HÀ NỘI — Museums and other cultural spaces in Hà Nội and one in HCM City will open for free from September 1 to 3 in celebration of National Day and other holidays.

Central Party Committee member and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) Nguyễn Văn Hùng said that the policy will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution on August 19 and National Day on September 2.

Party, State and Government leaders directed the MoCST to organise major activities in honour of the nation's glorious historical tradition over the past 80 years, and to motivate and inspire people to enter a new and strong era of civilised and prosperous development.

Major museums under the MoCST, along with the Việt Nam Nationalities Culture and Tourism Village and Việt Nam Contemporary Arts Theatre will open their doors to the public at no cost.

According to the Minister, the move is meant to educate people about the country's achievements while promoting the image of Vietnamese culture and its country and people to friends around the world.

Following his direction, many museums in the capital city will hold exhibitions introducing the history, culture and people of Việt Nam.

At the Hồ Chí Minh Museum, an exhibition covering 80 years of the People's Public Security remembering President Hồ Chí Minh's words will open on August 15; an exhibit entitled Mùa Thu Độc Lập (Independence Autumn) to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day will start on August 26; and a show of large oil paintings titled Mùa Xuân Độc Lập (Independence Spring) will begin on September 2.

The Việt Nam National Museum of History will host an exhibition called Bình Dân Học Vụ -- Thắp Sáng Tương Lai (Mass Education Movement -- Lighting up the Future) on August 22.

Meanwhile, the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum in Hà Nội will have several exhibitions. Những Người Con Của Tổ Quốc (Children of the Nation) is set to open on August 15, while an exhibition on applied arts will begin on August 22.

In HCM City, the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum will display images and documents under the theme of Hồ Chí Minh - Portrait of a Man.

The Việt Nam Nationalities Culture and Tourism Village will host a range of activities to introduce traditional cultures of ethnic communities through a highland market space and music and dance performances.

Director of the Department of Culture of Việt Nam's Nationalities Trịnh Ngọc Chung said up to 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the village during the three days of free entry.

Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Trang, director of the Việt Nam Contemporary Arts Theatre, said: "The theatre will bring performances of colourful puppets moving nimbly on the water to serve the public, especially children."

Other shows will include traditional arts and music programmes, Trang added. — VNS