Archeological treasures from Vietnam

These are jade scepters from the Vietnamese Stone Age. Included here is the longest scepter that was ever produced in Vietnam.

This bronzed animal figure was discovered in southern Vietnam in 1977 and a comparable artifact has yet to be found in all of Southeast Asia. It is around 2,500 years old and is considered a national treasure in Vietnam.

Bronze drums from the Dong Son culture are known for their ornamentation. The drum pictured was created sometime during the period between 200 B.C. and 50 A.D.

The Dong Son drums often feature frogs, which are symbols of rain and fertility. Figuratively speaking, the croaking of the frog represents the beating of the drum.

The Champa kingdom existed between the 4th and 15th century in southern Vietnam. The sandstone lions pictured here come from Binh Dinh province. One can easily recognize the Indian influence on the artwork.

The magnificent structures built by the Dai Viet starting in 1,000 A.D. were built mostly from wood. Today, only the foundations and the terracotta roof decorations remain. Pictured is a mix of a phoenix and a garuda. The phoenix originates from China and garuda is a mythical bird that originates from the Cham and Khmer cultures that were located in middle and southern Vietnam.

This phoenix pitcher is proof that the Dai Viet culture was capable of producing high-quality porcelain. It is around 500 years old and this particular container was probably intended for alcoholic beverages.

This imperial seal from 1827 belonged to Emperor Minh Mang. It is made from pure gold and weighs almost five kilograms (11 lbs.).

This bamboo basket can also be seen at the National Museum in Hanoi. It is said to be a basket that Ho Chi Minh used while building.

Water puppet theaters have been a unique part of Vietnamese culture since the 11th century. They almost died off in the 1980s but have experienced a revival in recent years. The figures are moved with underwater bamboo rods.