Vietnam Heritage: 8 Tourist Attractions Recognized As World Culture

There are 8 tangible heritages  honored by UNESCO: 

• - Complex of Hue Monuments
• - Hoi An Ancient Town
• - My Son Sanctuary
• - Thang Long Imperial Citadel
• - Ho Dynasty Citadel 
• - Ha Long Bay 
• - Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
• - Trang An - Ninh Binh Scenic Landscape Complex 

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Ha Long Bay are natural heritages. The Complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Ho Dynasty Citadel are cultural heritages. Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is the only collection in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, and is one of the 38 heritage sites recognized by UNESCO.

This article introduces 8 wonders recognized by UNESCO.

1. Vietnam heritage: Complex of Hue Monuments

Recognized as a world heritage site in Vietnam, Complex of Hue Monuments is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Frequently referred to as the "Imperial City," Hue is the capital city of Vietnam. The Complex of Hué Monuments, designated by UNESCO as an important cultural site, is most known for the walled palace inside the citadel, which is the most famous feature of the complex. Former Imperial Vietnam's capital was also located in this city. It took 203 years to complete and began construction in the late 14th century (more particularly, in 1362). A significant emblem of riches and power, the structure. Vietnam's UNESCO World Heritage Sites officially recognized this location in 1993.

Hue was the political, cultural, and religious hub of the Nguyen Dynasty, the final royal dynasty in Vietnamese history, from 1802 to 1945 CE. Hue was established as the capital of a united Vietnam in 1802 CE. The Complex of Hué Monuments is renowned for its stunning landscape characteristics and intricate architectural elements. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize the site's cultural and historical significance. The cosmological alignment is also used to determine how the monuments and buildings are laid out. The structures of the Complex of Hue Monuments are strategically positioned within the surrounding landscape and cosmologically aligned with the Five Cardinal Points, the Five Elements, the Five Colors, and the Five Cardinal Directions (west, east, north, south) (yellow, white, blue, black, red). 

During the 17th and 18th centuries CE, the Hue Citadel region served as the administrative hub of southern Vietnam. Along with the administrative and military operations of the Empire, the Hoang Thanh (Imperial City), Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City), and related royal residences were all housed inside the Hue Citadel.

The Complex of Hué Monuments has a number of buildings that were constructed during the start of the 19th century. They were fashioned after Beijing, China's Forbidden City. Walls that are 6 meters high and 2.5 kilometers long encircle the castle.

Three conflicts have passed through the Hué Monument Complex in Vietnam. Because of the effects of those battles, certain monuments and buildings are on the verge of being destroyed. A little degree of the degradation of the monuments' structural integrity can also be attributed to modern construction and human settlement nearby. In spite of this, the property was able to be preserved since it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam. In fact, the conservation team made it a priority to protect the important components that were connected to the site's cultural significance, such as the town planning and monumental artworks.

2. Vietnam heritage: Hoi An Ancient Town

Since the 1980s to the present, Ancient Town Hoi An has drawn visitors from all over the world because of its stunning natural scenery, stunning beaches, and cultural fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese architecture and culinary delicacies.

Hoi An Ancient Town is situated in the center of Quang Nam province, about 30 kilometers south of Da Nang city, just downstream from Thu Bon River. It is a well-known tourist destination as well as a collection of historic buildings.

The ancient town of Hoi An was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999 for reflecting a distinct cultural blend. It serves as a living museum of urban life and architecture from throughout the globe. Hoi An served as an exclusive commercial harbor for European and Asian businesses from the 15th century to the 20th. Here, traders from China, Japan, and Portugal have left their own traces in the form of various architectural styles. Ancient Town Hoi An, Vietnam, has been remarkably well-preserved, nearly in its original form, and has retained its authentic and oriental medieval design.

The majority of Hoi An Old Town's structures and buildings that date to the period when the city was a significant trade port may be found there. To go about on foot, it is a manageable size. Along with that, it is not as crowded as the larger Vietnamese cities, therefore traffic is not a problem there. There are streets in the Old Town that are just for motorcyclists, while there are other streets that are only for pedestrians. Since Hoi An offers a pleasant change of pace from Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, many visitors enjoy visiting there for this reason.

You may get around Hoi An and its Old Town in a number of ways. Bicycles, motorcycles, and motorboats are the most popular modes of transportation for tourists. Despite having a wide variety of transit choices, Hoi An is largely pedestrianized. You should thus prepare to move around a lot while doing your exploration.

Hoi An's many cultural influences on its lengthy history have had an impact on its gastronomic environment. Therefore, discovering Hoi An's many gastronomic options is one of the most sought-after activities for visitors.

See more: World Heritage In Vietnam: Hoi An Ancient Town

3. Vietnam heritage: My Son Sanctuary (Quang Nam)

My Son Sanctuary is situated in a hilly area in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, some 70 km southwest of downtown Da Nang city and 40 kilometers from Hoi An city. It was formerly the governmental and religious center of the Champa Kingdom.

UNESCO designated the sanctuary as a monument of global cultural heritage in 1999. It consists of eight groups totaling 71 monuments constructed between the years 7 and 13. My Son temples were constructed to honor Hindu deities like Krishna and Vishnu, but most importantly Shiva, and they owe their spiritual roots to the Hinduism of the Indian subcontinent.

My Son's original structure was built in the fourth century during the reign of Bhadravarman to honor the god Shiva-Bhadresvara. But the temple was eventually demolished.

It was restored and renamed Shambhu-Bhadreswar by King Sambhuvarman at the start of the seventh century. My Son was the sole location where Cham art existed uninterruptedly from the 7th to the 13th century since every new king traveled there after ascending to the throne for the ceremonial purification, to give offerings, and to create new monuments.

The preservation of the My Son monuments reportedly started in the early 20th century CE, not long after they were found by French archaeologists in modern times. Wars caused significant damage to a number of tower temples. The remaining tower temples, however, have undergone preservation work and have been well-maintained.

See more: World Heritage In Vietnam: My Son Sanctuary

4. Vietnam heritage: The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (Hanoi)

An exceptional tourist destination for both the nation's capital city and the whole nation is the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Throughout Vietnam's history, The Citadel has seen a lot of significant transformations and has prepared for several deadly battles. The Central Sector of the Citadel is its most prominent section; in 2010, it was included on the list of UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites.

The original foundation for the Citadel was laid down in the seventh century, which is when it first appeared. There were rumors that a Chinese fortification had been constructed there during the period that China was occupying Vietnam. King Ly Thai To relocated the nation's capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La (formerly known as Hanoi) and gave it the new name Thang Long in 1010. Over the top of the demolished fortification, the Citadel was constructed in the same location. Since then, the Citadel has remained the seat of local political authority for 13 centuries in a row.

The Central Sector of Thang Long's Imperial Citadel displays a series of intercultural contacts with significant influences from the Champa Kingdom in the south and China in the north. Additionally, because it served as the seat of governmental authority from the seventh through the twentieth centuries, it is notable historically.

Archaeologists are continuously working on the site even though a significant portion of the original building has been gone. The officials anticipate that the artifacts will enable them to present a more thorough and accurate exhibition of the Citadel.

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is divided into six important sections:

- Ky Dai (Flag Tower): which was constructed in 1812 during the Nguyen Dynasty and used as a military outpost throughout the French colonial period, has survived. The top is a cylindrical pillar that rises 33.4 meters above the ground and is draped with the Vietnamese flag.

- Kinh Thien Palace: was constructed in 1428 and utilized as a venue for important national celebrations and imperial rituals. Despite it being a major cultural relic, the only part of Kinh Thien Palace that is still visible today are the steps.

- Doan Mon (South Gate): which is south of the Citadel, was constructed during the Le Dynasty. Only royal family members were permitted to pass via this gate in the past.

- Bac Mon (North Gate): In relation to the Citadel, Bac Mon is situated to the north. These are the last two gates left in the Citadel, along with Doan Mon.

- Hau Lau (Princess Pagoda): Princesses and queens used the pagoda known as Hau Lau, which translates to "the tower in the back." After Hau Lau suffered significant damage towards the end of the 19th century, the French reconstructed the monument as it is now.

- D67 House and tunnel: designated as D67, served as the headquarters of the Vietnamese People's Army from 1954 to 1975.

5. Vietnam heritage: Ho Dynasty Citadel (Thanh Hoa)

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is a distinctive piece of Vietnamese stone architecture and is situated in the communes of Vinh Long and Vinh Tien in the Vinh Loc District. In June 2011, the Ho Dynasty Citadel received the honor of being named a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is not only the pride of Thanh Hoa people, but also of Vietnamese people all around the country.

Vietnam heritage: Ho Dynasty Citadel - Source: Google.com

It is said that the Ho Dynasty Citadel was constructed in just three months, between January and March 1397. During the latter years of the Tran Dynasty and for seven years after that, this castle served as the capital of both the Dai Viet and the Dai Ngu nations. In order to differentiate it from Thang Long - Dong Do Citadel, it was given the official name "Tay Do” (Western Capital) (Eastern Capital). The only stone citadel in Vietnam that was built in a short amount of time is Ho. It has two layers: an inner one made of stone called "Hoang Thanh” and an exterior one made of earth called "La Thanh”.

Some portions of the citadel have maintained their original design despite the ups and downs of its more than six-century existence. According to legend, the Ho Dynasty Citadel is a fortification and a representation of authority. Additionally, it was designed to stand in for both divine and royal authority. It aided in bridging the gap between outdoor and inside areas. Because of the distinctive building methods used to build the fortress, time and weather cannot harm the large stone pieces.

Currently, local officials are making every effort to save and maintain this location for its distinctive stone architecture and mark it as a key destination on the traveler's route through Vietnam.

See more: World Heritage In Vietnam: Citadel of the Ho Dynasty

6. Vietnam heritage: Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh)

Halong Bay, sometimes known as "the bay of descending dragons," is 170 kilometers from Vietnam's capital Hanoi. The bay is a part of the northern province of Quang Ninh, which borders China. Ha Long Bay becomes one of Vietnam's heritage recognized as world cultures by UNESCO. 

Halong Bay has a surface area of approximately 1,553 km2, containing 1,960 limestone-dominated islets. According to estimates, the creation of this limestone took 500 million years and involved numerous environmental factors. The most amazing caves and islands in the world can be found here thanks to the effect of a humid tropical environment.

The majority of the limestone and schist islands in HaLong Bay are located in the two main regions: the southeast corner of Bai Tu Long Bay and the southwest corner of HaLong Bay. These islands are the oldest surviving examples of a location with a tectonic age of between 250 million and 280 million years. They are the end result of the continent's repeated processes of rising and sinking to create a karst. The distinctive Halong Bay in the globe was created by the practically complete weathering and erosion of the karst. In a small region, thousands of islands in all shapes like brilliant emeralds fastened to a virgin's blue scarf. The center of the Ha Long Bay Natural Heritage, which includes Ha Long Bay and a portion of Bai Tu Long Bay, is where many stone islands are concentrated. This region is home to beautiful scenery and renowned caverns.

Both Hanoi and Halong Bay, which are in the north, have extremely similar weather. The four different seasons - spring, summer, autumn, and winter - as well as year-round changes in temperature and humidity are present in both. Despite the fact that there may be considerable temperature fluctuations between the summer and the winter, Halong Bay has its own unique attractions.

With well-known locations like Van on, a booming trade port in the 12th century, picturesque Bai Tho Mountain, and not far away Bach ang River, which saw two illustrious naval battles of the Viet's forefathers against invaders, Ha Long Bay is also connected to great pages of Vietnamese history. With the glorious Halong culture from the late Neolithic period, which was uncovered at archeological sites including Ong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, and Thoi Gieng, Ha Long is also one of the cradles of humankind.

See more: Halong Bay: The Best Place To Visit In Vietnam

7. Vietnam heritage: Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Quang Binh)

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Phong Nha-Ke Bang) is a national park and Unesco inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003, located in the center of Quang Binh province in north-central Vietnam. It safeguards one of the two greatest karst zones in the world, which contains numerous caves and grottoes. Its name is derived from Phong Nha Cave, the most stunning cave in Ke Bang Forest, which contains several unique rock formations. One of Southeast Asia's best and most recognizable examples of a complex karst landform is undoubtedly the plateau.

Given that it is one of the last remaining significant tracts of unaltered forest habitat in Vietnam, Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Heritage has great conservation value. One of the largest sections of forest on limestone karst in Indochina, it forms a contiguous forest block with the nearby Him Namno Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos.

The Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park's tall lowland forest, a type of ecosystem that is regionally vulnerable, is present, which raises the area's conservation importance.

Neolithic ax heads and other similar objects discovered in some of the caverns provide the earliest indication of human habitation of the region. At Maria Mountain in the north of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, there are some remnants of Ham Nghi King, the last monarch of the Nguyen dynasty before the French colonial period.

These 475 individuals belong to the two smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam, and the government of Vietnam has established two new communities for them since 1992. Many commercially significant species are known to these people, particularly rare timbers like Mun and Hue (Diospyros spp., Dalbergia rimosa), oil extraction from species like Tau (Hopea hainanensis), and a variety of medicinal plants.

With an ancient Cham Temple found there and its use as a place of worship in the ninth and tenth centuries, the Phong Nha Cave has long been a significant religious and tourist destination. The Phong Nha Ke Bang Vietnam forest and caves served as a garrison and weapons storage facility for the Vietnamese army during the conflict with the USA.

Since Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was included in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, there has been a significant increase in the number of visitors. The Trading and Tourism Department of Quang Binh Province is in charge of the region's tourism operations. In order to make the region a popular tourist destination in Vietnam, the province has granted development permits for a number of eco-tourism projects. 

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a component of the "Middle World Heritage Road” tourism promotion initiative, which also includes the Central Highlands of Vietnam's Hue Ancient Capital, the Champa ruins of My Son, the city of Hoi An, and the Space of Gong Culture.

See more: World Heritage In Vietnam: Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park

8. Vietnam heritage: Trang An - Ninh Binh Scenic Landscape Complex (Ninh Binh)

Trang An is one of Vietnam's scenic places. It has been ranked as a particularly important national monument by the Vietnamese Government and recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural and natural heritage in 2014.

Trang An was originally called the southern citadel of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, now the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Through thousands of years of weathering and changes of the earth, climate, sea advance, sea recedes, Trang An today brings in itself an attractive beauty with a series of valleys, lakes, lagoons, caves and rocks. Limestone is more than 250 million years old, with flooded forests or forests on beautiful limestone mountains. In this scenic spot, there are many ecosystems of flooded forests, forests on limestone mountains and relics associated with the history of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.

Wetlands, coastal deltas, and uplands are among the three diverse types of landscapes found in Ninh Binh Province. Additionally, the province is blessed with a variety of noteworthy locations, including the Trang An Landscape Complex, the Cuc Phuong National Park, the Van Long Nature Reserve, and the Tam Coc - Bich Dong Grotto, among others.

The Trang An Eco-tourism complex is home to one of the world's most picturesque and beautiful karst landscapes. There are many different limestone mountains with hat shapes that might complement Halong Bay to create a breathtaking image.

In this network, 48 caves connect 31 wetlands and 2 km of aquatic caves, including Sinh Duoc, Dia Linh, and May Cave. Each cave has a name that is entirely unique. For instance, Light Cave has amazing stone stalks whereas Dark Cave offers unexpected apertures.

The tourist attractions in Trang An:

- Trinh Temple: This is the place to worship two gods of the Dinh Dynasty, Ta Thanh Tru and Huu Thanh Tru.

- Tran Temple: This is the place to worship the god Quy Minh, the Tran Ninh Binh temple festival takes place on the 18th day of the third lunar month every year, along with Hoa Lu ancient capital festival, Bai Dinh pagoda festival are major festivals in Ninh Binh.

- Phu Khong: This is the place to worship 7 loyal officials of the Dinh dynasty, associated with legends when King Dinh Tien Hoang died.

- Dia Linh Cave: 260m long cave with many stalactites hanging down.

- Nau Ruou Cave: where there is an underground water source more than 10m deep.

- Ba Giot Cave: Legend has it that whoever passes through Ba Giot cave and catches three drops of water from the small stalactites into the palm of his hand will be lucky in life and happy in love.

See more: World Heritage In Vietnam: Trang An Landscape Complex

In conclusion, the world heritage sites in Vietnam not only demonstrate a beautiful Vietnam, diverse in natural landscapes, rich in cultural identity of 54 ethnic groups; but also the attractions that attract a lot of tourists every year.