Science exhibition «Universe.Human.Intelligence.»

   Where did the universe come from, why does your brain settle a decision before you notice it, and where should the limits for artificial intelligence lie. A travelling science exhibition from Germany brings those questions to Ho Chi Minh City this autumn, and it answers them with objects, screens and hands-on stations instead of lectures.

   The show was built by the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) and the Goethe-Institut as a window onto what German researchers are working on right now. Its five themes each travel in their own folding module on castors: the stands open like oversized suitcases, with specimen cabinets, built-in screens, animations, films and podcasts inside. An exploration passport guides visitors along the route.

   The essentials

   The universe — from the birth of the cosmos to the search for life beyond Earth
Human history — the journey of Homo sapiens out of Africa and across the planet
The brain — how thoughts, feelings and decisions come about
The Anthropocene — what people have turned this planet into
Artificial intelligence — how it works and where its ethical limits run

   You do not need a physics degree here: the texts are written in plain language, and the interactive stations let you press, turn and test things yourself. For pupils and students it is a close look at how research actually works, for families a few hours worth spending together, and for anyone weighing up study in Germany a clear picture of the research culture there.

   The exhibition made its first stop outside Germany in 2021 and has since travelled through Europe and Asia. Its Vietnamese tour filled 2026: Đại học Bách khoa Hà Nội (Hanoi University of Science and Technology) hosted it in spring, Bảo tàng Đà Nẵng (Da Nang Museum) in May and June, where Deaf visitors were guided in Vietnamese sign language. The southern stop is one of only four venues chosen in Vietnam.

   The host is a public university founded jointly by Vietnam and Germany in 2008, and its campus covers 50 hectares in the far north of Ho Chi Minh City, well away from the centre, so allow real travel time. The opening also falls in the university's orientation week, when the campus is busy anyway.

   Opening hours and entry conditions for the Ho Chi Minh City leg have not been announced yet. Admission was free at the two earlier stops, in Hanoi and Da Nang, but a university campus may work differently, so check before you set out. The panel texts are German originals with Vietnamese translations alongside, and a large part of the display is visual and works without reading at all.

   If science for you starts where school textbooks end, these five themes are worth the trip out of town.