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Flag Tower
At the centre of the wall facing the river, the 37m-high Flag Tower is Vietnams tallest flagpole. Erected in 1809 and extended in 1831, it was knocked down in 1904 by a typhoon that devastated the city. It was rebuilt in 1915 only to be destroyed again in 1947. Two years later it w
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Cat Tien Bear & Wild Cat Rescue Station
Inside the national park, near the park headquarters, this rescue centre is home to nine sun bears and 25 black bears, rescued from poachers and/or bear bile farms. Other rescued animals include a small leopard and several yellow-cheeked gibbons. The conditions are not ideal, thoug
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Hang Pagoda
This modern Khmer pagoda is also known as the stork pagoda after the birds that nest in the tall trees here. It’s a beautiful, peaceful complex and watching dozens of white egrets and storks wheeling overhead is an attraction in itself, but bring a hat. If youre lucky, youll get to
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Tran Duong House
There’s a whole block of colonnaded French colonial buildings on Ð Phan Boi Chau between Nos 22 and 73, among them the 19th-century Tran Duong House. It’s still a private home, so a family member will show you around. Theres some antique French and Chinese furniture, including a si
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San Chim Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary
The locals make a real flap about the storks that nest at San Chim Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary , as a stork sitting on the back of a water buffalo is the quintessential image of the Mekong waterways. The sanctuary is 38km east of Ben Tre town. Ben Tre Tourist has speedboats that can make
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Crocodile Lake
Crocodile Lake is one of the park highlights, reachable via two different routes. The more straightforward option involves a 9km drive or bike ride from the park headquarters and a 5km trek to the swamp; the walk takes about three hours return. Alternatively, you can trek all the w
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Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Built entirely from wood, this stunning cathedral from the French era has a dark frontage, yellow trim and wide terraces. Inside it’s light, airy and elegant, with incredible interlocking beams. Seating on all four sides faces a central altar. The heart of the 160-year-old Kon Tum
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Con Son Pagoda Complex
Con Son was home to Nguyen Trai (1380–1442), the famed Vietnamese poet, writer and general. Nguyen Trai assisted Emperor Le Loi in his successful battle against the Chinese Ming dynasty in the 15th century. Con Son pagoda complex has a temple honouring Nguyen Trai atop a nearby mou
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Military Museum
Devoted to all things militaristic, this museum has the usual assortment of American War weaponry and photos. Missiles and a US A37 Bomber sit on the front lawn, while the central courtyard has a re-creation of a jungle camp.In a separate building within the same complex is the Ho
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Dak Lak Museum
This musty, little-visited museum has a small display of cultural artefacts and photographs about indigenous minority groups. The Ho Chi Minh quotation, posted boldly over a golden bust of him in the main hall, blithely declares that all ethnic minorities are ‘the children of Vietn
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Cao Dai Temple
A colourful little temple with its all-seeing divine eye.
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Ngoc Tien Monastery
From Ha Tien’s riverfront, this Buddhist monastery is a striking sight – sprawling up the hill on the other side of the river. The buildings themselves are unremarkable but it’s worth making the steep climb up here for the sweeping views of the town and countryside. Follow your nos
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Bai Dat Doc
The best beach on the island, Bai Dat Doc is a simply beautiful cove, consisting of a kilometre-long crescent of pale sand, backed by green hills. It has a gently shelving profile and no pollution, so its ideal for swimming. Though its backed by the luxury bungalows of the Six Sens
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Underground Lava Tubes
Almost halfway between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat are rare underground caves that were formed as the surface lava cooled and solidified, while the hotter underground lava continued to flow, leaving a hollow space.To find the lava tubes, first find the teak forest on Hwy 20 between
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Museum of Ethnology
It’s definitely not northeast Vietnam’s most interesting town, but the industrial city of Thai Nguyen is home to an informative and enjoyable Museum of Ethnology . It’s worth dropping by here on the way either to or from Ba Be National Park, as this large museum has a wide array of
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Mui Nai
The best of the Gulf of Thailand beaches, Mui Nai is 8km west of Ha Tien. The water is incredibly warm and becalmed; great for bathing and diving. The bay spills over with stalls selling loud-coloured water rings, swimsuits and beach balls, beneath a canopy of lofty palms. On top i
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Forbidden Purple City
In the very centre of the Imperial Enclosure, theres almost nothing left of the once-magnificent Forbidden Purple City. This was a citadel-within-a-citadel-within-a-citadel and was reserved solely for the personal use of the emperor – the only servants allowed into this compound we
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Hang Dau Go
This huge cave consists of three chambers reached via 90 steps. Inside, ceilings soar up to 25m high while some rather disco-festive lighting illuminates a wacky array of stalactites. Among the stalactites of the first hall, scores of gnomes appear to be holding a meeting. The cave
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Truong Son National Cemetery
An evocative memorial to the legions of North Vietnamese soldiers who died along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, this cemetery is a sobering sight. More than 10,000 graves dot these hillsides, each marked by a simple white tombstone headed by the inscription liet si (martyr). Many graves li
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Nine Holy Cannons
Located just inside the Citadel ramparts, near the gates to either side of the Flag Tower, are the Nine Holy Cannons (1804), symbolic protectors of the palace and kingdom. Commissioned by Emperor Gia Long, they were never intended to be fired. The four cannons near Ngan Gate repres
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