The Role of Museums in the Preservation of Living Heritage: Experiences of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The author stresses the high respect that the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (VME) has for cultural diversity, as seen in its approaches to the following three areas: people, space, and time. The VME has given priority first and foremost to the representation of everyday life – problems, stories, and concerns of peoples and of ethnic communities. The Museum’s role as a research and educational institution, as well as a body that appreciates and supports the intangible value of crafts are shown in two research case studies: learning to make pottery in the classroom for children, and giving voices to craft artisans in a photovoice project. The author also addresses current challenges of the VME, especially as it expands its research and display policies to include the cultures and daily life of ethnic peoples in other Southeast Asian Countries.