HCM City to build Natural History Museum
Vietnam’s first natural history museum will be built in HCM City on an area of 23.9 hectares inside the Historical and Cultural Park in District 9.
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Le Dung, general director of the Science Technology and Production Corp (PTC), which is in charge of developing the project, said: “The museum is the first large-scale complex of culture and science in Vietnam. Through exhibitions, publications and special programmes, the museum will introduce Vietnam’s natural history and environment to locals and foreigners.”
During the first phase of construction from 2018 to 2022, the botanical garden and the museum will open for visitors.
PTC will invite 200 local and foreign scientists and researchers to take part in the project.
The total investment will be US$533 million, of which US$219 million will be used to build the museum and botanical garden, and US$316 million for collecting exhibits.
The city will provide 20% of the costs by donating land and funding for site clearance, predevelopment and infrastructure. The remaining will be sought from individuals and organisation in the country and overseas.
The project was approved by the city government in 2005, and warmly welcomed by local and international organisations.The city signed an agreement with the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations to support the project in all science and technology fields.
Thanks to the San Francisco-HCM City Sister City Committee, the project has received technical assistance from the Smithsonian Institute in the US.
San Francisco-based Stevens & Associates helped create the master plan for the project, while the San Francisco branch of Lord Cultural Resources Planning & Management Inc supported the exhibition design.
On March 7, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee and a 30-member delegation visited the project site in District 9 during a visit to HCM City.
“The mayor’s visit was an opportunity to boost the project so it can be developed soon,” said Dung.