English
French
Spanish
Italian
For culture lovers, every small moment of discovery is a step closer to understanding a new and different way of life. Scattered throughout the country, Vietnam's UNESCO Heritage Sites are jackpots for these moments of discovery. Each one promises exceptional beauty and exceptional insight into Vietnamese culture. Of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in Vietnam, here are five you absolutely must not miss.
A 5 days tour to witness top UNESCO Heritage Sites in Vietnam. Source: Pinterest
It’s no surprise Ha Long Bay is home to as many legends as it is to islands. The name ‘Ha Long’ means ‘descending dragon,’ and Vietnamese tell a tale of a dragon that descended from the sky, spitting out thousands of pearls that became the islands and islets we see today.
This spectacular bay and natural heritage site stretches across the Gulf of Tonkin, 165 km from Hanoi. Hidden among more than 1,600 limestone formations are secret grottoes, sparkling beaches, and jaw-dropping caves. The best way to go is on an overnight cruise.
Mornings are for watching the sunrise, practicing tai chi, or sightseeing in the caves. Afternoons are spent swimming, kayaking, or simply relaxing on the sun deck. Evenings arrive with striking sunsets and soothing sea breezes and leave behind a sky riddled with stars.
The scenery in the bay is enhanced by the local life that continues in this dreamlike setting. Floating villages rest on rafts, children row to school, men fish for a living, and women cook and sell their wares–all in the company of Ha Long’s majestic karsts and emerald waterways.
Ha Long Bay. Source: Shutterstock
Tips: Ha Long can be sunny and clear, cold, or foggy and misty depending on what time of year you travel. Check the weather first to make the most of your time in the bay.
Read more: Ha Long Bay Trip Full-day: Jewel of Northern part
Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Ninh Binh, Vietnam, featuring a unique combination of cultural and natural landmarks. Several of its scenic spots have been recognized as national heritage sites by the Vietnamese government, including the Trang An Ecological Tourism Area, Tam Coc-Bich Dong, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
The ecosystem linking these areas is a protected forest zone on limestone mountains, wetlands, and a network of rivers, lakes, and ponds covering an area of 12,252 hectares. Trang An offers stunning natural landscapes, including mountain ranges, ecosystems, forests, rice fields, lakes, and boat tours along rivers such as Ngo Dong, Tien, Vok, Sao Khe, Den Voi, and Ben Dang.
The complex is home to impressive caves like the Thien Ha Cave, Thien Thanh Cave, Tien Cave, Tien Ca Cave, Vai Gioi Cave, Thuy Cung Cave, But Cave, Tam Coc Cave, Trang An Cave, and Sinh Duoc Cave. It also features valuable archaeological sites such as Moi Cave, Boi Cave, Trong Cave, Oc Cave, Binh Valley, and the ancient Hoa Lu citadel, along with historical sites from the Dinh, Le, Ly, and Tran dynasties.
Trang An Landscape Complex. Source: Unsplash
The outstanding global value of Trang An was recognized based on three core pillars outlined in the World Heritage Convention for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage: Trang An showcases the interaction between humans and their environment, reflecting humanity’s adaptation to geographical and environmental changes, particularly the climate shifts that occurred during the end of the last Ice Age.
It is home to breathtaking natural landscapes featuring majestic mountains, mysterious caves, peaceful rivers, and sacred temples. The Trang An Complex represents the final stages of karst evolution in a tropical, humid climate. The site maintains its integrity and authenticity, and effective measures have been implemented to protect and manage the heritage site...
Recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2003 for its geological and geomorphological significance, it was re-recognized in 2015 for its biodiversity and ecological value. The park is approximately 50 km northwest of Dong Hoi City and about 500 km south of Hanoi. It borders the Hin Namno Nature Reserve in Khammouan Province, Laos, to the west and is 42 km from the East Sea.
Part of the Annamite Mountain Range in Quang Binh Province, Phong Nha lures adventure lovers with an outstanding limestone karst ecosystem. The national park covers 126,236 hectares of dense tropical forest, enormous caves, and underground rivers.
The park boasts a temperate climate with average temperatures ranging from 20–24°C year-round. It is considered one of the largest limestone regions in the world, covering over 200,000 hectares (85,754 hectares of core area and a buffer zone of 195,400 hectares).
The area is renowned for its karst limestone formations, over 300 caves, and an extensive underground river system. Hundreds of rare animal and plant species, many of which are listed in Vietnam’s and the world’s red data books, thrive here, making it a paradise for tourists and scientists alike.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. Source: Pinterest
Phong Nha lays claim to the second-largest cave in the world, Hang Son Doong, and is home to a wide array of cave types, such as terraced caves, intersecting caves, and suspended caves. Multi-day excursions will take you deep into these spectacular caverns, where you can dive into glowing rock pools and camp beside subterranean rivers.
For more gentle exploration, local boats will ferry you noisily through Phong Nha Cave and down the winding Son River. Apart from scientifically important caves, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park shelters a large number of endemic species. Asiatic black bears, tigers, and saola have all been spotted within the UNESCO-protected area, giving nature lovers even more reason to put Phong Nha on their itineraries.
In the central city of Hue, you'll find the last vestiges of the Nguyen Dynasty. Here, against a backdrop of forested hills with a meandering river at their feet, the Nguyen emperors erected administrative offices, military headquarters, palaces, temples, and even their tombs.
Vietnam’s feudal capital was strategically built along the banks of the Perfume River, with easy access to the sea. Taking inspiration from Beijing’s Forbidden City, the structures within the citadel were carefully laid out to be in cosmological alignment with the five elements, cardinal points, and colors.
The Complex of Hue Monuments. Source: Freepik
Take an amble around the complex and watch Imperial Vietnam come to life in full color. Imposing statues, priceless treasures, and intricate mosaics wait around every corner. Although the Nguyen Dynasty ended in 1945, the symbolic significance of the Hue Monuments–once the political, cultural, and religious heart of Vietnam–still echoes today.
Tips: Be sure to charge your camera, as there are more photo ops here than you can count. Want to see more? Rent a bicycle and cycle to the tombs, soaking up views of Hue’s countryside on the way.
Hoi An was once a bustling trading port, welcoming merchants from far across the seas. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Chinese, Japanese, and Europeans settled along the banks of the winding Thu Bon River. Today, 30 hectares of this ancient town are preserved as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site.
Hoi An’s unique fusion of cultural influences reveals itself within its narrow streets. Weathered shophouses squeeze shoulder to shoulder alongside ancestral homes, their tiled roofs decorated in exotic wood carvings.
Hoi An Ancient Town. Source: Istock
Tucked away from the old ferry quay, you’ll find an open market, pagodas, and a timber bridge that once connected the town's Japanese and Chinese communities. Hoi An is even better in the evenings when the faded streets glow in the light of thousands of lanterns.
Tips: Time your visit to Hoi An on a night with a full moon, and join the throngs of locals enjoying dragon dances, boat rides, and moonlit revelry on the riverbanks.
The hustle and bustle of life can make us forget to enjoy the precious moments. So let the trips bring balance, broaden your horizons, and create unforgettable memories. Each journey will help you love life more and appreciate life more. Plan now to fully enjoy these new experiences! The content below will help you plan your trip to interesting places. Join Asia King Travel now!
Read more: Hoi An Tour Full-day: Exploring Hoi An Ancient Town
