The Vietnam National Museum of History in Hanoi has recently launched its experimental 3D virtual version, which is the first of its kind in Vietnam, on its website www.baotanglichsu.vn.

The museum is showcasing two virtual galleries titled “Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Heritage” and the “Vietnamese Ancient Lamps” featuring 150 antiquities that are on display in the real museum with object’s information in English and Vietnamese.

This pilot version will run until late this month for visitors’ comments. According to Vu Manh Ha, deputy director of the museum, the cost for making a 3D virtual museum in Vietnam is 3 times lower than in other countries due to the lower technology and service price. However, he also added making 3D version of all objects of the whole museum will cost a very large amount.

“We hope that after touring the virtual museum, visitors will be encouraged to discover the real museum,” Ha said, adding he doesn’t want the virtual museum to take over the physical museum.