Dak Lak Museum is not only a scientific agency but also a socially cultural center. Dak Lak Museum is in charge of scientific research, collection, inventory, conversation, restoration, exhibition and performance and so on to carry out educational functions and give information about values of history and culture of peoples to the domestic and foreign public.
Process of foundation
With policies of preservation, introduction and education about values of history and culture of peoples in Dak Lak towards the domestic and foreign public, the 5th Resolution in 1977 of Dak Lak People’s Committee proposed “Need to have plans to promote work of preservation and museum”.
Thanks to care and facilities of leadership at all levels of Dak Lak, the best effort of museumers, the Traditional House of Dak Lak Province, whose headquarter was at 1 Le Duan Street, was created on September 2nd 1977 including around 500 objects. It was run by Mr. Y Yung Adrong, the head of Conservation and Museum Department cocurrently the Director of the Traditional House.
In 1984, assisted by the teachers and students from Museum Faculty of Hanoi Cultural University, the exhibitions of Traditional House were improved and expanded.
In 1990 the Traditional House’s name was changed into Dak Lak General Museum (or Dak Lak Museum). In 1995, Dak Lak Museum was recognized as the second-ranked Museum and kept over 10,000 objects.
In October 2004, Dak Lak Museum was one of the five Vietnam museums was built by the coordination between museological experts of French Public and the experts of Ethnology Museum of Vietnam under the framework of the project Development of Vietnam Museum Heritage (FSP) following non-reimbursement assistance. The purpose of the project was to improve the exhibitions, welcome visitors following the international criteria and to enhance knowledge and capacity of independent working for the Museum’s staff. On February 27th 2008, Dak Lak Museum began construction invested by Dak Lak People’s Committee, designed by HAAI Construction Company, excuted by Phu Xuan Construction Co., Ltd. It is an original architecture featured by a style of tradition and modern of the Central Highlanders. This construction has the total area of over 9,000 meter square with 130 meters in length and 65 meters in width including the area for exhibitons, conservation and working place.
With the best attempt of the Dak Lak Museum’s staff, on November 21st 2011, on the 105th year - anniversary of foundation of Dak Lak, Dak Lak Museum’s opening was formally held by the Provincial Committee, the People’s Council and the People’s Committee of Dak Lak. This event remarked a new development step of Dak Lak Museum and it was an important moment in building and developing of Dak Lak particularly and the Museum Branch in the Central Highlands generally.
In 2012, on the 36th year - anniversary of foundation, Dak Lak Museum was honor to be rewarded the third-ranking Labour Medal.
Since January 2014, Dak Lak Museum has officially become a member of ICOM, which is a basic for the Museum to get strategical development, creating breakthrough in working.
On August 19th 2014, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgated Decision No.2641/QD-BVHTTDL on the first-ranked Dak Lak Museum. Dak Lak Museum is affirming step by step its position to gain more success.
New features:
Dak Lak Museum is a cultural agency whose aim is to enable the public in the province, the entire nation and foreign countries to understand Dak Lak’s rich history and to help people discover the nature and culture of the Central Highlands. As a result, it has attracted attention of the local and foreign visitors including students as well as scientists.
Dak Lak Museum including three exhibitions Peoples, History and Biodiversity is keeping cultural objects of over 49 ethnic groups living in Dak Lak, especially gong cultural space and things related to cultural features of the indigenous peoples. Historical objects help the visitors to have a view of the past anti-resistances of the peoples and army in Dak Lak. Archaeological artefacts give information about an overview of historical background and original culture values of the people and nature from the Stone Age until now. The objects related to biodiversity and natural resources of the Central Highlands are being displayed; moreover, images of deforestation and environment degradation are introduced to the visitors in order to raise awareness of forest and environment protection in the condition that temperature inversion and climate change in the world are happening.
