Vietnam attractions provide visitors with a glimpse into its long and storied history. Hue Imperial Citadel stands as an impressive reminder of this nation’s longstanding power and wealth, featuring a blend of Asian and European architectural designs that represents it perfectly.
Khai Dinh Tomb, dedicated to Vietnam’s revered leader, is another historic relic. Visitors can view tanks and helicopters used during this bloody conflict at War Remnants Museum.
1. My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary, situated in Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam Province, is an extraordinary example of Hindu architecture introduced into South-East Asia by Champa Kingdom between the 4th and 13th centuries. Home to an array of incredible tower temples whose remnants can still be seen today, My Son Sanctuary serves as an exclusive place of worship and sacrifice.
Temples’ simplicity is strikingly underlined by their lack of windows in worshipping spaces – this was done deliberately to protect privacy for those coming to offer sacrifices and pray.
My Son monuments are famous for their exquisite sandstone and brick reliefs depicting deities, animals, priests, religious events, political issues, etc. They help evoke the vibrant Champa culture that was lost with its fall of kingdoms.
2. Khe Sanh Combat Base
Khe Sanh Combat Base is one of the most acclaimed Vietnam historical sites, where one of the war’s most notable battles took place near the DMZ border. Once an important US military base, it has since fallen into disuse. Though now overgrown with wildlife, there remain bunkers and trenches worth exploring here.
Here, a brave group of Marine defenders persevered against overwhelming odds during a 77 day siege in 1968, defying artillery fire, ground attacks, and air resupply shortages to hold out against overwhelming odds. Today visitors can study tactical maps, view archive photographs and read emotional accounts of this historic battle at this historic site.
3. Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo Prison, more popularly known by American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War as “Hanoi Hilton”, now serves as a museum that provides a somber look at Vietnam’s journey toward independence. Displays including the French-used guillotine to behead Vietnamese revolutionaries offer visitors an opportunity to learn more about its history while reflecting upon human resilience against hardship.
Built around 1900 on a street that once housed shops selling portable earthen stoves, this prison held political prisoners fighting for independence from France. At its height in the 1950s, over 2,000 prisoners resided there.
Prison is divided into several sections, each depicting different aspects of its past: Isolation cells where dangerous prisoners were housed; A courtyard where prisoners wrote letters and wills; Death Row with its original French guillotine preserved as part of its exhibit; and women’s section that showcases their courage and resilience.
4. Thien Mu Pagoda
Thien Mu Pagoda stands within Hue’s Citadel and was constructed under Nguyen Hoang, governor of Thuan Hoa province (now Hue). While pledging loyalty to Hanoi’s Le Dynasty, Nguyen Hoang effectively ran Hue as an independent state.
According to legend, an old woman wearing blue pants and red shirt appeared on the hill where Thien Mu Pagoda now stands and informed the locals that soon a king would build a temple here to raise spiritual energy and strengthen their country.
Thien Mu Pagoda was then built, named by King Bao Dai to honor Thich Quang Duc’s action of setting himself on fire to protest discrimination against Buddhists during the 1960s. Now popular among visitors, this temple serves as an attractive tourist spot and houses his car – now restored and called Thich Quang Duc’s Rusty Austin Car.
5. Cannon Fort
Built for Khai Dinh, the 12th emperor of Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty, this sprawling citadel serves as a window into Vietnam’s rich past. Inside its walls lie palaces, temples and gates with architectural styles from both Europe and Asia blending seamlessly together.
Cannon Fort is situated atop a hill and offers breathtaking views over Cat Ba Island’s verdant hills and its karst-studded waters below. Walking down its well-marked paths leads to two well-maintained cannon emplacements as well as a U-shaped tunnel section featuring spacious meeting space for soldiers sheltered at Cannon Fort.
Cannon Fort was initially built to oust French invaders, and later featured on propaganda posters to foster national pride among Vietnamese. Nowadays, it serves as a reminder of 20th-century tensions between Vietnam and Western nations.
