The Chenla Kingdom emerged as a significant polity following the decline of Funan and later became integrated into the Khmer Empire. Although political authority shifted, Indian civilization and Hinduism were continually patronized by new ruling elites. The region absorbed cross-cultural influences from both China and India, reaching its height during the approximate 6th to 7th centuries C.E. Archaeological sites and the artistic corpus from this period remain today, forming part of Vietnam’s important historical heritage.

Vietnam later came under the suzerainty of China, notably during the Tang Dynasty. Artistic and cultural expressions from this period are visible in religious architecture, such as golden temples and pagodas, as well as sculptures of Hindu deities created alongside Mahāyāna Bodhisattvas. Vestiges of the Khmer artistic style remain observable in some of these sacred sites. Performing arts that narrate epics continued to develop, especially the Rāmāyaṇa, which has been interpreted and presented to become a key element of Vietnam’s cultural heritage and a significant draw for visitors.

Beyond masks inspired by the Rāmāyaṇa, Vietnam preserves rich mask-making traditions among diverse ethnic communities, particularly in remote areas where masks serve as ritualistic instruments in healing ceremonies. The mask presented here belongs to the Yao people of northern Vietnam, reflecting enduring indigenous belief systems that link the body, the spirit, and the natural world.