Located in the heart of Soc Trang city, the Khmer Museum is a special destination, preserving and introducing the rich culture of the Khmer community living in the Mekong Delta. With traditional Khmer architecture and thousands of valuable artifacts, the museum opens a journey that takes visitors back to the history and daily life of the Khmer people. The journey to explore the museum not only helps visitors learn deeply about cultural identity but also feel the enduring vitality of the Khmer people through each historical period. The Khmer Museum of Soc Trang promises to be an interesting place for every culture lover to have the opportunity to approach and appreciate the precious heritage of the Southwest region.
General information about Khmer Museum Soc Trang
Khmer Museum Soc Trang
The Soc Trang Khmer Museum is located at 53 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 6, Soc Trang City, Soc Trang Province. The museum opens from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, welcoming visitors to learn about Khmer culture with an entrance fee of only VND 20,000 per visitor. With a prime location right in the city center and opposite Kh'leang Pagoda, the museum is not only a cultural destination but also a place to connect visitors with the characteristics of traditional Khmer architecture. The Soc Trang Khmer Museum bears the mark of traditional Khmer architecture with pointed and curved roofs decorated with sophisticated motifs, demonstrating the harmony between religious and cultural elements in the life of the Khmer people. Combined with Kh'leang Pagoda - one of the oldest Khmer pagodas in Soc Trang - the museum creates a rich cultural space with strong indigenous features. The museum's architecture resembles a miniature Khmer temple, with meticulous and elaborate details, from the tiled roof to the pillars and patterns, reflecting the uniqueness of Khmer art. In addition to its architectural beauty, the museum also plays an extremely important role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Khmer Crom people, an ethnic group that has long lived in the Mekong Delta. The museum preserves and displays thousands of artifacts, images and documents, clearly recreating aspects of the cultural, religious, spiritual and daily life of the Khmer people. Through these valuable artifacts, visitors can learn more about the unique customs and development process of the Khmer people in Soc Trang, contributing to maintaining traditional cultural values and conveying historical significance to future generations.
History of Khmer Museum Soc Trang
History of Khmer Museum Soc Trang
Soc Trang Khmer Museum, a typical cultural destination of Soc Trang province, has a long and meaningful history of development. The formation and development of this museum is not only closely linked to the process of preserving Khmer culture but also a testament to the efforts in maintaining and promoting traditional cultural heritage in the Southwest region.
The first step in the history of the museum began in 1986, when the Hau Giang Department of Culture and Information officially took over this facility and established the Khmer Traditional House. This was an important milestone, laying the foundation for collecting, storing and preserving cultural artifacts of the Khmer people, in order to introduce and maintain this unique cultural feature in the lives of local people. By 1992, the Khmer Traditional House was upgraded and expanded, officially becoming the Soc Trang Provincial Museum, also known as the Revolutionary Museum, to preserve and reflect not only the culture but also the resistance history of the Soc Trang people.
The year 2002 marked an important turning point when the Revolutionary Museum and the Khmer Museum were merged, creating the Soc Trang Provincial Museum as it is today. With this event, the museum has become a facility to preserve and convey not only Khmer culture but also revolutionary history, meeting the needs of sightseeing and learning of local people and tourists.
To meet the growing needs of the community, the Soc Trang Khmer Cultural Museum started construction of a new facility in 2006 and completed it in 2007. In 2010, the museum officially reopened with a larger and more complete scale, called the Khmer Cultural Exhibition House. With a rich system of galleries, the museum today not only clearly recreates the history and culture of the Khmer people but also creates opportunities for visitors to explore the traditional and modern values of this ethnic community.
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Scale of Khmer museum architecture
Scale of Khmer museum architecture
The Soc Trang Khmer Museum is a large-scale cultural project with an area of up to 12,623 m², built with a total investment of 7.5 billion VND. The museum is not only a place to preserve the culture and history of the Khmer people but also a prominent architectural symbol in Soc Trang province, attracting many tourists to visit and explore. The main building of the museum is designed with a ground floor and two floors, each floor has the function of displaying and preserving different cultural values. The ground floor gives visitors an overview of the rich natural resources of Soc Trang, while introducing the life, culture and beliefs of the three main ethnic groups here: Kinh, Khmer and Hoa. The first floor recreates the traditional cultural space of the Khmer people through typical artifacts and valuable collections, expressing national pride. The second floor focuses on displaying artifacts and documents about the history of the resistance of the army and people of Soc Trang, from the period of resistance against the French to the US, clearly depicting the local spirit of resilience through historical periods.
In addition to the main museum and the Khmer cultural gallery, the museum also has other special areas. The Masacum Assembly Hall and the office area are where valuable artifacts are stored and are also the areas for managing and operating the museum's activities. In addition, the museum is also connected to the My Phuoc Melaleuca Forest Provincial Party Committee Base Relic, which marks the history of the resistance of the army and people of Soc Trang, becoming an indispensable part of the museum's historical display system.
In terms of architecture, the museum stands out with its bold Khmer design style, including pointed and curved roofs similar to traditional Khmer pagodas, creating a cultural space that is both ancient and sacred. With an area of 2,344 m², the museum's cultural space offers visitors a realistic and vivid experience of the life and beliefs of the Khmer people. The exhibition house has an area of 368 m², creating a comfortable space to display precious artifacts in a scientific and reasonable way. The combination of typical Khmer architecture and large scale, along with rich historical artifacts, has helped the Soc Trang Khmer Culture Museum become an important cultural attraction. This is not only a place to admire unique architecture but also a space to educate the community and visitors about cultural and historical values, contributing to raising awareness and appreciation of the local Khmer cultural heritage.
Directions to the Khmer Museum
Soc Trang Khmer Culture Museum is located in Soc Trang city.
Soc Trang Khmer Culture Museum is located at 53 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 6, Soc Trang City. With a prime location right in the city center, the museum has become an easily accessible cultural destination, attracting a large number of visitors. In particular, the museum is located near other famous landmarks such as Kh'leang Pagoda and Buu Son Tu, making it convenient to incorporate into your Soc Trang exploration itinerary.
If you are departing from the inner city, you can start from 30/4 Park - a popular location in the city center. From the park, follow Hai Ba Trung Street, cross the Quay Bridge and continue straight for about 450m, you will see the museum on the left. The way to the museum is quite easy and convenient, especially suitable for those who want to explore and enjoy the street scene of Soc Trang on their own.
With favorable terrain, visitors can choose many different means of transport to get to the museum. Motorbikes and self-driving cars are two popular means of transport thanks to their convenience and flexibility, especially for tourists who like to freely explore the surrounding areas. During the trip, you will easily encounter many restaurants, cafes as well as other interesting stops to experience the local cuisine and unique culture of Soc Trang. In addition, if you are not familiar with the streets or want a comfortable trip, taxis are also a worthy choice. Local drivers are often quite familiar with the area and can advise on other attractions near the museum, helping you optimize your exploration schedule.
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Artifacts kept at the Khmer Museum
The Soc Trang Khmer Culture Museum is home to a treasure trove of valuable artifacts, vividly reflecting the life, culture, and history of the Khmer community in the Mekong Delta. Currently, the museum owns more than 13,000 artifacts, documents, and rich images, taking visitors on a journey to discover Khmer culture in a realistic and vivid way.
Some antiques at the museum
The museum's collection of artifacts is diverse in types, from primitive labor tools used by the Khmer people in their daily lives, to traditional costumes and unique musical instruments. These artifacts not only tell the story of daily life but also carry deep cultural values, reflecting the customs and deep beliefs of the Khmer people. Traditional house architecture is also recreated through artifacts, helping visitors visualize the living space of the Khmer people in the past, as well as typical architectural elements such as pointed roofs and elaborate decorative motifs. In addition to cultural artifacts, the museum also owns many historical artifacts, especially from the resistance wars against the French and the Americans of the army and people of Soc Trang. These artifacts include weapons, costumes, and tools used during the war, which are evidence of the persistent fighting spirit and patriotism of the Khmer people. Artifacts from this period play an important role in recreating and preserving memories of the arduous but heroic historical journeys of Soc Trang.
In addition to admiring the artifacts, the museum also offers visitors the opportunity to experience Khmer culture more closely. Some artifacts can be lightly touched, bringing a sense of authenticity and connection to the past, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the life and culture of the Khmer people in the Southwest region. For those who love to learn about traditional culture, this museum is truly a treasure trove of knowledge and experience, opening up diverse perspectives on a culture rich in identity.
Notes when visiting the Khmer Museum
To make the tour more meaningful and to respect this unique culture, visitors should note some important things below:
Protect the artifacts
- Dress modestly and discreetly: When visiting the museum, choosing modest, elegant clothing not only shows respect for Khmer culture but is also appropriate for the space where religious artifacts and cultural heritages are displayed.
- Note on photography: Although the museum may allow photography in some areas, there are still places that require restrictions or permission from the management to protect artifacts from flash and unwanted impacts. Therefore, visitors should comply with these regulations and pay attention to the guiding signs in the museum.
- Keep quiet and respect religious areas: The Khmer Museum has many areas associated with Khmer beliefs and worship. When visiting these places, keep quiet, avoid making noise and especially do not touch the artifacts.
- Keep clean and protect the environment: Visitors need to be aware of maintaining general hygiene in the museum by not littering. Trash bins are often conveniently located for visitors to dispose of trash in the right place.
- Sightseeing and shopping for souvenirs: After exploring the artifacts, visitors can stop by the museum's souvenir shop. Here, traditional Khmer handicrafts are sold, from jewelry, handbags to decorations.
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