The UNIS Cultural Collection is an extraordinary learning resource for our students and community, made possible through philanthropy. This unique gift has created the UNIS Cultural Collection – an educational resource designed to inspire learning through the lens of Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage.
Vietnam Heritage Exhibition Given International Award!
Our very own Cultural Collection celebrating Vietnamese culture and traditions created for children’s education has been given a prestigious international award.
In partnership with a local gallery and its Vietnamese parent community, the United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi) has taken first place in the Asia Pacific Circle of Excellence Awards with the global organisation CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) for its unique UNIS Cultural Collection.
The museum style project, which provides a unique educational resource for both international students and local schools exploring the traditions of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups, was especially recognised for engaging the community at the official awards ceremony in Melbourne, Australia in May 2023.
The UNIS Cultural Collection was the vision of the founders of the Hanoi based 54 Traditions Gallery, Ms Nhung Nguyen, who is also a parent at UNIS Hanoi, and Dr Mark Rapoport who donated more than 200 artefacts to the school for the educational community project. With the support of the Lam Huyen family, UNIS Hanoi has created both an on-campus ‘museum’ to be shared with the Hanoi community and an online version for a global audience.
The UNIS Cultural Collection houses 204 artefacts from a neolithic firestone (2500 BC) to 20th century art and focuses on 13 of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups and their heritage through a wide range of both everyday tools and practical objects to beautiful ceremonial jewellery, clothing and religious art.
Founder Ms Nhung Nguyen said: “As a parent initiating the first idea of wanting to introduce Vietnamese culture on UNIS campus, I'm so touched and inspired by a strong engagement and commitment from other community members who join the journey with the School in making this one-of-a-kind on-campus museum possible. Seeing the collection becoming a truly meaningful learning resource and internationally recognised with this award, I more believe in the power of philanthropy for education, especially when the vision for a project is shared and amplified by others.
And Head of School, Ms Jane McGee expressed her gratitude to the visionary donors for their contribution to education: “The legacy that this exhibition provides, not only for our students, but for local children and teachers is invaluable. The generosity of our community to support a vision and make it happen through philanthropic donations is a testament to the value that we place on investment in our children’s futures.”
April 19, 2021 marked the official launch of UNIS Cultural Collection – an extraordinary learning resource made possible through philanthropy. We are extremely grateful for the generous donations from Ms Nhung Nguyen and Dr Mark Rapoport, founders of the 54 Traditions Gallery in Hanoi, with their gift of 204 artefacts and Mr Lam-Ms Huyen Family with their support in the installation of this beautiful exhibition.
This founding collection of 204 Vietnamese cultural and historic artefacts from 13 of the country’s 54 ethnic groups is an educational collection designed to inspire learning through the lens of Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage.
The UNIS Cultural Collection online resource has been developed over the summer 2021 as a special and invaluable learning resource, not only for our students during Distance Learning, but for an entire community and one which we are confident will have global reach.
Through the collection, curation and meaningful exhibition of the artefacts, the UNIS Cultural Collection is designed to support both curriculum learning and community education.
The UNIS Cultural Collection is situated in the Ly Thai To Learning Centre (Building B8B). Students and UNIS community members can visit freely (according to campus access regulation with respect to Covid management.)
Please browse our online collection, which is categorised into the following groups:
