Cham Sculpture Museum
Cham Sculpture Museum
In Da Nang, the Cham Sculpture Museum houses the world's largest collection of religious art from the Champa kingdom, spanning the 7th to 15th centuries.
The Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang holds the world's most significant collection of religious art from the Champa kingdom, a civilization that dominated central Vietnam between the 7th and 15th centuries. Sandstone, terracotta, and bronze sculptures here testify to a culture shaped by Brahminism and Buddhism, long connected to India.
Why visit the Cham Museum
The museum offers a unique panorama of Cham statuary, once scattered across archaeological sites in central Vietnam. A visit allows you to understand Hindu iconography (Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesh) as reinterpreted by Cham sculptors, as well as the place of Buddhism in this civilization. Three national treasures are displayed here: the bronze statue of Bodhisattva Tara, the My Son E1 altar, and the Tra Kieu altar, which rank among the masterpieces of Khmer-Cham art.
The building itself deserves attention: designed by French architects Delaval and Auclair, it combines Gothic lines with motifs inspired by Cham architecture. Plan for 1 to 2 hours to explore all the galleries.
Museum History
The museum was founded in 1915 by archaeologist Henri Parmentier, with support from the French School of the Far East (EFEO). It was originally named the Henri Parmentier Museum. Before its opening, the site was already home to a "sculpture garden" where pieces collected from surrounding Cham sites were gathered.
Renamed the Cham Sculpture Museum in 1954, the institution was enlarged in 2002 with a two-story building adding roughly 1,000 m² dedicated to exhibitions, a library, and restoration workshops. Its management was entrusted to Da Nang's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2007. In 2011, it received the distinction of "first-class museum" in Vietnam. For its centenary in 2015, a renovation program was undertaken and completed in 2016, modernizing the display and lighting.
What to See at the Museum
The collections are organized by major archaeological sites, allowing you to follow the stylistic evolution of Cham art across the centuries.
- My Son Gallery: pieces from the ancient religious capital, inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage. You'll find the My Son E1 altar, one of the museum's masterpieces.
- Tra Kieu Gallery: sculptures from the first political capital of the Chams, including the Tra Kieu altar, remarkable for its narrative friezes.
- Thap Mam Gallery (Thap Ma): works from the 12th-14th centuries, rich in mythological animal representations and Hindu deities.
- Bodhisattva Tara Statue: a large bronze piece, considered one of the pinnacles of Cham Buddhist sculpture.
- Sculptures from Dong Duong, Khuong My, Thap Ma: varied materials (sandstone, terracotta, metal) illustrating the diversity of regional schools.
Captions are available in Vietnamese and English. An audio guide is generally offered at the entrance and helps non-specialists appreciate the works.
Practical Information
The museum is open daily, continuously from morning through late afternoon (hours subject to change; verify on-site). Admission is moderately priced, with reduced rates for children. Wear covering clothing: air conditioning is strong in some rooms.
Photography without flash is generally permitted. A shop offers books and reproductions at the exit.
How to Get There
The museum is located on the left bank of the Han River, at the corner of Bach Dang and Trung Nu Vuong streets, in close proximity to the Dragon Bridge. It sits about 4 km from Da Nang international airport and 6 km from the railway station. From downtown, it's accessible on foot, by taxi, by ride-sharing app (Grab), by motorbike, or by bicycle. Several hotels in the riverfront area are within a ten-minute walk.
Nearby Attractions
Da Nang serves as an ideal base for exploring central Vietnam. After your visit, several sites complement your exploration of Cham culture or the region's landscapes:
- My Son Sanctuary, approximately 70 km to the southwest, extends your visit with temples in situ.
- Hoi An, an ancient trading town inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage, 30 km to the south.
- The Dragon Bridge and the Han River, just steps from the museum.
- Son Tra Peninsula and the Marble Mountains, for day trips from Da Nang.
To extend your visit toward natural sites, you can also consult our guide on the botanical garden and zoo or, further south, Cai Rang floating market. For karst landscapes, see Buu Long Mountain and Cat Ba National Park.
When to Visit
The museum can be visited year-round. Da Nang experiences a dry season from February to August and a wetter season from September to January, with a typhoon risk in October and November. March to May offer pleasant, temperate conditions. The museum is also a good option on rainy days or during extreme heat.
Frequently asked questions
Plan for 1 to 2 hours to explore all galleries comfortably. Art or archaeology enthusiasts can spend a half-day here.
The visit is accessible but requires a minimum interest in religious sculpture. The spaces are calm and well-arranged; reduced rates apply for children.
Both orders have merit. Visiting the museum first helps you recognize styles at the My Son archaeological site; doing it after allows you to contextualize the sculptures in the galleries.
Captions are in Vietnamese and English. A multilingual audio guide is generally available, and English-speaking guided tours can be arranged through local agencies.
The ground floor is largely accessible. The 2002 addition has facilities, but some circulations remain constrained: check at the reception desk.
Plan Your Trip
To include the Cham Museum in an itinerary combining Da Nang, Hoi An, and My Son, consult our Vietnam travel suggestions and let our consultants guide you in building a custom itinerary.
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