The Central Highlights

The long, narrow Central region of Vietnam stretches along the coast bordering the East Sea or the South China Sea, connecting the two large plains, the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong Delta in the south. The Central Region boasts for its beautiful nature, be it a mysteriously sheering mountains in the west or lovely beaches and its clear sea on the eastern coast, precious relics from the gorgeous kingdom of Champa in the past, and a colorful patchwork of ethnic diversity in the Central Highlands. All of that makes your trip in Vietnam worthy and remarkable.

 Hue

Straddling the Perfume River, Hue is a province in Central Vietnam, bordering Quang Tri province in the north, Danang city in the south, Truong Son Mountain in the west, and the East Sea in the east. It is located 650 kilometers south of Ha Noi, and 1080 kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City. Situated in the tropical zone, climate in Hue is divided into four distinct seasons: spring, hot summer, mild autumn, and windy, cold winter. The average temperature is 25°C; the best time to visit Hue is from November to April.

Hue is very important in Vietnam history as the political and cultural center of Vietnam in various dynasties during of Feudal State. The city is packed with the ruins of structures built in the 19th century; the Imperial palace, the Citadel, and numerous tombs of Vietnamese emperors survive to testify the exuberance of the city during its heydays. Although badly devastated during the Vietnam Wars, Hue still keeps its mysteriously enchanting ambiance of the ancient town, leading the visitors back to the past to enjoy its grandeur. Due to its historic importance, Hue is designated to be one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Major attractions in Hue:

Citadel and Forbidden City: The construction of the Citadel started in 1805 during the reign of Emperor Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty. The successive kings of the dynasty have ordered to build ramparts, palaces and other structure for royals. The exterior citadel has 24 bastions on the top of the wall, built for defensive purpose.

At the center of the Citadel, locates the Imperial City which was the seat of the highest offices of Vietnam's Feudalism. The Imperial City's compound is connected with the outer citadel by four entrance gates, among which the Noon Gate is only used for the king. The area of Imperial city is divided into sectors, packed with more than 100 beautiful buildings and structures.

The Forbidden Purple City is also located in the Imperial City. This area is uniquely reserved for Emperors and his royal family. More than 50 architectural buildings were built in different shapes and different purposes, including the Emperor's Private Palace, palace for conducting political affairs, Queen's residence, royal theatre, Emperor's library, kitchen, etc.

Khai Dinh Emperor's Tomb: This is one of the most famous tombs of Vietnamese Emperors, and is the final monument of the Nguyen Dynasty. Emperor Khai Dinh came to the throne in 1913 and chose Chau Chu Mountain to build his tomb. The construction started in 1920 and lasted for 11 years. Despite its smaller size if compare to the preceding Emperor's tomb, Khai Dinh Emperor's Tomb is praised for its elaborately architectural style which is a combination between the Vietnamese and French colonial architecture. In the courtyard, there line two rows of stone statues of horse, elephant, and guard soldier, and a flight of 36 steps of which the staircase is decorated with a statue of dragon leads to the main building which houses the original artifacts opened to public viewing.

Tu Doc Emperor's Tomb: This is one of the most impressive tombs in Hue, situated southwest of the city. The tomb, which is dedicated to Tu Doc Emperor, the fourth emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, is graced by the magnificent landscape of mountain overlooking the beautiful Luu Khiem Lake. The complex is composed of two sections. On the bank of the lake, there stand the Xung Khiem Pavilion and Du Khiem Pavilion where the Emperor passed his time looking flowers, composing his poems, reading books, etc. The tomb itself is nestled in the grove of pines on the slope of a hill with the Honor Courtyard adorned with two rows of majestic military and civil mandarins. There is also the stone stele, the biggest in Vietnam, inscribed the narration composed by the Emperor himself, telling about his life and imperial cause as well as his misadventure and diseases, etc. The construction of this tomb lasted for five years by thousands of labor-workers.

Minh Mang Emperor's Tomb: This is the other intriguing tomb in Hue with its elaborate architecture together with its intricate décor. Emperor Minh Mang is the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb is located at the tributaries of the Perfume River, 11 kilometers south of Hue. This complex is the harmony of the majestic architecture and the magnificent scenery. It also houses the excellent collection of stone sculptures. The tomb is said to be at its most beautiful in the mid of March when lotus in the lakes of Trung Minh and Tan Nguyet are all in blossom.

Thien Mu Pagoda: The pagoda is situated on Ha Khe Hill, on the left bank of Perfume River, 5 kilometers from Hue. Thien Mu, the name of the pagoda originated in a legend saying that an old woman appeared on the hill; she told the local people that a Lord would come and build a Buddhist pagoda for the country's prosperity. Lord Nguyen Hoang, on hearing that, commanded the construction of the pagoda on the hill and named it the "Heavenly Lady". The pagoda is built in an octagonal shape with seven tiers, enshrining the bronze cast statues and housing precious items. The surrounding area is adorned with flower gardens and beautiful plants. The trip to Thien Mu Pagoda is mostly done by a boat cruise on the Perfume River which offers the picturesque countryside along the river.

 Danang

Danang is the provincial capital of Quang Nam Danang province, situated around 800 kilometers mid way between Ha Noi to the north and Ho Chi Minh City to the south. Demarcated its border from Laos in the west by Truong Son Mountain Range, Danang is mostly covered dense forest alternating with a coast strip in the east.

Danang used to be the center of the gorgeous Cham Kingdom which dominated the area around the early 2nd century A.D. The legacy of the Cham kingdom can be seen as numerous artifacts and fascinating Cham sculpture at Cham Museum

During the French Occupation, Danang, known as "Tourane", was the most important port city in Central Vietnam, and it was where the American Navy first embarked in 1965. Upon the arrival of the American, Danang was transformed to be a town of busy business; service business was boosted to cater the American soldiers who lived here and regarded as the beach resort of the American soldiers during the war.

Boasted for its clam, unspoiled beaches as well as enchanting scenery, Danang is unsurprisingly the ideal place for relaxation and natural appreciation.

Danang's main attractions:

Cham Ruin in My Son: My Son is a town situated 70 kilometers southwest of Danang. Nestling in the valley, My Son possesses the blissful location for a religious sanctuary of the Champa Kingdom. The valley of My Son is teemed with towers and temples built in Cham architecture dedicated to the Kings and Brahman divinities. Due to its precious architectural works which represent the Cham culture and history, My Son is accredited as World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Cham Museum: The museum was built in 1915 in the Cham architectural style. It houses the most extensive collection of Cham artifacts, including around 300 statutes and other artworks collected from the Cham temples throughout the Central Vietnam. There is also an exhibition of the Cham culture, people and history dating back to the 7th century.

Hai Van Pass: "Pass of the Ocean Clouds" is the meaning of Hai Van Pass, so named for its peak is shrouded in the clouds and its foot is close to the sea. The Hai Van Pass is situated on the serpent road from Hue to Danang. On the top of the Hai Van Pass, one can admire the remarkably spectacular views of misty mountains and lovely beach.

Marble Mountain: The Marble Mountain is consisted of five limestone outcrops standing in isolation from the plains. Situated 8 kilometers south of town, the Mountain offers the alluring natural beauty together with the mysterious caves, some of which were the Buddhist shrines and others were the base for the Vietnamese revolutionaries during the wartime. Around the area, there is a village famous for its traditional stone engraving activities; stone from the Marble Mountain is made into statues, jewelry, and other artifacts and exported to many countries.

Non Nuoc Beach or China Beach: This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. It is a five-kilometer-stretch of clean sand, running against the Marble Mountain. The beach used to be resort for the American soldiers who came for relaxation during the wartime; it is famous for surfing as well.

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