A human body specimen displayed at the exhibition
The department announced on Friday evening that the Mystery of the Human Body exhibition would close from July 7 because the exhibits were not licensed yet.
The department also said that the exhibition was approved to be held between November 1, 2017 and September 1, 2018 but now it was announced to be organised from June 21 to December 31, 2018.
The organiser has been asked to submit legal documents, details about the origins of the exhibits which were brought from South Korea, and permits from the Ministry of Health and Customs Department and wait for the decision from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Mystery of the Human Body exhibition which is being held at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House introduces 137 real human body specimens, including 11 whole-body specimens and 126 individual plasticised organs.
According to the organiser, the main goal of the exhibition is to educate the public on the inner workings of the human body and the importance of healthy lifestyles by showing the effects of healthy and unhealthy living.
However, the exhibition, which was previously refused to be held in Hanoi, has faced rising opposition from members of the public and art critics in Vietnam, who said it should only be held at medical universities.
Head of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Vi Kien Thanh expressed concerns that the "horrific" exhibits here may make the visitors frightened.
Former deputy head of the Department of Children Protection, Nguyen Trong An complained about the use of donated bodies and organs for exhibiting.
"This is a kind of business which was covered under an event for art or scientific purposes," An said.