Things to See & Do in Dong Dinh Art Museum Da Nang

Located on a mountainside by the southern coastal road of Son Tra Peninsula, Dong Dinh Art Museum was opened on 10th January 2011. It became the first privately owned museum as a tourist attraction. This place has ancient houses with wooden furnishings and collections of antiquity that are privately owned by the museum’s owner. The houses are set in different locations, but all surrounded by lush forests and gardens.

From the museum’s entrance, go uphill and visitors will see a group of 2 ancient houses: Thang Binh Giao Thu Thach (left side) and Quang Dieu Duong (right side). The first house is originally the house of the family of sir Nguyen Nhan living in Thang Binh district and later sold for the museum’s owner. According to him, it’s constructed in the early 20th century by his ancestors. Because his father is a teacher, so this house is often a meeting place with Tran Quy Cap, a local poet and anti-colonists who were leading scholars in the Duy Tan movement in the area. Inside, there is wooden furniture and old pottery that belong to Oc Eo culture, Champa kingdom, Vietnamese and Chinese feudal dynasties.

The second house is originally the house of the family of sir Le Tuat living in Dien Phuong commune, Dien Ban town, Quang Nam province. He was the founder of a famous workshop to make pottery in the area in the French colonial period. Later, his son ceded it to Dong Dinh Museum’s owner.

Follow the path on the right side, by a stone stream, visitors will see the house showing memories about ethnic minority’s communities. It’s known as ‘House of Jungle Life Memory’ in the past. Here, working tools, musical instruments and other stuff are collected by Doan Huy Giao, a famed Vietnamese poet and television film director, during his journeys to produce documentary movies across central highlands of Vietnam. He spent 15 years to complete it.

Follow the path on the left side, in a higher location than the coffee shop, visitors will see the House of Fishing Village Memory’. It’s built by 400 pieces taken from 2 wooden boats, 3 sampans and 5 basket boats that are not used anymore by local fishermen. Here, photos and artifacts tell stories about life of people in traditional fishing villages along Da Nang’s coastlines such as Nam O village, Man Thai village or Nam Tho village that is located right at the foot of the Son Tra Mountain. All of them were collected by sir Doan Huy Giao director.

Furthermore, Dong Dinh Museum also has a coffee shop with a view to the city (named ‘Dong Dinh Museum Coffee’). It’s near the entrance. Here, visitors can see many coffee options, juices, canned and bottled drinks, milk tea and no beers. This is a cool place to sit down under the shade of trees on hot days. Indoor tables and chairs are available during the rainy season.