DA NANG, Viet Nam, 6 October 2026 – The Vietnam National Museum of Nature and the Da Nang Museum have strengthened their cooperative relationship through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the opening of the thematic exhibition Plants in Katu Culture and Everyday Life. The Katu people, known in Vietnamese as the Katu, are one of the indigenous ethnic communities of central Viet Nam whose traditional knowledge of plant resources forms the focus of the exhibition.
Strategic Partnership Framework Expands Cooperation in Research, Exhibitions, and Public Education
The Vietnam National Museum of Nature and the Da Nang Museum held a solemn Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Da Nang Museum headquarters on October 5, 2026. The event marked an important milestone in cooperation between the two institutions and established a framework for advancing professional exchange, scientific research, exhibitions, and public education for the period 2026–2031.
The ceremony was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Trung Minh, General Director, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Ke Long, Deputy General Director, representing the Vietnam National Museum of Nature. Representing the Da Nang Museum were Mr. Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, Director, together with heads of specialised departments.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien highlighted the growing cooperation between the two institutions and proposed expanding future collaboration through joint exhibitions, creative programmes and educational activities that promote Viet Nam’s natural and cultural heritage. He also emphasised the development of interactive learning programmes for students aimed at fostering scientific curiosity and environmental awareness. The Director further expressed appreciation to the research team of Project VINIF09.2023.DA07 for selecting Da Nang Museum – Branch 2 as the venue for the exhibition Plants in Katu Culture and Everyday Life.
Representing the Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Minh highlighted the potential for continued cooperation in future exhibitions and research programmes focusing on the flora, fauna and geology of the Quang Nam region, an area recognised for its rich biodiversity and scientific significance.
Under the 2026–2031 cooperation framework, the two institutions will implement practical initiatives including joint thematic exhibitions, professional knowledge exchanges regarding display techniques, flora and fauna identification, and broader collaboration in culture, science, technology and education.
Exploring Indigenous Knowledge and Forest Culture Through Museum Exhibition
Following the signing ceremony, the two museums jointly inaugurated the thematic exhibition Plants in Katu Culture and Everyday Life at Da Nang Museum – Branch 2 on 6 October 2026.
The exhibition is one of the principal outcomes of the research project Study and Conservation of Plant Knowledge among the Katu People in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue Provinces (Code: VINIF09.2023.DA07), led by Dr. Luu Dam Ngoc Anh and funded by the VINIF Innovation Foundation.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening
Featuring nearly 40 plant specimens and over 30 unique artefacts, the exhibition vividly portrays the deep bond between the Katu ethnic people and nature—spanning traditional food sources, bark dyes for brocade, construction materials for Guol stilt houses, herbal medicine, and plants used in spiritual practices. Each object on display testifies to the community’s rich heritage and the enduring significance of plant knowledge among Katu communities over generations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Minh emphasised: "This exhibition is the result of applying scientific research directly to real life. Beyond preserving the natural and cultural heritage of Central Vietnam, this initiative represents concrete action towards implementing Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on Vietnamese cultural development." Adopted by the Politburo in 2024, Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW calls for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, the safeguarding of cultural diversity and traditional knowledge, and the mobilisation of culture as a foundation for sustainable national development. The exhibition contributes to these objectives by documenting and presenting the indigenous ecological knowledge of the Katu people to the wider public.
The exhibition is open to the public from October 6, 2026, through September 2027 at Da Nang Museum – Branch 2 (281 Phan Boi Chau Street, Ban Thach Ward, Da Nang City).
Highlights from the opening ceremony:
About the Vietnam National Museum of Nature: The Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN), a national research institution under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), conducts scientific research, field surveys, collection management, and specimen preservation across earth sciences, life sciences, and anthropology. VNMN manages the National Specimen Collection of Nature and biological gene banks while leading public education and environmental conservation efforts.
About the Da Nang Museum: The Da Nang Museum is a public cultural and research institution under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City. Spanning three physical locations, the institution preserves over 30,000 historical, cultural, and natural artefacts representing Da Nang and the Quang region. Blending traditional exhibitions with cutting-edge digital technology like 3D mapping, the museum serves as a central hub for public education, heritage preservation, and cultural tourism.
Source: Dr. Luu Dam Ngoc Anh, Vietnam National Museum of Nature