through education, tourism and research. Each item carries a story about people, beliefs, life, and the changes of a land. What makes me happiest now is to share those stories with the community, especially the young generation."

More than 100,000 domestic and foreign visitors have visited the museum, including many groups of students, cultural researchers, and archaeologists. Stories about origins, manufacturing techniques, customs, beliefs, etc. help visitors gain a deeper understanding of ancient values.

Ms. Nguyen Thao My, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, was truly overwhelmed and impressed by Mr. An's treasure trove of antiques; there were things she had heard about for a long time, but now she had the chance to see them with her own eyes.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phan Huy (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City), coming to each exhibition booth by theme is like reviewing historical knowledge about culture, beliefs, and ethnic groups. There are new things that I encounter for the first time, and there are things that I have learned and heard somewhere, and now I remember them. Each story I hear is like a bridge connecting people today with our ancestors thousands of years ago.

Currently, the museum is digitizing antique data, gradually building an online platform to serve research and expand access. The creation of records and storage of digital information will contribute to the long-term preservation of valuable artifacts.

Mui Ne Antiquities Museum is not only a place to preserve artifacts but also a place to tell stories, authentic stories about the history, culture, beliefs, people... of the South Central region.

With the dedication and passion of its founder, the museum here is contributing every day to connecting the past with the present, creating a vibrant and inspiring cultural space for the community, especially the young generation./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bao-tang-co-vat-mui-ne-luu-giu-va-lan-toa-gia-tri-di-san-van-hoa-post1062026.vnp