Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

Updated April 5, 2026

You can explore Vietnam’s medical history at the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, a cultural attraction in Ho Chi Minh City.

What to Expect

The museum is housed in a building noted for its traditional architecture. Inside, you will find over a dozen exhibition rooms spread across five floors. The collection includes dusty jars of ingredients, a disturbing selection of historical medical instruments, and an altar devoted to two ancestors of Vietnamese medicine. A short film, “A Century of Health Care Experiences,” provides further insight into local medical practices, which show heavy Chinese influence. The museum covers 600 square meters, with 16 rooms dedicated to displaying exhibits.

Practical Information

The museum is located at 41 Hoàng Dư Khương in District 10 of Ho Chi Minh City. You can contact the venue by phone at (+84) 989 383 767. It holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating from visitors.

History & Significance

Traditional Vietnamese medicine dates back thousands of years. The practice endures, partly due to the country’s humid tropical climate, which provides favorable conditions for growing the many different plants used in herbal remedies. This museum, also known as Fito Museum, is the first of its kind dedicated to preserving this history.

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Hidden away in District 10, the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine is a real gem you probably won’t stumble across unless you’re looking for it. It’s not one of those big-name attractions everyone’s heard about, but honestly, that’s part of the charm.

Inside, you’ll find over 3,000 artifacts that tell the story of Vietnamese healing—think ancient stone mortars, delicate porcelain jars, and even replicas of royal pharmacy cabinets. The building itself is a six-story marvel, pieced together from reclaimed wooden frames of 19th-century Vietnamese homes. You can almost feel the history in the floorboards.

As you wander through 18 exhibition rooms, there’s no shortage of things to catch your eye. Medicinal wine jars, old-school grinding stones, handwritten herbal recipes—it’s all here, and each piece feels like it’s got a story to tell.

It’s not just glass cases and reading plaques, though. Up on the fourth floor, you’re actually invited to try mixing your own herbal remedy. There are 81 different herbs to choose from, and the staff will walk you through the process.

The museum’s about 2-3 kilometers from District 1, so it’s an easy taxi or Grab ride if you’re staying near the tourist hotspots. I’d give yourself at least an hour—maybe more if you get sucked into the details or want to check out the little cinema room.

Key Takeaways

• The museum showcases Vietnamese medical history through thousands of artifacts in a building made from reclaimed 19th-century house frames.
• You can actually mix your own herbal remedies on the fourth floor—definitely not something you find everywhere.
• It’s tucked in District 10, just a quick ride from the main tourist areas, and open daily from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.

About Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

The Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine opened back in 2007, and you can tell it was built out of genuine passion. Nearly everything on display was collected by the owner himself over decades, which gives the place a really personal vibe.

History and Significance

Le Khac Tam, who’s got a background in traditional medicine, spent years gathering these artifacts before finally opening the doors. His idea wasn’t just to show off old tools, but to share how Vietnamese medicine developed as a living tradition.

Some of the items here go all the way back to the Stone Age—herbal knives, medicine grinders, even tools linked to legendary healers like Zen Master Tue Tinh and Hai Thuong Lan Ong. There’s an altar dedicated to them right in the heart of the museum.

One thing that really stands out is how the collection highlights Vietnamese approaches to medicine, which are surprisingly distinct from Chinese traditions. There’s even a Guinness Vietnam-recognized artwork listing 100 famous healers from the 12th to 20th centuries. You’re unlikely to find this much depth on the subject anywhere else in the city.

What Makes It Special

The building itself is a work of art. Tam actually moved columns, bricks, and roof tiles from an old Hanoi house to create this space. Every detail, from the worn wooden beams to the patterned tiles, feels intentional.

You’ll see medicinal jars from places like Ha Dong, Hoi An, and Lai Thieu, each one showing a different regional approach to preparing remedies. There’s a whole room of grinding stones, old weighing scales, and even wooden blocks used for printing prescriptions.

And it’s not just looking—on the upper floors, you can try your hand at traditional medicine preparation. The shop downstairs sells herbal remedies if you’re curious to bring something home.

What to See and Do

Across six floors and 18 rooms, you’ll find a wild variety of artifacts tracing centuries of Vietnamese healing. The building, a beautifully restored spot on Hoang Duy Khuong Street, is honestly worth a visit for the architecture alone.

Main Attractions and Highlights

You’ll start with a short film about Vietnamese medicine—just 15 minutes but surprisingly engaging. After that, each floor takes you deeper, from the origins of traditional medicine to the actual herbs used in treatments.

There’s a sprawling display of medicinal ingredients: dried roots, bark, mysterious powders, all tucked into old wooden cabinets. Some names you’ll recognize, like ginger or turmeric, but plenty are totally new.

The apothecary instruments room is packed with grinding stones and measuring tools—honestly, it’s fascinating to see how remedies were mixed centuries ago.

One floor is dedicated to Vietnam’s most famous physicians, with portraits and old manuscripts. And then there’s the architecture—the carved wood, vintage tiles, and old-school furniture make the place feel more like a historic home than a museum.

Don’t skip the tea sampling area before you leave. The staff offer up herbal drinks, and there’s a shop on the ground floor if you want to pick up any traditional medicine to take back with you.

Best Time to Visit

Hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week. If you want peace and quiet, aim for weekday mornings.

Weekends, the place gets busier—lots of locals come for photo shoots, and honestly, it can get lively. If you’re into people-watching, that’s a bonus, but if you want to read every exhibit in silence, stick to early weekdays.

Rainy day in Ho Chi Minh City? This is a perfect spot since everything’s indoors. I’d budget at least 90 minutes if you want to see it all without rushing.

Visitor Information

You’ll find the museum open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at 41 Hoàng Dư Khương in District 10. Entry is 180,000 VND—not bad for everything you get.

Location and How to Get There

The address is 41 Hoàng Dư Khương, Phường 12, District 10. It’s not on a main drag, but that’s part of the adventure.

Best bet is a taxi or Grab—it’s a quick 10-15 minutes from District 1, maybe 20 from the backpacker streets like Bui Vien. Motorbike taxis are an option too, and they’re usually cheaper. Just make sure you’ve got the address handy in Vietnamese.

The museum sits in a quiet residential area, so don’t expect a big sign or flashy entrance. Look for the traditional Vietnamese architecture, and you’ll know you’re in the right place.

Tips for Visitors

Try to arrive right when the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine opens at 8:30 AM. Trust me, before 10 AM, you’ll have the place mostly to yourself.

When you buy your ticket, ask if there’s a traditional medicine demonstration scheduled. It’s not always on the sign, but if you’re lucky, you’ll catch someone grinding herbs with a centuries-old mortar or brewing up medicinal teas.

Don’t skip the rooftop café. Give yourself at least 20 minutes up there—sip a cup of herbal tea, take in the views over District 10, and let your feet recover for a bit.

Set aside about 90 minutes to two hours for the whole experience. If you’re eyeing any herbal remedies or one of those beautifully illustrated books downstairs, bring a bit of extra cash.