The Centre of Vietnam is a narrow coast between the North and the South, sharing the border with Laos in the West and the East Sea in the East.
This region known for its harsh climate but also by its dynamic population is the witness of the brilliant civilization of the Cham people, the country's turbulent history.
Human values, historic, natural ... are recognized around the world with sites classified as World Heritage by the Unesco: the My son sanctuary, Hue ancient capital, Phong Nha - Ke Bang national park, Hoi An ancient port city ...
1 - DMZ Zone
DMZ: Demilitarized Zone is the 17 th parallel. It was the border between the North and the South of Vietnam, decided by the Poxdam meeting in 1945, after World War II.
In 1954, after the Indochina War, the Geneva Agreement signed by France and Vietnam decided that it was the temporary military demarcation between The North and the South before country’s unification in 1956.
But in reality, the 17th parallel was the border between the North and the South until 1975, at the end of the Vietnam War.
Hien Luong bridge on Ben Hai river was the frontier line between the North and the South of Vietnam from 1945 to 1975:
The Vinh Moc tunnel was dug in two years: 1965 - 1967 with the main length of 2 km.
The tunnel has three levels: 12, 15 and 23 m depths.
Each level is 0.8 m wide and 1.8 high.
There is everything you need and on earth: House, maternity, meeting room....but underground.
During the war years, there were thousands of people, soldiers ... hiding in the tunnel to avoid the U.S. Army’s bombs.
17 children were born in the tunnel.
Cua Tung beach is the witness of many fierce battles:
Truong Son National Cemetery:
2 - Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
The Phong Nha - Ke Bang national park is located in the centre of Vietnam, 500 km in the South of Ha noi, or 160 km in the North of the Hue ancient capital.
With 200 000 hectares in the karsts mountain dating more than 500 million years old, the park has the very diversified fauna and flora:
We suggest you make a boat trip on the Son river :
In visiting a cave of 600 meters long with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites:
The Caves Royal Association of England discovered the Son Dong cave - the largest in the world: 5 km long, 150 high and 200 m wide.Phong Nha - Ke Bang has been classified as World Natural Heritage by Unesco.
3 - Hue ancient capital:
Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam between 1802 – 1945, under the Nguyen dynasty.
Hue fortified citadel covers over 5 hectares with 3 walls built of mud, brick and wood between 1803 -1837.
1 – Protection wall: Circumference of 10 km, 21 m thick, 6.6 m high. Outside, there are canals, the ground reserved for soldier, the Perfume River ... for protection.
2 - Square Imperial City: More than 600 m on each side, 1 m thick, 4 m high. There were over 100 palaces for different uses: Offices, departments, meeting rooms, school, temples…
3 - Square Forbidden City: About 300 m on each side. This is the private place of the emperor.
The South Gate is used as the main entry and the main exit of the Imperial city:
Currently, Hue - Cultural Heritage of UNESCO is the festival, religions such as: Catholicism, Buddhism, Cao Dai ..., gastronomy, arts …city.
The Supreme Harmony Palace covers the throne of the emperors: This is the place for royal receptions, wearing the crowns ceremony, emperor’s birth date...
It is also the opportunity to visit some king’s mausoleums. With the conception: The death does not end life. Therefore, the location of the mausoleum is poetic with the presence of the Royal Court: Horses, mandarins... in stone.
The mausoleums were built in West of the citadel: the sunset direction: the king is considered like the sun: The king’s death is as the sunset.
It was King who found the location, style of architecture ... of its mausoleum himself. In waiting for death, the mausoleum was served as a distraction.
After death, the concubines had to stay there to look after the king's soul as he was still alive.
Minh Mang's mausoleum:
Tu duc's mausoleum:
Khai dinh's mausoleum:
Thien mu pagoda:
Perfume River Hue divided Hue into two parts:
The music of the Hue Royal Court was also classified as Immaterial Cultural Heritage of the World by UNESCO.
Hue has an international airport and train station where several trains Ha noi - Sai gon stop.
3 - My Son Sanctuary
My Son is the sanctuary of many different temples built by the Cham from the 4 th century to 14 th century.
These temples of brick without plaster, to worship Shiva, remain a mystery to the world in the point of view of construction technique.
The Shiva Saint sculpted in sandstone is on a temple:
Since the disappearance of the Cham kingdom in the 17th century but mostly because of the US army bombing, Son Mu becomes the ruins that are anyway classified as World Heritage by Unesco.
4 - Hoi An ancient port city
Hoi An is a small city of 300,000 inhabitants, lieing on the sea in the Center of Vietnam.
Since the early years of Jesus Christ, with its strategic position, Hoi An has become an international port city.
Especially, between 16th century and 19th century, Hoi An was at its peak of development.
International traders as: Chinese, Japanese, French, Portuguese, Arab ... came to trade with the Vietnamese.
They leaved in Hoi An their houses, shops, cult places: Temple, pagoda… which become a treasure of many styles of architecture now.
With its values, Hoi An has been classified as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Chinese quarter:
Hoi an at night: The city lightened by lanterns and in past time:
A bridge built by the Japanese traders:
Japanese quarter:
A chinese temple:
Western quarter:
In Hoi An, travelers can participate in local activities: Walk or bike in Kim Bong village, visit Tra Bong vegetables village:
Or, they are lucky to discover the Cu Lao Cham Island, classified by UNESCO as a World Natural Reserve, 15 km from Hoi An.
5 - Madarin Road:
This road is between Hue, Da Nang, Hoi an offers many beautiful landscapes:
Hai Van pass: Cloud Pass:
Lang Co beach:
Tam Giang marsh:
6 - My Khe and Cua Dai beach:
There are ideal place for relaxation:
No comments:
Post a Comment