The Army Museum is one of six national museums in Vietnam. It was established on Dec, 22nd 1959 in the centre of Hanoi, and covers 10,000 square meters in area. The Army Museum offers a comprehensive and patriotic history of the Vietnamese people's armed forces under the leadership of Vietnam's communist party and of president Ho Chi Minh. Thousands of exhibits, photographs, maps, scale models and weapons are on display. According to the authorities: 'This will give visitors a good general knowledge of the process of the birth, growth and victories of the Vietnamese people's armed forces for the cause of peace, independence and freedom'.