Having been in operation for less than one year, Vietnam’s most "modern" museum already is showing its cracks.

Part of the museum was once flooded

“An additional VND760 billion (USD36.71 million) is desperately needed for upgrades on the Hanoi Museum,” said Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction Le Van Duc.

According to Duc, the total investment for the project will end up at nearly VND2.8 trillion (USD135.26 million), instead of the earlier estimate of VND2 trillion (USD96 million).

On June 7, the department admitted that there were water leaks and other structural problems elsewhere at the museum, adding that Vietnam Construction and Import - Export Joint Stock Corporation (Vinaconex), an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor of the project, is responsible for a 24-month guarantee for the facility.

Dong Huyen Ngoc, Head of the Hanoi Museum’s Management Board, said that for now these are not such big problems, because the facility is still within the 'guarantee period'. "A plumbing problem on the second floor is what led to leakage issues," he said.

Pain on the walls has started peeling as a result, but Ngoc said that Vinaconex is working with the institution to resolve this matter.

Nguyen Van Hung, the museum’s Director said, “We have invited officials from Vietnam Museological Institute of Forest Resources, and Pedology and Agro-chemistry Institute to provide more regular maintenance services at the facility.

Problems take toll on exhibits