The Thang Long Ceramics and Ancient Objects Preservation Association has collaborated with the Hanoi Bonsai Association to jointly introduce their collections through an exhibit entitled Quintessence Antiquities and Bonsai.

The precious objects are made of four main materials-wood, ceramic, terra-cotta and bronze – which are recognised as the most pure representations of antiquity by Vietnamese collectors and experts.

Visitors to the museum will have the chance to see a wooden lacquered casket, blue and white porcelain pots and ceramic jars decorated with brown iron enamel. They will be dazzled to see a terra-cotta tiger face and a Buddha leaf decorated with a dragon, which remain sharp and sophisticated after a thousand years.

Bronze objects make up a large portion of the exhibition, including some unique bronze drums from the Dong Son period, 2,500 years ago, which were loaned to the museum by collector Dao Phan Long who is the chairman of the association.

“The ancient items exhibited here were carefully chosen from our members’ collections based on their beautiful, rare and valuable attributes, both in economic and cultural terms,” said Long.

To the wonderment of visitors more than 200 bonsai trees are on display around the museum grounds. The trees, some of them 200 years old, have been meticulously cared for and have been formed into a variety of different shapes and positions.

“The joy of growing bonsai has existed for a long time in Vietnam , particularly in Hanoi . More and more people have come forth with a desire to enjoy the stylistic pleasure of bonsai,” said Nguyen Gia Tho, chairman of the Hanoi Bonsai Association.

“I hope that one day the art of bonsai will be recognised as an important part of the nation’s cultural heritage,” Tho emphasised.

Visitors will see bonsai trees at the museum that are valued at billions of Vietnam dong, such as a century-old tree grown on stone in a golden cement fish tank by journalist Su Truong Son. He was asked to sell his tree for 2.6 billion VND (155,000 USD) but Son, who as been involved in the art for dozens of years, refused.

The joint exhibition is just one activity designed to celebrate Hanoi ’s liberation from French occupation on Oct. 10, 1954. It is a chance to introduce valuable antiquities to the public and raise awareness about the importance of preserving priceless cultural treasures.

The bonsai exhibition will run until next Oct. 16 The ancient objects will remain on display for three months.

All are welcome to visit the museum at 1 Pham Ngu Lao street