The Vanuatu Cultural Centre
The Vanuatu Cultural Centre
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4.0
226 reviews
Excellent
88
Very good
88
Average
39
Poor
8
Terrible
3
Jessica M
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
A great Port Vila rainy day activity.
Look a little deeper into the cultural history of this wonderful country.
The sand story telling and musical instrument demonstrations were heart warming and informative.
Look a little deeper into the cultural history of this wonderful country.
The sand story telling and musical instrument demonstrations were heart warming and informative.
Written 23 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teja
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia177 contributions
Dec 2022
A small cultural centre, it nonetheless has an interesting collection of items to give an introduction to the local culture, and Melanesia in general. The museum staff are knowledgeable and always willing to share more. Southeast Asians might recognise some similarities, but there are still notable differences that are very interesting distinctions between the two sub-regions. Definitely make sure to witness a sandroing demonstration at least once, it is a UNESCO intangible heritage of Vanuatu. Well worth visiting.
Written 23 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MMR1316
Ipswich, Australia545 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
Every trip we've said we would visit the Cultural Centre, we finally got around to it on our last trip and I'm so glad we did! As far as 'museums' go it's quite small and may not have many displays but don't let that deter you. The highlight of the visit was the guide, Edgar, who demonstrates traditional Vanuatu sand drawing, plays the bamboo flute and bamboo pipe piano.
Edgar was so informative and had a captive audience as he told stories and illustrated them using sand drawing (sandroing) as he spoke.
The artifacts on display are really interesting as is the history, cost is 1000 vatu (roughly $10 AUD) many may feel this is overpriced but we were more than happy to pay and enjoyed every minute of it....the history and customs were part of the reason we fell in love with Vanuatu so we encourage everyone to delve a bit deeper than the beautiful blue water & amazing sea life and find out about this amazing place and it's traditions and culture.
Edgar was so informative and had a captive audience as he told stories and illustrated them using sand drawing (sandroing) as he spoke.
The artifacts on display are really interesting as is the history, cost is 1000 vatu (roughly $10 AUD) many may feel this is overpriced but we were more than happy to pay and enjoyed every minute of it....the history and customs were part of the reason we fell in love with Vanuatu so we encourage everyone to delve a bit deeper than the beautiful blue water & amazing sea life and find out about this amazing place and it's traditions and culture.
Written 25 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Honest Traveller 2022
Gold Coast, Australia64 contributions
Starting to tell a true picture of the culture. A lot missing from the slave trade years though when many were blackbirded to come to Australia etc. But still very informative and interesting.
Written 27 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ForgoneConclusion
Melbourne, Australia34 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
We walked up the hill from the main foreshore shopping area up to the cultural centre. Entry could be paid in Aust or US dollars, typically $Aust15 each but the manager only charged us $Aust10. The history displayed is primarily from the local indigenous culture since Europeans visited, but there are some interesting and somewhat horrific displays based on recent archeological evidence. The centre isn't that big, but almost everything is worth studying and reading the information (English, French and the local polyglot). The manager also proved to be a sand artist and did some sand paintings (continuous finger), and also gave a brief lesson to a couple of tourists interested in how it was done. It was worth putting an extra couple of $ in the donation bin to help keep the place running.
Down the road the new huge and dominant Chinese embassy was under construction; its neighbour, the Australian embassy was tiny. It will be interesting to visit Port Vila in a decade or so to see the impact.
Down the road the new huge and dominant Chinese embassy was under construction; its neighbour, the Australian embassy was tiny. It will be interesting to visit Port Vila in a decade or so to see the impact.
Written 8 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Berjalanan
117 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
After reading the reviews on Tripadvisor, I must say I underwhelmed. However, having said that what is in the museum is intriguing if you like Pacific Islander history. The collection of pottery and fish traps was well labelled if a little small for someone with glasses. The entry fee is overpriced for what is on display, the space is poorly lit, the sand stories were a highlight but could have been done elsewhere rather than inside. While being critical I would encourage people visit to support the preservation of local history. I would recommend this as a rainy day activity as it is easy to get to by bus. It is not some where for children as there is no interactivity for them. There is a cafe at the entrance gate for cool drinks and food but nothing at the museum itself.
Written 17 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve P
Ipswich, Australia5 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
We were lucky enough to meet Edgar, our guide, who demonstrated sand drawing whilst telling us the stories that went with the drawings. He tells the stories so beautifully that he almost had us BOTH in tears. Take the time to read the descriptions on the exhibits....they offer a valuable insight into the significance and purpose of the exhibits. Ask Edgar about the land divers......he tells a fabulous story about Queen Elizabeth coming to see them in 1974 :-). He also has another great story about a man and his wife, their battle for control in the relationship (both very headstrong, lol) and the ensuing climb up a coconut tree!! I won't spoil the story for you.....you'll have to go and listen for yourselves :-). Entry was 1500Vt.....we thought that was quite reasonable, and there were some really beautiful souvenirs to buy too. We thought they were more likely to have been made locally :-).
Written 10 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dee D
Port Vila, Vanuatu36 contributions
July 2019 • Friends
What a find in the Pacific of many archeological displays and things for all the world to discover. Suggest more explanations on each display especially the Lapita items. Friendly staff too were very helpful. Many thanks but was too short a is it to take in more fascinating items and details. Will be back.
Written 2 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grant B
Sydney, Australia169 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
Good displays of carvings, masks, and other artifacts from all the islands and different cultures that make up the people of Vanuatu.
Written 2 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith J
Townsville, Australia29 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
Much enjoyed my visit to the Cultural Centre. The demonstration of sand drawing and local music by Edgar was excellent. The centre is showing some wear and tear and occasionally it was hard to make out some of the exhibits. Worth seeing when in Port Vila.
Written 2 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ronshoppee
Sydney, Australia
thank you,with one day time available what location please has the most comprehensive display of lapita ancient pottery.MAY i ASK WHERE TO FIND? I
PLEASE ANSWER.THANK YOU
Written 31 January 2018
The cultural centre museum is the only place I know of with lapidary pottery in Vila The museum is opposite the parliament Not very big but well worth a visit
Written 31 January 2018
Hey there! I'm a current volunteer at VKS. It's 1000 vatu or $10USD for general admission, 1500 if you'd like a guide (he does all of the sand drawing, flute playing, etc)....definitely worth the extra 500 vatu!
Written 18 May 2015
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