Cham showcase

A special style of Cham pottery, known as Go Sanh, is the focus of a private museum established at 173 Le Hong Phong Street in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh province. The ancient pottery on display at this location was collected by Mr. Nguyen Huot in the decades before Vietnam’s reunification. Mr. Huot’s son, Nguyen Vinh Hao, inherited his dad’s prized collection and opened the museum.

The museum houses thousands of antiques from the Kingdom of Champa, which flourished in Central Vietnam. The Cham statues on display range from expensive golden statues once owned by the royal family to religious stone statues to roughly made images. The collection is extremely precious.

Part of the museum’s appeal is its architecture. Visitor expecting a boring museum lined with glass cabinets will be surprised. While modern material has been used, the house features typical Cham motifs, plus some elements of traditional northern architecture.

In front of the house stands a huge pair of gate columns, bent like ivory tusks - a style common to the gates of Cham towers. Cast from concrete, the columns gain their ancient look thanks to wood carvings at the top. Inside, visitors are welcomed by a blazing red Shiva statue. Kala demon heads fixed on thick wooden planks look incredibly vivid, recalling the glory days of the Cham capital Vijaya, which flourished and then perished in the 15th century.

Items are contained in large glass cases and in wall recesses, as they would be inside a Cham tower. Statues of Brahma, Vishnu and other gods are mostly intact, having spent hundreds of years underground. The gods' static gestures are complemented by their vivid facial expressions. In this space, visitors can feel the spirit of the ancient Cham people and their once-great kingdom.

Opened in early 2006, this museum immediately attracted the attention of researchers and collectors. Built up over a lifetime, this collection reflects a passion for the Chams' ancient culture.