Museum of Cham Sculpture or shortly, Cham Museum is a must see attraction in Da Nang. It houses the biggest, most impressive collection of stone artworks carved by Cham people in Vietnam. Number of artifacts in preservation is 2,000 and 500 of which are on display for the public. So, its importance is irreplaceable. If visiting, sightseers will have a surprise to the others, with highly-sophisticated carvings and a dozen of Vietnamese national treasures. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company provides all the information that you need to know about Cham Sculpture Museum.
You may also like: Museums in Da Nang, Vietnam
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
– Location/address: 2 Hai Thang Chin street, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city, Vietnam
– Opening hours: 7:30 am to 5 pm everyday
– Reason(s) to visit: a unique museum in the world, Da Nang’s best museum, fine art sculptures
– Entrance fee: 60,000 VND for adult, 10,000 VND for children
– Reason(s) to visit: the most unique museum in Vietnam, the oldest museum in Da Nang, a must see attraction in Da Nang
– Best time to visit: anytime during the day
– Time to spend: 30-60 mins
– Recognitions: Class I museum in Vietnam, historical site of Da Nang city (11st January 2021)
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/da-nang-museum-of-cham-sculpture
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Food & drink: not available
– Shopping: not available
– Parking lot: available
– Fact: Da Nang city plans to build Museum of Cham Sculpture II at Phong Le tower archaeological site, Hoa Tho Dong ward, Cam Le district
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture on Map
History of Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
The Museum of Cham Sculpture at Da Nang houses the largest collection of sculptures and other works of art made by Cham people on our planet. Before the 14th century, they lived and founded an independent kingdom, along the coastline of present-day Vietnam (particularly, from Quang Binh province to Binh Thuan province). Their kingdom’s name is Champa.
Cham architecture and art were known much better by the world when French people colonized Vietnam in the late-19th and 20th centuries. During this period, French archaeologists, architects and historians did many discoveries and researches. The most important finding is My Son Sanctuary, a complex of 71 temples located in the Annamite Mountains. Today, it’s 1 hour drive from Da Nang city centre.
In 1891 and 1982, Charles Lemire (1839-1912) – French envoy of Tourane (currently Da Nang) and Faifo (currently Hoi An), collected Cham sculptures at Tra Kieu and Khuong My temples. Then, he brought them to Tourane’s park by Han River, for exhibition (nowadays, it is the APEC Park). Number of sculptures at this time was around 50. This man paved the way for the establishment of a Cham museum in Da Nang.
Henri Parmentier (1871-1949), a French architect and archaeologist, is another great contributor. He came to Vietnam and worked for the French School of the Far East (EFEO) as well as assisted during the excavation at Champa sites. In 1904, he became the head of the archaeological department of the school and stayed on it for 28 years then. He reported and suggested a ‘building’ to protect valuable sculptures in Tourane park (against tropical weather), and to store/preserve an increasing number of artifacts. However, this project was thought to be difficult, due to financial reasons.
In 1913, Charles Gravelle – the director of French Indochina bank, visited the Tourane sculpture park. After that, he sent a letter to the governor-general of the French Indochina federal. Finally, construction cost was approved.
The Cham Museum in Da Nang was built from 1915 to 1919. It’s a rectangular building with Cham art inspirations (now still unchanged). The very fist collection had 160 artifacts. After large-scale excavations at Tra Kieu or Simhapura capital in 1827-1828, and Thap Mam or Vijaya capital in 1934, so much more artifacts were transferred here. To preserve these masterpieces, from 1935 to 1936, it’s extended. There are two new galleries constructed on right and left sides of the first building. Total amount of items was up to 300.
From 2002 to 2009, a new building for exhibition and storage was added behind the French building. From 2016 to 2017, it’s enlarged again.
In 2019, Da Nang celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Cham Sculpture Museum. It’s the oldest museum in the city.
On 11st January 2021, Museum of Cham Sculpture was recognized to be the city’s historical site. This is the first museum listed in the area.
Exhibitions in Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Tra Kieu Exhibition
Tra Kieu is the Vietnamese name for Simhapura (‘city of lion’), the capital city of Champa kingdom from the 4th to 8th centuries. Today, it’s in Duy Son commune, Duy Xuyen district, southwest of Da Nang. This citadel was excavated by French archaeologists in 1827-1828. Other remains we can see are earthen protected walls, and Tra Kieu Church on top of the Jade Hill (Doi Buu Chau).
The most important sculpture in this collection is ‘Tra Kieu Pedestal’. It was carved in the 7th and 8th centuries, by sandstone and placed in the central temple of Simhapura capital. French people brought it to the Cham museum in 1901. This pedestal includes 3 pieces: a Linga on the top (representing Shiva god and his power), a Yoni in the middle (representing Shiva’s female version and her power) and a square base in the bottom. The base is decorated with more details than above items, including 4 lions holding the pedestal in every corner, and scenes depicting Rama and Shita wedding in Ramayana epic (of Indian). In 2012, it was inscribed by Vietnam’s prime minister as a national treasure.
Sculpture of Tra Kieu Apsara dancers is another national treasure in Cham museum (added in 2023). It’s carved around the 10th century. In Hindu mythology, Apsaras are beautiful, youngful and elegant ladies from fairy lands.
My Son Exhibition
My Son Sanctuary is the holy land of Cham people and kings, from 4th to early 14th centuries. As the critical remains of Champa kingdom, it’s inscribed as a Unesco world heritage site in 1999. 71 buildings are known here, including temples and ruins.
The most important sculpture in this collection is ‘My Son E1 Pedestal’. It’s the pedestal inside the E1 temple at My Son Sanctuary, dating from the 7th and 8th centuries. It’s founded in 1903, and then brought to Cham museum in 1918. 14 sandstone blocks are used to make it, and Cham people carved on them the scene of dancing, playing musical instruments, plants, animals, monks,… Until now, no other sculpture shows us an equal density of human activities like this. Additionally, the pedestal indicates the first localization of Hindu/Indian art at Champa kingdom.
Two other important relics are the Shiva statue at C1 temple of My Son (8th century) and sculpture ‘Brahma born from Vishnu’s navel’ at E1 temple of My Son (7th and 8th centuries), brought to the museum in 1935. Both are recognized to be a national treasure in 2023.
Dong Duong Exhibition
Dong Duong is a village, the archaeological site (Dong Duong Vihara) in Indrapura capital of Champa kingdom in 9th and 10th centuries. The site used to be one of the most enormous Buddhist temple complexes in Southeast Asia, but was destroyed and burnt by Vietnamese king Le Dai Hanh after victory against Champa. In 1902, it’s excavated by the French (first and only until now).
The most important sculpture in this collection is ‘Dong Duong Pedestal’. It’s made of 24 sandstone blocks, with nearly full decorations that portray three stages in Lord Buddha’s life: birth, being a monk and reaching enlightenment. Sure, it’s placed in the central temple of Dong Duong vihara complex, and testifies an ‘unusual’ period in Cham history when Buddhism is the state religion. In 2016, Vietnam’s prime minister approved to inscribe the Dong Duong pedestal as a national treasure. On the pedestal, there is a sitting Buddha statue (discovered in 1902 excavation). Historians are on the way to find the exact head for it. The one we see now is just one of two heads found near the body, and it’s most fitted (doesn’t mean it’s a right one). Its style does not really look like Cham culture, so scholars thought that it came from another country.
Statue of Tara Bodhisattva (or Laksmindra-Lokesvara) is another national treasure. It’s the only bronze sculpture in the museum, and a masterpiece of Cham art. It’s found in 1978 by mistake by farmers in Dong Duong village, and then kept in the village’s communal building. Before the government moved it to Cham museum (for better preservation conditions), the villagers broke two items she holds: one snail shell, and one lotus. In 2019, on the occasion of the museum’s 100th birthday, they gave back. The current statue is a copy, not original.
A couple of stone door gods standing on the buffalos is also interesting.
Thap Mam Exhibition
Thap Mam is an archaeological site in An Nhon town, Binh Dinh province (formerly Vijaya municipality/capital of Champa kingdom). It’s a compound of Cham towers and temples dating back from the 12nd-13rd centuries. The first excavation here was in 1934-1935. At that time, French archaeologists from the French School of the Far East, found numerous large stone sculptures whose weight is up to 58 tonnes. They are known for sophistication of carvings but lack of flexibility and softness. Later, ‘Thap Mam’ is used to name an architectural and art style in Champa history.
The Thap Mam Exhibition at the Museum of Cham Sculpture is in the centre of the lower level in the building behind the Dong Duong Exhibition. Amongst relics, sculpture of Gajasimha (the mythical animal which has the head of elephant and body of lion) that was recognized as Vietnam’s national treasure. It was brought to the museum in 1935. Additionally, sculptures of Garuda (bird) eating Naga (snake) or sculpture of Brahma (the Creator) riding the swan bird are other highlights.
Da Nang Exhibition
Da Nang was in Amaravati municipality of Champa kingdom. The Da Nang Exhibition at Museum of Cham Sculpture has ancient sculptures and artifacts discovered by 1975 at three archaeological sites Phong Le, Qua Giang and Xuan Duong. Later, the ones found at Phong Le and Cam Mit remains from 2012 to 2014 were added. All of these show religious life and art of Cham people between 9th and 13rd centuries in the area.
At the Archaeological Site of Phong Le Cham Tower, the city will construct the Museum of Cham Sculpture 2 in near future.
Quang Nam Exhibition
This small exhibition has stone sculptures found in Quang Nam, correspondingly Amaravati municipality in Champa kingdom. This land is home to the largest collection of standing Cham towers in the country, including My Son Sanctuary (a world heritage site), Tra Kieu Citadel and Dong Duong Buddhist Vihara.
The Quang Nam Exhibition at Museum of Cham Sculpture introduces sophisticated stone carvings and sculptures discovered at various sites across Quang Nam province in the early 20th century and 1975 onwards.
Quang Binh-Quang Tri-Thua Thien Hue Exhibitions
Three provinces Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue are in the north of Hai Van Pass, formerly in Indrapura municipality – the northernmost municipality of Champa kingdom. From the 10th to 14th centuries, different parts of this area belonged to Vietnamese people. Nowadays, there is only one Cham tower/temple still standing on the ground (Phu Dien Tower, Phu Vang district).
The Quang Binh – Quang Tri – Thua Thien Hue Exhibition at Museum of Cham Sculpture has artifacts and steles made between 6th and 10th centuries.
Quang Ngai Exhibition
This small exhibition has stone sculptures found in Quang Ngai province, the land between Amaravati municipality in the north and Vijaya municipality in the south. Today, there are no standing Cham towers/temples seen in this area. However, a large number of archaeological sites have been discovered since the 20th century. In 1904, Chanh Lo Tower (Quang Ngai city) was excavated and it dates back to 11st century. In early 2017, a large Cham tower in Thien But Mountain (Quang Ngai city) was excavated and the largest Linga and Yoni in Vietnam were found.
Binh Dinh – Kon Tum Exhibition
This small exhibition has stone sculptures found in Binh Dinh province (known as Vijaya municipality/capital in Champa kingdom) and Kon Tum province (a highland province in central Vietnam). While Binh Dinh’s sculptures date from 12nd century onwards, Kon Tum’s sculptures are from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Exhibition of Stone Steles
This small exhibition has many steles taken from ancient Cham towers/temples across the country. Inscriptions on them are Sankrit (before 10th century) and old Cham language (after 10th century). People carved information about any times of constructing new Hindu temples and reasons why, traditional customs and beliefs, relationship between kings and gods and between Champa kingdom and neighbouring countries, etc. These steles help us to better understand the kingdom and life of people in the past.
Exhibition of Sa Huynh & Champa Pottery
This exhibition is on the upper floor of the building behind Dong Duong Exhibition. It has large burial jars made by Sa Huynh culture inhabitants in the 2nd-3rd centuries and pottery made by Cham people in the 14th and 15th centuries. Traditional pottery making is still alive in Cham communities in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces. It’s honored to be an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by Unesco in 2022.
See also: Museum of Sa Huynh Culture (Hoi An), Museum of Sa Huynh – Champa Culture at Tra Kieu
Exhibition about Cham Culture at Ninh Thuan
Ninh Thuan province is the former Panduranga municipality in Champa kingdom, the southernmost municipality. Nowadays, it’s home to the largest Cham population in Vietnam (nearly 70,000 people) who still keep their traditional customs and beliefs. In this province, there are three Cham towers/temples still surviving: Hoa Lai Tower, Poklong Garai Towers and Po Rome Tower.
The exhibition about Cham culture at Ninh Thuan introduces where they live, what they wear, which language they speak, which musical instruments they play, which festival they organize and more. By that, visitors can know better about the culture of Cham people, the owner of the disappeared Champa kingdom.
Tips to Visit Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang
– Although Cham sculpture museum’s entrance is on Hai Thang Chin street, visitors have to enter it by the gate near the traffic light (at crossroad Nguyen Van Linh – Hai Thang Chin – Tran Phu). It’s not far away to walk there. Tickets are sold at this ‘official gate’.
– Students have a discount for tickets, and they need to show both a valid student card and ID card for verification.
– Foreign visitors should visit with a knowledgeable guide to better understand the sculptures and everything around them.
– It’s better to visit with a local guide; Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo);
– English/French/Vietnamese speaking guide is available for groups of 5 and above. It’s needed to make a reservation by 10 am or by 4 pm, to have time enough for introduction and explanation.
– Audio guide is available at the Museum of Cham Sculpture. Pay and know how to use this service at the ticket office.
– Using a camera is not permitted while visiting, especially with flash light (harmful to sculptures).
– Luggage storage is available at Cham Sculpture Museum. Visitors need to buy entrance tickets first, and then walk to the lockers near the exit gate (or museum’s name sign). Money and valuable items should go with you throughout your visit.
– Only Vietnamese and English languages are available for introductions.
– Pets, luggages heavier than 3kg, rain poncho/umbrella, food are not permitted to bring in the museum.
– You may be interested in Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village
How to Get to Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture is at 02 2 Thang 9 Street, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city, Vietnam. It’s located near the crossroad near the west end of the iconic Dragon Bridge across the Han River.
Thanks to its prime location, in the heart of Da Nang city, the Museum of Cham sculpture is within a walking distance from many areas and hotels (such as Vanda hotel, Haian riverfront hotel, Brilliant hotel, Cozy Da Nang Boutique hotel,…). If you’re in the vicinity of Da Nang cathedral, Han market, it’s possible to get there by foot.
If just want to see the museum alone, a taxi ride from Hai Chau district, Son Tra district (places near the river), Ngu Hanh Son (places near the river) is not really expensive. After visiting it, visitors need a short walk only to the Dragon bridge and Son Tra night market. The price is higher if go from
There are some public buses picking up and dropping off passengers in or near Cham museum. This is the cheapest way to get there from everywhere in the city. Visitors can browse www.danangbus.vn to see the map and bus lines.
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes transfers to Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Places to Visit near Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Near Museum of Cham Sculpture, visitors can go to these places: APEC Park (distance: 50m), the Dragon Bridge (distance: 400 meters), Bach Dang Walking Street (distance: 100 meters), Museum of Cham Sculpture (distance: 400 meters), Da Nang Fresco Village (distance: 800 meters), Han Market (distance: 1,2 km), Da Nang Cathedral or Pink Church (distance: 1km), Son Tra Night Market (distance: 1km), Bach Dang Street & Promenade (distance: 400 meters), Tran Thi Ly Bridge (distance: 200 meters), Nguyen Van Troi Walking Bridge (distance: 200 meters), Ho Chi Minh and 5th Military Zone Museum (distance: 700 meters), Helio Night Market (distance: 1,5km), Da Nang Downtown (formerly Sun World Asia Park) (distance: 1,5km), Sun Wheel (distance: 1,5 km), Love Lock Bridge (distance: 1,5km), Carp Dragon Statue (distance: 1,5 km).
Photos, Videos about Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture: