Cham Sculpture Museum of Danang

Many of the displays are regarded masterpieces in their fields and are displayed according to area in which they were discovered, with ten separate interior exhibition halls. All of the sculptures on display are classified as pedestal, icon, fragment or pediment, with the location determined by where they were discovered.

After you have finished looking through the internal exhibits, go outside to admire the building itself, which has been meticulously crafted with objects of worship such as idols and holy animals surrounded by flowers, leaves, and turrets, all of which are Hindu symbols.

From 192 A.D. to 1697, the Kingdom of Champa ruled Southern Vietnam, leaving a legacy of distinctive Cham motifs and Hindu-inspired architecture that defined the era. Temples and towers decorated the coastal and mountain areas of Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Danang and Quang Nam where the museum is also located, are examples of this style.

The museum itself, created by French architects Delaval and Auclair, is a fine example of Cham architecture with flowing, clean lines. The majority of the artwork at the Cham Museum from this time period is in the form of sculpture with a strongly feminine aspect, and was collected from Quang Binh to Binh Dinh prior to the museum's founding at the end of the nineteenth century.

Aside from the plethora of Hindu-influenced items, there are also certain altars and deities that clearly draw inspiration from Buddhism. This religious diversity reflects Champa life across eight centuries, from its beginnings to its apex and eventual decline, with some of the more opulent items dating from the Champa glory days.

It was founded during the colonial French control in 1915 and is the world's only museum dedicated to the Champa era. Tra Kieu, Dong Duong, Thap Man, and My Son, all notable Champa locations, are well worth a visit as part of a larger investigation into this interesting period. An onsite shop sells replicas, as well as English-language guidebooks.

The Cham Sculpture Museum

Hours of operation: 07:00-17:00 daily.

Location: By the Han River in Danang, at the intersection of Bach Dang and Trung Nu Vuong.