A vast collection of historical artefacts telling the story of northern Vietnam through the ages has been put on public display in a new museum in the country’s famous Ha Long Bay.

The VND900m (US$40m, €36.6m, £28.2m) Quang Ninh Museum was completed in late 2013 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of Quang Ninh province, and the exhibits have been installed over the last two years, with work now finally completed.

The museum is formed by three enormous black-clad blocks, whose reflective walls mirror the limestone karsts located in the bay behind. The volumes are linked by an overhanging walkway which looks out at the surrounding scenery, and the front façade bears the museum’s name in large white letters which are illuminated at night.

The postmodern design was created by Spanish architect Salvador Perez Arroyo and his Vietnam-based company S Design, who aimed to create a structure which would both harmonise and contrast with the UNESCO-protected surroundings, while “bringing added value to the lives of the users.”

“The museum is very special as it is located in a unique place and has to show the modern face of the country,” Arroyo told CLAD last year. “I decided to do one integrated building which acts as a collection of mirrors reflecting the landscape. In some ways, the inspiration comes from the most interesting science-fiction literature. The building is not the protagonist, but is designed to be an amplifier of the beauty around.”

Each of the museum’s three floors explores a different theme: the geomorphological formation of Halong Bay and the region’s flora, fauna and wildlife; the region’s history of culture and religion; and Quang Ninh’s eventual industrialisation. Exhibits include pre and proto-historic relics, including farming tools and jewellery dating back over 3,000 years, carved bronze drums from the region’s ancient Dong Son Culture and a 14th century stone turtle.

More unconventional exhibits include the skeleton of a 50 tonne Fin Whale, which hangs in the entrance foyer, a third-floor recreation of a traditional coal mine, and Vietnam’s largest extracted coal monolith, which weighs 28 tonnes and stands outside the entrance.

The complex also includes a cinema, library and conference centre.

The museum was funded by the provincial government to diversify leisure offerings for tourists, who commonly only visit Ha Long to cruise on the bay.

It joins privately-funded developments in Ha Long, including a recently-opened private island resort and a US$400m (£262m, €359m) theme park and leisure complex, which remains in development.

Vietnam is slowly making a name for itself as a destination for innovative and striking architecture. Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia has unveiled several high-profile bamboo creations, while international studios Atkins and Arup are collaborating on the country’s tallest building – a 460m (1,509ft) tower featuring 25 separate rooftop gardens and an observation deck.

“This country is young and exciting,” said Arroyo. “The challenge is to push for more architectural experimentation. Vietnam is full of artists, and they need help to emerge and to be understood.”