Sights in Northeast Vietnam
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Cat Ba National Park
This accessible national park is home to 32 types of mammals – langurs and macaques, wild boar, deer, civets, several species of squirrel including the giant black squirrel – and more than 70 species of birds, including hawks, hornbills and cuckoos. The golden-headed langur is officially the world’s most endangered primate with around 65 remaining, most in this park. Cat Ba lies on a major migration route for waterfowl, which feed and roost on the beaches in the mangrove forests. Over a thousand species of plants have been recorded here, including 118 trees and 160 plants with medicinal value. The park is also home to the Cay Kim Gao tree. In ancient days, kings and noble…
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Tam Thanh and Nhi Thanh Caves
There are two large and beautiful caves in the suburbs of Lang Son. Both are illuminated, which makes for easy exploration, and have Buddhist altars inside. Tam Thanh Cave is vast and seductive. There’s an internal pool and a viewing point or natural ‘window’ offering a sweeping view of the surrounding rice fields. Just a few hundred metres up a stone staircase are the ruins of the Mac Dynasty Citadel. It’s a lovely, deserted spot, with stunning views across the countryside. The Nhi Thanh Cave entrance has a series of carved poems written by the cave’s discoverer, a soldier called Ngo Thi San, in the 18th century. There’s also a carved stone plaque commemorating a…
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Cat Ba National Park
The accessible Cat Ba National Park is home to 32 types of mammals - including langurs, wild boar, deer, squirrels and hedgehogs - and more than 70 species of birds have been sighted, including hawks, hornbills and cuckoos. The golden headed langur is officially the world's most endangered primate with just 60 left in the park. Cat Ba lies on a major migration route for waterfowl, which feed and roost on the beaches in the mangrove forests.
There are 745 species of plants recorded on Cat Ba, including 118 timber species and 160 plants with medicinal value. The park is also home to a species of tree called Cay Kim Gao. In ancient days, kings and nobles would eat only with …
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Hospital Cave
This oozes historical significance, as it served both as a secret, bomb-proof hospital during the American War and as a safe house for VC leaders. Built between 1963 and 1965 (with assistance from China), this incredibly well-constructed three-storey feat of engineering was in constant use until 1975. A guide (most know a few words of English) will show you around the 17 rooms, point out the old operating theatre and take you to the huge natural cavern which was used as a cinema (and even had its own small swimming pool). The cave is about 10km north of Cat Ba Town on the road to the national park entrance.
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Nui Coc Reservoir
A scenic spot popular with locals, Nui Coc Reservoir is 25km west of Thai Nguyen. It’s a pretty stretch of water and a major drawcard for Hanoi residents looking to get away from it all. On summer weekends it can get particularly crowded. A one-hour, circular motorboat tour of the lake is the thing to do and costs about 250,000d. You can use the water park’s swimming pool for 20,000d, and also rent rowboats. It could be worth a visit if you’re travelling to Ba Be National Park, with your own wheels, and fancy a dip.
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Con Son Pagoda Complex
Con Son was home to Nguyen Trai (1380–1442), the famed Vietnamese poet, writer and general. Nguyen Trai assisted Emperor Le Loi in his successful battle against the Chinese Ming dynasty in the 15th century. Con Son pagoda complex has a temple honouring Nguyen Trai atop a nearby mountain. It’s a 600-step climb to reach it – a serious workout. Alternatively, take the loop walk past a spring, heading up through pine forests, and return down the steps.
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Bai Tu Long National Park
There’s more to northeastern Vietnam than Halong Bay. The sinking limestone plateau, which gave birth to the bay’s spectacular islands, continues for some 100km to the Chinese border. The area immediately northeast of Halong Bay is part of Bai Tu Long National Park.
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Opera House
Check out the neoclassical Opera House which dates from 1904, its facade embellished with white columns. If you can get inside its interior is even more ornate.
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Den Kiep Bac
This is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao (1228–1300). An outstanding general, his armies defeated 500,000 Mongol invaders in the late 1280s and he is a revered Vietnamese folk hero.
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Du Hang Pagoda
This was founded three centuries ago. Though it has been rebuilt several times, it remains a fine example of traditional Vietnamese architecture and sculpture.
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Haiphong Museum
The Haiphong Museum, in a splendid colonial building, concentrates on the city’s history; some of the displays have English translations.
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Hang Trung Trang
Hang Trung Trang is easily accessible, but contact a ranger to make sure it is open. Bring a torch (flashlight) as it is gloomy inside.
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