Located in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, FITO Museums or the First Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine is one of the must-see attractions for visitors who want to learn more about traditional medicine in Vietnam.
Covering an area of 600m2, the museum has five floors with 24 rooms, of which 16 are designed for displaying the exhibits. On the upper floor, there is a hall to worship two ancestors of the Vietnamese traditional medicine, including Tue Tinh and Hai Thuong Lan Ong or Le Huu Trac.
There are more than 3,000 objects dating back to the Stone Age on display featuring the unique value of the museum. Among the objects are collections of instruments used in medicine production such as knives, grinders, pots, and jars, as well as characteristic household objects, namely, scales, cabinets, teapots, and ceramics.
Visitors can move around the museum and experience a personal demonstration of the use of a grinding pot, watch a documentary about the history of Vietnamese traditional medicine or taste a cup of “Linh Chi” tea before leaving the museum. After that, you can even a consultation with experienced oriental doctors.
Unheard to even many locals, the museum is humbly nestled in an alleyway of private homes, small businesses, and cafes. Aside from the intensive and unique collection of artifacts, the facade itself is truly a piece of art. The entire building lends the vibe of a traditional Vietnamese Northern home, with a twist of Hue style and Cham style from Central Vietnam and Cambodia.
The museum opens daily from 8:30 am till 5:00 pm. The entrance ticket is 120,000VND/ adult and 60,000VND/ child. Tourists can reach there by taxi with a 15-minute driving from the city center. It is always included in any city tour along with Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
