Cham Sculpture Art Museum

The Cham Sculpture Art Museum is a place to protect and share the rich cultural history of the Kingdom of Champa during its golden age. The museum is one of the most important historical sites in Da Nang, and it is known for having a lot of culture and artistic value.

If you ever get the chance to go to Da Nang, you should definitely stop by the Cham Sculpture Museum. There you can go on a trip through time and see how each precious object brings history to life.

How to get there

Address: No. 02, 2 Thang 9 Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City

Located at the intersection of 2 Thang 9 Street and Trung Nu Vuong Street in Hai Chau District, Da Nang City, the museum enjoys a prime and easily accessible location for visitors. Moreover, it is situated right across from the Vietnam Television Center in Da Nang, making it even more convenient to find.

Cham Sculpture Art Museum Overview (Source: Vietnamplus)

The best time to come 

The Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, making it easy to plan a visit at any time of the year. However, the best time to explore the museum is during the dry season, from February to August, when the weather in Da Nang is sunny and pleasant, ideal for combining your museum visit with a walk along the nearby Han River or other outdoor attractions. 

Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Source: News)

Morning visits are especially recommended to avoid the midday heat and enjoy a quieter atmosphere while admiring the rich cultural heritage of the ancient Champa Kingdom.

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Things to do in Cham Sculpture Art Museum

Discover Gothic Architecture at the Cham Sculpture Art Museum

The Cham Sculpture Museum was designed by two French architects, Delaval and Auclair, following the suggestion of Henri Parmentier, Head of the Archaeology Department at the EFEO (École Française d’Extrême-Orient). They blended the architectural features of ancient Champa towers with European Gothic style.

The unique architecture of ancient Champa towers with European Gothic style (Source: Da Nang)

The museum’s main building stands out with its arched, pointed domes - an architectural highlight in the heart of Da Nang. The exhibition rooms are designed with open spaces and numerous windows, allowing plenty of natural light to illuminate the artifacts. As you step into the museum grounds, you’ll be greeted by a nostalgic ambiance-classic architectural blocks, yellow moss-covered walls, and the pure white blossoms of frangipani flowers adding to the timeless charm.

Explore the Ruins of the Champa Kingdom

The Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang officially opened in 1919 after five years of construction. It is now home to the largest collection of Cham cultural artifacts in the world. Covering a total area of 6,673 square meters, the museum has 2,000 square meters dedicated to displaying ancient relics.

The interior space of the museum is divided into two floors (Source: Sontra Travel)

In addition to the main exhibition space, the museum also features galleries of photographs and documents related to Cham culture and other regional cultures. Visitors can explore the rich history of the once-prosperous Champa Kingdom and admire the unique artistry of Cham sculpture.

Most of the sculptures displayed at the Cham Sculpture Museum are original pieces, made from three main materials: sandstone, terracotta, and bronze. Dating from the 7th to the 15th centuries, these artworks vividly reflect the cultural, spiritual, and religious life of the Champa people. Many of them depict Hindu deities such as Shiva, the serpent god Naga, and Lakshmi, the goddess of happiness.

A guided tour is the optimal choice for groups of visitors (Source: Klook)

Alongside religious motifs, there are also sculptures inspired by everyday life. What makes these works exceptional is not only their material but also the artistic sophistication shown in their form, content, and spiritual depth.

To help visitors better understand the Champa culture, the museum offers a free audio guide service:

• Step 1: Connect to the museum’s Wi-Fi.
• Step 2: Open a web browser and go to https://chamaudio.com.
• Step 3: Choose one of the three available languages (Vietnamese, English, or French), and select the artifact to hear its story. Visitors can either follow the guided audio tour or scan the QR codes next to each artifact for quick access to detailed information.

Admire the national treasures

At the Da Nang Cham Sculpture Museum, there are currently three artifacts classified as national treasures: the My Son E1 Altar, the Tra Kieu Altar, and the Statue of Bodhisattva Tara.

The national treasures in Cham Museum (Source: Labor News)

Tips for visiting the Cham Sculpture Art Museum

Here are some tips for visiting the Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang to ensure a complete and enjoyable experience:

• Visitors need to present a ticket to enter the museum.
• Do not touch the artifacts. Avoid climbing or sitting on display platforms.
• Large luggage is not allowed in the museum. For hand luggage over 3kg, you can store it at the luggage counter.
• Maintain cleanliness within the museum grounds.
• Do not bring explosives, flammable substances, or dangerous items into the museum.
• Dress neatly and politely when visiting the museum.

Conclusion 

Not only a place to preserve priceless artifacts, the Cham Sculpture Museum is also a unique architectural and artistic work that has been preserved for many decades. Visiting the museum allows you to revisit the prosperous era of a nation with its peak artistic creativity. Therefore, this is a must-visit destination for all travelers on their journey to explore the beautiful coastal city of Da Nang.

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