Museum of Traditional Medicine: Guide to Vietnamese Healing | Vietnam Purple Travel Guide

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To enter, you need to have purchased the Hoi An Ancient Town Ticket.

The Museum of Traditional Medicine offers a unique and immersive experience that blends science, spirituality, and centuries-old wisdom. This lesser-known museum is a good place to explore Vietnamese traditional medicine, known as ‘Thuốc Nam’ and ‘Thuốc Bắc’, and its deep connections to Vietnamese culture, folklore, and daily life.

What Is the Hoi An Museum of Traditional Medicine?

The Museum of Traditional Medicine opened in 2019, and is set inside a restored 19th-century merchant house, blending historic architecture with informative, hands-on exhibits.
The museum showcases the history, tools, ingredients, and philosophies of traditional Vietnamese and Chinese medicine as practiced in Hội An and central Vietnam. It also highlights how healing traditions evolved through Vietnam’s rich history of multicultural exchange with China, India, and the Champa Kingdom.

What to See: Highlights and Exhibits

Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Plants

• Discover over 200 species of medicinal herbs used to treat common ailments, from fevers and digestive issues to stress and insomnia.

• Learn how ingredients like cinnamon, star anise, ginseng, and agarwood have long been prized in Vietnamese remedies.

Tools of the Trade

• See antique mortar and pestles, ceramic jars, wooden pill molds, and other tools used by traditional healers for centuries.

• Explore how pharmacies measured, mixed, and stored medicines before industrial manufacturing existed.

Healing Philosophy and Diagnosis Methods

• Exhibits explain the core concepts of Vietnamese and Eastern medicine, such as yin-yang balance, five elements (ngũ hành), meridians, and energy flow.

• Interactive stations demonstrate ancient diagnostic techniques, including pulse reading, facial diagnosis, and tongue examination.

Traditional Pharmacies and Medical Practices

• See reconstructions of old Vietnamese apothecaries and treatment rooms, complete with herbal cabinets and historical documents.

• Learn about famous healers and herbalists from Vietnamese history who contributed to the field.

Visitor Information

• Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm daily

• Admission: Included in the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket

• Recommended Visit Duration: 30–45 minutes

Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the Viator tours below.

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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel

Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.

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