Xuan Hinh’s Dao Mau Museum dazzles with mystical 5,500m² space

On his personal social media account with four million followers, Xuan Hinh recently shared rare images of his Dao Mau Museum.

Xuan Hinh wrote: "On a beautiful sunny day, the Dao Mau Museum welcomed Mr. Evangelos Kotsioris, curator of architecture at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, for a visit."

The Dao Mau Museum is located in Hien Ninh, Soc Son District, on the outskirts of Hanoi. To build this project, Xuan Hinh used five million ancient tiles and millions of antique bricks sourced from 500 households across Vietnam.

The museum is set amid a 50-year-old orchard, with original columns and gates preserved, creating a harmonious connection with nature.

Artist Xuan Hinh carefully designed the museum around the existing centuries-old trees, blending the structure seamlessly with its natural surroundings.

Natural sunlight streams into each space throughout the day. With an open architectural style, every illuminated area benefits from natural light.

At night, the Dao Mau Museum transforms into a sparkling, mystical space, illuminated primarily by warm golden lighting.

The soft golden light against the mossy, ancient walls enhances the sacred atmosphere within the museum.

Thanh Thanh Hien, a longtime stage partner of Xuan Hinh, is a frequent visitor to the museum.

Beyond its architectural uniqueness, the museum houses a library showcasing and preserving books on traditional Vietnamese performing arts such as hat van, hau dong, and quan ho, as well as numerous ancient paintings associated with folk arts.

"I spent my whole life working hard to create this project as a way to honor the Mother Goddess, the mother of all people," Xuan Hinh shared.

"I want to express my gratitude for the blessings that the Mother Goddess has bestowed upon me, helping me reach where I am today. I love this place deeply and have dedicated immense care and passion to building and maintaining it."

Dao Mau (Mother Goddess Religion) is a traditional spiritual belief system in Vietnam. It centers on the worship of Mau - meaning "Mother" - and honors various Mother Goddesses who represent nature, the universe, and human life. It originated from ancient Vietnamese folk beliefs and developed over centuries, especially among rural communities.

Dao Mau venerates different female deities (Mau), each associated with different elements: Mother of the Upper Sky, Mother of Water, Mother of Earth, Mother of the Mountains and Forests.

Hau dong (spirit mediumship) is a key ritual where a medium (often a woman) becomes spiritually possessed by deities and performs dances, songs, and blessings. Rituals often involve colorful costumes, music, offerings, and traditional performances.

In 2016, UNESCO recognized the practices related to the beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms (Đạo Mẫu) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Xuan Hinh is a celebrated Vietnamese folk artist, widely recognized for his contributions to preserving and promoting traditional performing arts such as chèo (Vietnamese traditional opera) and dân ca (folk singing).

Known as the "King of Chèo," he has captivated audiences for decades with his comedic talent, deep emotional expression, and mastery of classical Vietnamese stage performance.