Art in Vietnam can be broadly divided into two major periods - the colonial and the modern. During the occupation of the country by the French, the creative pursuits of local painters, sculptors, and other artists, if not suppressed, were under the significant influence of the standards of Western civilization.
The National Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi, opened in 1963, presents virtually everything that has been accumulated over the long years of Vietnam's cultural life. Here you can see many paintings by local artists, as well as sculptural compositions belonging to different historical eras.
Within the museum's walls, a large number of artifacts from ancient times are kept - these are archaeological finds, samples of tableware, and household items of the peoples who once inhabited the territories of Southeast Asia. Special attention is given to works of folk art and ethnic motifs. Several exhibition halls are devoted to lacquer painting, which has always been considered a priority among Vietnam's traditional crafts.
