Whisking you back to my tales of our recent travels in Vietnam...
Still in Hanoi and one of the items on my "Must-Do (again)" List was to go back to the Vietnamese Women's Museum.
We'd visited previously in late 2011 but as I had developed, what I found out a few days later, a bad chest infection, I wasn't feeling the brightest.
This time round though, I was fit and full of anticipation at having the whole day to wander and absorb what I already knew to be a really interesting collection that is a tribute to the women of Vietnam through the ages.
 |
| The entry foyer and where I was kitted out with my audio guide. |
 |
| lol... feeling pretty cool with my earphones (just had to remember how to work the audio buttons!) |
... and off we go.
The photos I've shown here are just snippets from some of the many categories that have been covered in the Museum's collection.
Above is one of the photos in the foyer, see description in the next photo:
The photo below, I say without a doubt, is the main reason I wanted to return to the Museum. Back in 2011 I'd taken a phone photo of it and it had blurred. I made sure I got a good one this visit.
The title is "Mother and Son Reunite" and it touched my heart.
I have included an explanation below the photo and a link for further reading if anyone should wish.
 |
(Source: VNA Photo by Lam Hong Long and following extract from Vietnam News):
In a small, cozy house, "Mother and Son Reunite" is framed in a glass case in the living room under the family altar dedicated to his dear mother. She had cried her heart out when her only son was sentenced to death after being accused of being a Viet Cong spy.
Somehow she managed to remain strong, and after learning her son had been exiled in Con Dao Prison, a true "hell on earth", she started to investigate the situation. Upon hearing the news from the Liberation Radio that prisoners were to be released from Con Dao, she travelled all the way from Ben Tre to Vung Tau (181 kms) in search of her son.
Read more at http://vietnamnews.vn/sunday/features/275724/behind-every-famous-war-photo-is-a-story.html#oe3phDUrYjrF6oUj.99 |
 |
| Up a level - pretty thankful there were lifts here, the stairs were long! |
Work:
This beautiful photo caught my eye too. The description of it is below:
Marriage:
 |
| Embroidered pillow case by a bride-to-be. |
 |
| Wedding attire |
 |
| The bride remains hidden throughout the ceremony |
An essential kit for the new bride. The Betel Box and accompaniments are part of everyday life in households:
 |
| Wooden Betel Pot inlaid with Mother of Pearl |
 |
| Betel chewing is an important age old custom in Vietnam. The lime pot (bottom right in the above photo) is used in preparing the betel leaf for chewing. (note: it's not lime juice, rather slaked lime ...calcium hydroxide |
Childbirth:
 |
| I think it was for a week or two that the new mother is required to sit beside and above a pan of coals which provides warmth and therefore healing to her. |
The following is an unusual little wooden storage box that caught my eye amongst the childbirth section:
The next photo explains what it is...
 |
| This poster reads "Food for your baby for the first year" |
Personal Adornments:
 |
| This is a silver waist pin with 7 objects that symbolise women's role in housekeeping (a Thai ethnic group in Vietnam) |
 |
| Huge Earrings... see the gorgeous photo below of them being worn: |
 |
| These items are for the ears also. Mothers have their daughters' ears pierced at a young age and every year the ear hole is widened until, at a mature age, it is held that the wider the piercing the more beautiful the woman. If, over time, a woman's earlobe tears because of the size, it is celebrated. A buffalo is sacrificed to commemorate the occasion and all villagers are invited to celebrate with her. They believe the broken helix reflects the full beauty and wealth of the woman ... something the cannot be achieved by everyone. The poor have bamboo and the rich have ivory. |
Teeth Lacquering:
Crafts:
Applique:
Batik:
 |
| I love this photo - it speaks volumes |
Fashion:
 |
| Just some of the beautiful Ao Dai - the Vietnamese national garment. |
 |
 |
| What's one more picture eh! Back in 2011 ... pretty lucky to have made it back to that spot once more I reckon :D) |
