Convent of St Paul de Chartres
Danang
You can't enter through the convent gate on the road behind the cathedral, but it's worth taking a look at the church architecture from the outside. The…
Must-see attractions in Central Vietnam
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
The largest part of the Tu Lan cave system, this moderately challenging dry cave was opened to visitors in 2016. The 10- to 12-hour adventure includes a…
Hoi An
This house is three centuries old and was built by a Chinese captain. As usual, the architecture includes Japanese and Chinese elements. There are some…
Hue
Emperor Gia Long founded the Nguyen dynasty in 1802 and ruled until 1819. Both the emperor and his queen are buried here. Badly damaged during the…
Dong Hoi
The Nhat Le River, which divides the city of Dong Hoi from a beautiful sandy spit, has a landscaped riverside promenade that features the haunting and…
Hue
Formerly a school for princes and the sons of high-ranking mandarins, this slightly rundown complex has a pagoda devoted to archaeology, a small Natural…
Hoi An
Housed in a 200-year-old Chinese trading house, the Handicraft Workshop has artisans making silk lanterns and practising traditional embroidery in the…
Hue
In 1844, Emperor Thieu Tri described this as one of Hue's most beautiful spots, but it was devastated by war. Check out the superb entrance gate with…
Assembly Hall of the Hainan Chinese Congregation
Hoi An
Built in 1851, this assembly hall is a memorial to 108 merchants from Hainan Island who were mistaken for pirates and killed in Quang Nam province. The…
Hue
The father of the modern Vietnamese nation spent 10 years in Hue, and you’ll find intriguing photographs of Ho Chi Minh as well as a collection of his…
Hoi An
Built for a wealthy Chinese merchant in the late 19th century, this old house looks like an apothecary from another era. The front room was once a…
Danang
Despite its huge grounds, this museum is typically unenlightening for a site venerating Ho Chi Minh. At the front is a display of the usual US, Soviet and…
Hue
Hire a scooter and head out to this picturesque spot on the edge of the lagoon either at sunrise or sunset, when there are beautiful views of the rising…
Hue
One of the most famous secondary schools in Vietnam, the National School was founded in 1896. Its former pupils include General Vo Nguyen Giap and Ho Chi…
Hue
Around 8km past Beach Bar Hue, the remains of Phu Dien, a small Cham temple, lie in a hollow in the sand just off the beach. Protected by a glass…
Hoi An
Meaning the 'Treasure of the Law Temple', Phap Bao Pagoda has a colourful facade of ceramics and murals and an elaborate roof with snake-like dragons…
Hue
Founded in 1670, this hilltop pagoda is on the southern bank of the Perfume River and has a striking triple-gated entrance reached via a wide staircase…
Five Cannons of Nine Holy Cannons
Hue
Located just inside the Citadel ramparts, near the gates to either side of the Flag Tower, are the Nine Holy Cannons (1804). These five cannons next to…
Ninh Binh Province
A Gothic counterpoint to Phat Diem's is this cathedral at Ton Dao, along Rte 10 about 5km from Phat Diem. At the rear, a statue of the Virgin Mary keeps…
My Son
My Son's impressive museum has many statues from the site, as well as information about the carvings, statues and architecture, and how the temples were…
South-Central Vietnam
A modest museum that documents the history of the Quang Tri province, with a focus on its ethnic minorities. The most interesting attractions for…
Hue
The only royal tomb not enclosed by a wall, the monument of Thieu Tri (built 1848) has a similar floor plan to his father Minh Mang’s tomb, but is…
Demilitarised Zone
Camp Carroll's colossal cannons used to shell targets as far away as Khe Sanh. All that remains now is a Vietnamese memorial. The turn-off to Camp Carroll…
Ninh Binh Province
Dong Huong Pagoda is the area's largest Buddhist pagoda, and many of its congregation are minority Muong people. Turn right at the canal at the north of…
Hoi An Museum of History & Culture
Hoi An
Housed in the Quan Am Pagoda, this museum provides a sampling of pre-Cham, Cham and port-era artefacts, with some huge bells, historic photos, old scales…
Demilitarised Zone
Visible from Hwy 9, this 230m-high karst outcrop once had a US Marine Corps lookout on top and a base for American long-range artillery nearby. The…
Hoi An
This museum presents an overview of the history of terracotta in different countries and cultures around the world. Often there are local craftspeople in…
Museum of Sa Huynh Culture & Museum of the Revolution
Hoi An
This two-floor museum has a collection of stone, bronze, gold, glass and agate jewellery, assorted ceramic fragments and burial jars dating from the early…
Four Cannons of Nine Holy Cannons
Hue
Located just inside the Citadel ramparts, near the gates to either side of the Flag Tower, are the Nine Holy Cannons (1804). These four cannons near Ngan…
Demilitarised Zone
Crossing the Dakrong River 13km east of the Khe Sanh bus station, this bridge was rebuilt in 2001 and bears a marker hailing its importance as a conduit…
Hoi An
The exhibits at this 150-year-old Chinese trading house give some idea of local customs and culture. The view of the river from upstairs is very…
Hue
An island on Tang Tau Lake, which is northeast of Tinh Tam Lake, was once the site of a royal library. It is now occupied by the small Ngoc Huong Pagoda.
Tam Coc
Near the entrance to Tam Coc, Van Lan is famous for its embroidery. Local artisans make napkins, tablecloths, pillowcases and T-shirts. Bargain hard.
Hue
This nightly market is mainly focused on local arts and crafts, but there are also simple cafes and bars perfect for a riverside snack and a drink.
Hue
The five cannons next to Quang Duc Gate represent the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
Hue
Almost nothing remains of the former Thai To Mieu temple complex – it's now a plant nursery.
Dong Hoi
One of the surviving gates of the citadel, this gate is on Ð Quang Trung.
