-
Cave Pagoda
You need to walk through the market at the far end of Duong Beach to reach the cave pagoda, set against the base of a stony headland. The entry to the cave containing Hai Son Tu (Sea Mountain Temple) is inside the pagoda. Visitors light incense and offer prayers here before enterin
-
Hamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill (Ap Bia) was the site of a tumultuous battle in May 1969 between US forces and the NVA over a 900m-high mountain – resulting in over 600 North Vietnamese and 72 American deaths. Today you need a special permit (US$25 and only obtained in the town of Aluoi) and a guid
-
Valley of Love
When even the locals find the place tacky, you know it’s reached new depths of kitsch. This park surrounding a lake in a valley is attractive in its own right but burdened with the responsibilities of its name (proffered by Dalat University students in 1972). Romantically themed pr
-
One Pillar Pagoda
The One Pillar Pagoda was originally built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong who ruled from 1028 to 1054. According to the annals, the heirless emperor dreamed that he met Quan The Am Bo Tat, the Goddess of Mercy, who handed him a male child. Ly Thai Tong then married a young peasant gir
-
Tam Dao National Park
Tam Dao National Park was designated in 1996 and covers much of the area around the town. Tam Dao means ‘Three Islands’, and the three summits of Tam Dao Mountain, all about 1400m in height, are sometimes visible to the northeast of the hill station, floating like islands in the m
-
Lang Bian Mountain
Also called Lam Vien Mountain, this spot has five volcanic peaks ranging in altitude from 2100m to 2400m. Of the two highest peaks, the eastern one is known by the woman’s name K’Lang, while the western one bears a man’s name, K’Biang. Only the upper reaches of the mountain remain
-
Phu Hai Prison
The largest of the 11 jails on the island, this prison dates from 1862. Thousands of prisoners were held here, with up to 200 prisoners crammed into each detention building. During the French era, all prisoners were kept naked, chained together in rows, with one small box serving a
-
Bai Tu Long National Park
The spectacular islands of Bai Tu Long Bay, immediately northeast of Halong Bay form Bai Tu Long National Park and are every bit as beautiful as its famous neighbour. In some ways it’s actually more stunning, since it’s only in its initial stages as a destination for travellers wit
-
Can Cau Market
This Saturday market, 20km north of Bac Ha, attracts a growing number of visitors. Some tours from Sapa now visit Can Cau on Saturday before moving on to Bac Ha for the Sunday market. A few Bac Ha stallholders also make the journey to Can Cau on Saturdays. It’s still a magnet for t
-
Thuan An to Vinh HienThuan An Beach
Thuan An Beach, 15km northeast of Hue, is on the splendid Tam Giang–Cau Hai Lagoon near the mouth of the Perfume River, at the tip of a long thin island. It’s quite undeveloped except for a few kiosks, but between September and April the water’s often too rough for swimming. Beyond
-
Sao, Dam & Vong Beaches
Sao and Dam are two beautiful white-sand beaches, just a few kilometres from An Thoi, the main shipping port at the southern tip of the island. There are a couple of beachfront restaurants at Sao Beach, where you can settle into a deckchair or partake in water sports.North of here
-
Tam Thanh and Nhi Thanh Caves
There are two large and beautiful caves in the suburbs of Lang Son. Both are illuminated, which makes for easy exploration, and have Buddhist altars inside. Tam Thanh Cave is vast and seductive. There’s an internal pool and a viewing point or natural ‘window’ offering a sweeping vi
-
People’s Committee Building
Ho Chi Minh City’s glorious People’s Committee Building, one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, is home to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. Built between 1901 and 1908, the former Hôtel de Ville decorates the northwestern end of ÐL Nguyen Hue, but unfortunately the orn
-
Huynh Thuy Le Old House
This wonderfully atmospheric 1895 house on the riverfront was once the residence of Huynh Thuy Le, the 27-year-old son of a rich Chinese family who Marguerite Duras had an affair with in 1929 when she was only 15 – immortalising the romance in The Lover , eventually made into a fil
-
Paradise Cave
Surrounded by forested karst peaks, this remarkable cave system extends for 31km, though most people only visit the first kilometre. The scale is breathtaking, as wooden staircases descend into a cathedral-like space with colossal stalagmites and glimmering stalactites. Get here ea
-
Ho Quyen
Wildly overgrown but evocative, Ho Quyen was built in 1830 for the royal pastime of watching elephants and tigers face off in combat. The tigers (and leopards) were usually relieved of their claws and teeth so that the elephants – a symbol of the emperor’s power – triumphed every t
-
An Thoi Islands
Just off the southern tip of Phu Quoc, these 15 islands and islets can be visited by chartered boat. It’s a fine area for sightseeing, fishing, swimming and snorkelling. Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) is about 3km in length and is the largest island in the group.Most boats depart from
-
Hon Chong Promontory
The narrow granite promontory of Hon Chong offers fine views of the mountainous coastline north of Nha Trang and the nearby islands.The beach here has a more local flavour than Nha Trang Beach (but the accompanying refuse is unpleasant). Still, its fun to watch local kids do Acapul
-
Nguyen Trung Truc Temple
This temple is dedicated to Nguyen Trung Truc, a leader of the resistance campaign of the 1860s against the newly arrived French. The first temple structure was a simple building with a thatched roof; over the years it has been enlarged and rebuilt several times. In the centre of t
-
Tao Dan Park
One of the citys most attractive green spaces is 10-hectare Tao Dan Park, its bench-lined walks shaded with avenues of towering tropical trees, including flame trees and vast Sao Den and So Khi trees. It’s fascinating to visit in the early morning and late afternoon when thousands
Total
681 -travel
FirstPage PreviousPage NextPage LastPage CurrentPage:
27/35 20-travel/Page GoTo Page:
