The Vietnam Ethnology Museum in Hanoi on Nov 30 inaugurated its Southeast Asia Museum after years of preparation.

The Southeast Asia Museum covers a 7,000m2 area  on Nguyen Van Huyen street in Cau Giay district. The four-storey edifice is shaped like a kite, which is a common feature in Southeast Asian cultures.

The new museum will be home to around 400 artifacts, 130 photos and information system including maps, annotations, articles and videos. Exhibits highlighting Southeast Asian peoples and their culture will be held on a regular basis.

The museum will also boast collections gifted by other Southeast Asian countries, which is indicative of a culturally diversified yet harmonious block.

A host of performing and educative activities are being held to celebrate the inauguration. The activities range from contemporary folk art performances featuring Thai and Laotian artists to traditional costume donning, puppet and mask making.

Participants can also make cereal paintings and postcards accentuating the Southeast Asian cultural heritages and learning about the countries’ national flags and other features through games.