Museum of Cham Sculpture

Overview

The Museum of Cham Sculpture houses the world's largest collection of Cham artifacts, with over 300 terracotta and sandstone sculptures spanning the 4th to 14th centuries. Founded by French scholars in 1919, it is Vietnam's most important archaeological museum.

Highlights

• Tra Kieu Altar: An exquisitely carved sandstone pedestal depicting scenes from the Ramayana, dating to the 7th century.
• Shiva Lingas: Numerous Hindu religious carvings showing the deep influence of Indian culture on the Cham civilization.
• My Son Gallery: Artifacts from the UNESCO-listed My Son temple complex, including towering guardian figures.

History

Established in 1919 by the École Française d'Extrême-Orient, the museum was the first in Indochina devoted to Cham art. Its collection was gathered from temple sites across central and southern Vietnam.

Visitor Tips

• Audio Guide: Available in multiple languages and highly recommended for context.
• Closed: Mondays.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.