Vietnam in brief - Vietnam World Heritages sites

Vietnam World Heritages sites - VIETNAM


Ha Long bay (1994)

Fantabulous, majestic and mysterious, inspiring and imperious; words alone cannot do justice to the natural wonder that is Ha Long bay. Imagine more than 3.000 incredible islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and you have a vision of breathtaking beauty. Ha Long bay is a pure art, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures hewn by the hand of nature. Visitors can't help but compare the magical, mystical landscape of limestone islets to Guilin in China and Krabi in southern Thailand, but in reality Ha Long bay is more spectacular. These tiny islands are dotted with beaches and grottoes created by wind and waves, and have sparsely forested slopes ringing with birdsong.

Beyond the breathtaking vistas on a boat cruise through the bay, visitors to Ha Long come to explore the caves - some of which are beautifully illuminated for the benefit of tourists.


Phong Nha - Ke Bang (2003)

Located in the village of Son Trach, 55km northwest of Dong Hoi. The complex karst formations stretching throughout the surrounding Ke Bang National park were formed approximately 400 million years ago, making them the oldest in Asia. Phong Nha cave is the largest and most beautiful cave in Vietnam. It's remarkable for its thousands of metres of underground passageways and river caves filled with abundant stalactites and stalagmites.

In 1990 a British expedition explored 35km of the cave and made the first reliable map of the underground (and underwater) passageways. They discovered that the main cavern is nearly 8km long, with 14 other caves nearby.
Beyond the breathtaking vistas on a boat cruise through the bay, visitors to Ha Long come to explore the caves - some of which are beautifully illuminated for the benefit of tourists.


Hue (1993)

Hue, the capital of the Nguyen emperors, is packed with temples, tombs, palaces and pagodas. On the banks of the enigmatically name Perfume river, the peculiar light of this historic place imbues photographs with a hazy, purple tinge. It would all be quite idyllic if it weren't for the constant dogging most tourists face as soon as they step off the bus. The touts in Hue are more incessant than most.

Hue Festival is celebrated biennially with local and international cultural performers at locations throughout the city. Declared national treasure in 1990 and designated World Heritage Site in 1993 by UNESCO.


Hoi An ancient town (1999)

From the 2nd to the 10th centuries, this was a busy seaport of Champa. Persian and Arab documents mention Hoi An as a provisions stop. Known as Faifo to Western traders from the 16th to 19th centuries. Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Indian, Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, French, British and American ships came to Hoi An to purchase high-grade silk, fabrics, paper, porcelain, tea, sugar, molasses, areca nuts, pepper, Chinese medicines, elephant tusks, beeswax, lacquer.

Perhaps more than any other place in Vietnam, Hoi An retains a sense of history that envelops you as you explore it. A highlight of any trip to Vietnam, Hoi An is a town oozing charm and history, have largely escaped the destructions of successive wars. More than 800 structures of historical significance have been officially identified, including a number of wooden buildings dating from the 18th century. Many exhibit features of traditional architecture rarely seen today. It's not just individual buildings that have survived - it's whole streets. Especially the Tran Phu street and Bach Dang street.

Having clothes made in Hoi An is extremely addictive. Hoi An's numerous tailor can make anything and usually within a day. They're master copiers - bring in an item of clothing you want duplicated or a picture in a magazine, pick out your fabric, and the next day your vision will be brought to life.

Despite the number of tourists who come to Hoi An, it's still a conservative town, and visitors should dress modestly when visiting the sites.


My Son - Cham towers

My Son, located 69 km southwest of Danang, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, between the 4th and 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king. Although Vietnam has better preserved Cham sites, none are as extensive and few have such beautiful surroundings - in a verdant valley surrounded by hills and overlooked by Hon Quap (Cat's Tooth) mountain. Clear streams run between the structures and past nearby coffee plantations.

During the 4th to 8th centuries when Tra Kieu (known as Simhapura or Lion Citadel) served as the political capital, My Son was the most important intellectual and religious centre, and may also have served as a burial place for Cham monarchs. American bombs have reduced many of the towers to ruins, but there are still 20 sites to see. Today, Vietnamese authorities are attempting to restore as much as possible of the remaining sites.


Hue's royal court music (2003)

“Nha nhac” (nhã nhạc) or typical royal music of the former imperial city of Hue in central Thua Thien-Hue province has been officially going online, according to Hue Royal Traditional Theatre. The website was launched to bring to the public the unique music genre of Viet Nam, which was recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. Nha nhac (Vietnamese royal music) and its principles came to Vietnam under the Ho Dynasty (1400-1407). The Ho Dynasty, however, only existed for a short time, so 'nha nhac' rapidly fell into oblivion. In 1427, Le Loi defeated the Chinese Ming invaders and liberated the country.

However, 'nha nhac' only began to develop in the reign of King Le Thanh Tong (1460-1497) and reached its peak under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). Nha nhac is a genre of scholarly music. It attracted the participation of many talented songwriters and musicians, with numerous traditional musical instruments.

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