Top 8 Vietnam World Heritage Sites

Until 2015, Vietnam is recognized 8 attractions as world heritage sites by UNESCO include 01 Scenic Landscape Complex ( Trang An), 02 Natural Heritage ( Halong Bay, Phong Nha- Ke Bang), 05 Cultural Heritage ( Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ho Dynasty Citadel, Hue Complex of Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary) and many intangible world heritage. Following is Vietnam world heritage list:

Tangible world heritage

  1. Halong bay

Ha Long means Bay of Descending Dragons was listed in 1994 as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization.

It is a group of offshore islands and dominated by more than 1,600 limestone karsts and islets which rise out of the waters of the bay to heights of up to 100 meters (330 feet) and the numerous caves and grottos spread throughout the bay

  1. Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha Ke Bang Park located in the middle of the Annamite Mountain Range in Quang Binh province, Viet Nam and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. This park contains and protects over 104 km of caves and underground rivers making it one of the most outstanding limestone karst ecosystems in the world. Moreover, Phong Nha has rocks and stones naturally set in different sizes and shapes and a wide range of living creatures inside the park. Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world, was recently discovered in this complex of natural wonders.

The Park’s landscape is formed by limestone plateau and tropical forests. It features great geological diversity and offers spectacular phenomena, with over 800 vertebrate species recorded comprising 154 mammals, 117 reptiles, 58 amphibians, 314 birds and 170 fish.

  1. Hue Complex of Monuments

The Complex of Hue Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and is located in the city of Hue in central Vietnam. It established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802 by King Gia Long, Hué was not only the political but also the cultural and religious centre under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945

The Complex of Hue monuments is a combination of many royal aspects from the Nguyen dynasty (the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam) with the Imperials City (Hoang Thanh Hue) including the famous High Noon Gate (Ngo Mon), many tombs of Nguyen Emperor (Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh, Khai Dinh..), monuments, temples, pagodas, and load of other interesting elements. A visit to Hue will not be complete without a day spent on appreciating the historical values of Hue citadel and tombs.

  1. Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town located in Viet Nam’s central Quang Nam Province, on the north bank near the mouth of the Thu Bon River. This attraction is recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

The town comprises a well-preserved complex of 1,107 timber frame buildings, with brick or wooden walls, which include architectural monuments, commercial and domestic vernacular structures, notably an open market and a ferry quay, and religious buildings such as pagodas and family cult houses

It is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign (Chinese and Japanese influence), that have combined to produce this unique heritage site

  1. My Son Sanctuary

My Son sanctuary located in the mountainous border Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam Province, in central Viet Nam and listed UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It is an exceptional example of cultural interchange, with an indigenous society adapting to external cultural influences, notably the Hindu art and architecture of the Indian sub-continent.

My Son Sanctuary, containing somewhat 70 ruined and abandoned Hindu temples and tombs, was built by Champa Kings between 4th and 14th Century AD. These temples here once were the place for the royal family of Champa to remember their ancestors and worship their Gods. Plus the wild nature of the place, My Son creates a wonderful scene for people visiting the Holy place.

  1. Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 and located in the heart of Ha Noi from 11 century after Ly Thai To move the capital here. The Citadel was once the living place of many royal families: Ly Dynasty, Tran Dynasty, Le Dynasty, Trinh Dynasty…and nowadays become one of the most famous Citadels of the country.

  1. Ho Dynasty Citadel

Ho dynasty fortress in Thanh Hoa province is the only one ancient stone Citadel left in Southeast Asia, built in 1397 with unique architecture and beautiful natural base. It’s listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

The Ho Citadel is an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble in a landscape setting which illustrates a flowering of pragmatic Neo-Confucianism in late 14th century Viet Nam, at a time when it was spreading throughout East Asia to become a major philosophical influence on government in the region. The use of large blocks of stone testifies to the organizational power of the Neo-Confucian state, and the shift in the main axis distinguishes the Citadel layout from the Chinese norm (Unesco, 2011)

  1. Trang An Landscape Complex

The Trang An landscape complex is a visually spectacular mountainous karst area with numerous caves that have provided shelter to humans for 32,000 years and was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014

For more information about other destinations, please check in  Vietnam travel guide. And if you have any question about visa on arrival, please contact us via:  support@vietnamvisaapplication.com

Source: Vietnam Online & Unesco

 

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