-
Long Beach
Long Beach is draped invitingly along the west coast from Duong Dong almost to An Thoi port. Development concentrates in the north near Duong Dong, where the recliners and rattan umbrellas of the various resorts rule; these are the only stretches that are kept garbage-free. With it
-
Alexandre Yersin Museum
Highly popular in Vietnam, Dr Alexandre Yersin (1863–1943) founded Nha Trang’s Pasteur Institute in 1895. He learned to speak Vietnamese fluently, introduced rubber and quinine-producing trees to Vietnam, and discovered the rat-borne microbe that causes bubonic plague. You can see
-
U
Bordered by Ca Mau, the largest mangrove forest beyond the Amazon basin covers 1000 sq km. Home to endangered mammals – including the hairy-nosed otter and the fishing cat – and 187 bird species, the forest was a hideout for the VC during the American War. Thirty-minute boat trips
-
Tran Family Chapel
Built for worshipping family ancestors, this chapel dates back to 1802. It was commissioned by Tran Tu, one of the clan who ascended to the rank of mandarin and served as an ambassador to China. His picture is to the right of the chapel. The architecture of the building reflects th
-
Quy Hoa Beach & Leper Hospital
Leprosy may not conjure up images of fun in the sun, but this really is a lovely spot. As leper hospitals go, this one is highly unusual, a sort of model village near the seafront. There are not so many patients here these days, but the descendants of affected families continue to
-
Tomb of Minh Mang
This majestic tomb is renowned for its architecture and sublime forest setting. The tomb was planned during Minh Mang’s reign (1820–1840) but built by his successor, Thieu Tri.Minh Mangs tomb is in An Bang village, on the west bank of the Perfume River, 12km from Hue. The Honour Co
-
Giac Lam Pagoda
Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC (1744), Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, garden-like grounds. The Chinese characters that constitute the temples name (覚林寺) mean Feel the Woods Temple and the looming Bodhi tree (a native fig tree, sacred to Bud
-
Khanh Van Nam Vien Pagoda
Built between 1939 and 1942, this temple is said to be the only pure Taoist temple in Vietnam and is unique for its colourful statues of Taoist disciples. Features to seek out include the unique 150cm-high statue of Laotse – the supreme philosopher of Taoism and author of the Dao D
-
Halong Bay
Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, Halong Bays spectacular scatter of islands, dotted with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes, is a vision of ethereal beauty and, unsu
-
Minority Villages
There are several clusters of Bahnar villages on the periphery of Kon Tum. Village life here centres on the traditional rong house (nha rong ), a tall thatched-roof community house built on stilts. The stilts were originally there to provide protection from elephants, tigers and ot
-
Con Son Beaches & Other Islands Beaches
On Con Son there are several good beaches worth seeking out. Inquire at the hotels about snorkelling-gear rental for about 100,000d per day or rent new gear through Dive! Dive! Dive! for US$10 per day. Bai Dat Doc is a beautiful beach with a long stretch of sand, although most of t
-
Le Van Duyet Temple
Dedicated to Marshal Le Van Duyet (1763–1831), this shrine is also his burial place, alongside that of his wife. The marshal was a South Vietnamese general and viceroy who helped defeat the Tay Son Rebellion and reunify Vietnam. Among the items on display are a portrait of Le Van D
-
Oc
During the 1st to 6th centuries AD, when southern Vietnam and southern Cambodia were under the rule of the Indian-influenced Cambodian kingdom of Funan, Oc-Eo (37km southwest of Long Xuyen) was a major trading city and important port. In the late 1990s the site was excavated to fin
-
Perfume Pagoda
About 60km southwest of Hanoi lies this striking complex of pagodas and Buddhist shrines built into the karst cliffs of Huong Tich Mountain (Mountain of the Fragrant Traces). Among the better-known sites here are Thien Chu (Pagoda Leading to Heaven); Giai Oan Chu (Purgatorial Pagod
-
Po Klong Garai Cham Towers
These four brick towers date from the end of the 13th century. Built as Hindu temples, they stand on a brick platform at the top of Cho’k Hala, an exposed granite hill covered with cacti. It can be furnace-hot here.Over the entrance to the largest tower (the kalan , or sanctuary) i
-
Long Son Pagoda
This striking pagoda was founded in the late 19th century. The entrance and roofs are decorated with mosaic dragons constructed of glass and ceramic tile while the main sanctuary is a hall adorned with modern interpretations of traditional motifs.Behind the pagoda is a huge white B
-
Pirate Island
This small speck of an island, its hill covered in lush vegetation, has a sordid 500-year history as a pirate haven, which only came to an end during the reunification in 1975. Today the inhabitants make their living from the sea. A paved motorbike trail circles the island; you can
-
Ba Be National Park
Often referred to as the Ba Be Lakes, Ba Be National Park was established in 1992 as Vietnam’s eighth national park. The scenery here swoops from towering limestone mountains peaking at 1554m down into plunging valleys wrapped in dense evergreen forests, speckled with waterfalls an
-
Group B
The main kalan (sanctuary), B1 , was dedicated to Bhadresvara, which is a contraction of the name of King Bhadravarman, who built the first temple at My Son, combined with ‘-esvara’, which means Shiva. The first building on this site was erected in the 4th century, destroyed in the
-
Po Ro Me Cham Tower
Po Ro Me is one of the most atmospheric of Vietnam’s Cham towers, thanks in part to its isolated setting on top of a craggy hill with sweeping views over the cactus-strewn landscape. The temple honours the last ruler of an independent Champa, King Po Ro Me (r 1629–51); his image an
Total
681 -travel
FirstPage PreviousPage NextPage LastPage CurrentPage:
30/35 20-travel/Page GoTo Page:
