Halong Bay
Ha
Long Bay is located in the northeastern part of Vietnam and constitutes part of
the western bank of Bac Bo Gulf, including the sea area of Ha Long City and Cam
Pha Town and part of Vân Don island district. It abuts Cat Ba Island in the
southwest. Toward the west is the shore with a 120 km-long coastline. It is
located within 106o58’-107o22’ east longitude and within 20o45’- 20o50’ north
latitude. The site is 1553 sq. km with 1969 islands of various sizes, of which
989 have been named.
The
islands in Ha Long Bay are mainly limestone and schist islands most lying in
the two main areas: the southeastern part of Bái Tử Long Bay and southwestern
part of Hạ Long Bay. These islands represent the most ancient images of a
geographical site having a tectonic age of from 250 million to 280 million
years. They are the result of many times of rising and lowering processes of
the continent to form a karst. The process of nearly full erosion and weathering
of the karst created the unique Hạ Long Bay in the world. In a not very large
area, thousands of islands with different forms look like glittering emeralds
attached to the blue scarf of a virgin. The area where many stone islands
concentrate has spectacular scenes and world-famous caves and is the center of
Ha Long Bay Natural Heritage, including HaLong Bay and a part of Bái Tu Long
Bay.
The
area is recognized as the World Natural Heritage that is the area of 434 sq. km
with 775 islands. It looks like a giant triangle with Ðầu Gỗ Island (in the
west), Ba Hầm Lake (in the south) and Cống Tây Island (in the east) as its
three angle points. The nearby area is the buffer area and areas classified as
national beauty spots in 1962 by the Ministry of Culture and Information.
Viewed
from above, Hạ Long Bay looks like an extremely vivid huge drawing. This is a
wonderful and skilful masterpiece of the Creation and of nature that turns
thousands of dumb soulless stone islands into fantastic sculptural and artistic
works of various graceful shapes, both familiar and strange to human beings.
Hạ
Long is also home to great biodiversity with typical eco-systems like mangrove
forest, coral and tropical forest. It is also home to thousands of plants and
animals of numerous species, for example shrimp, fish and squid. Some species
are particularly rare and can be found no where else.
With
such special values, at the 18th Session of UNESCO’s Council of World Heritage
held on 17 December 1994 in Thailand, Hạ Long Bay was officially placed on the
list of the World Natural Heritage. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as the World
Heritage for the second time for its geographical and geomorphologic values.
This confirms the global premier value of Hạ Long Bay. And Halong bay has been
recognized as one of 7 wonders of the world in 2011.
Quang Binh ( Phong Nha Cave )
Phong
Nha-cave A pleasant, sleepy town, Phong Nha is nestled at the foot of a series
of limestone cliffs in an otherwise flat region, 45 km to the northwest of Dong
Hoi.
The
limestone massifs are similar to those seen on the Andaman coast of Thailand
and mark are stark change in the geology of Vietnam as you pass from south to
north.
The
only reason to visit Phong Nha is to visit the Phong Nha cave system, but an
overnight here makes sense if you have time in your schedule.
If
you're one who considers caves to be nothing more than a hole in the ground,
you have to see this cave to realize just how mistaken you are.
There’s
a cave, there's big caves and there's gigantic, world record-breaking caves
like what you'll see in Phong Nha. If you've only got time for one cave in your
holidays, this is it.
The
town is located along the main road from highway 14, stretching 2 km to the
boat landing for the caves. Accommodation is generally good and not too
expensive. It's a good place for a restful night if you've been harrying about
Vietnam from hot-spot to hot-spot.
My Son
My
Son Sanctuary is set in a small valley belonging to Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen
District, Quang Nam Province, about 70km southwest of Danang City and 40km from
Hoi An City. Of the 225 Cham vestiges that are founded in Vietnam, My Son
possesses 71 monuments and 32 epitaphs, the content of which is still being
studied.
The
Cham Kingdom had two sanctuaries belonging to two main opposing clans. My Son
of the Dua Clan, ruled over the north of the kingdom and was the place for the
worship of God Srisana Bhadresvara. The Cau Clan, who reigned over the south,
had Po Nagar Sanctuary, dedicated to Goddess Po Nagar. Nevertheless, My Son was
considered as the sanctuary of the Cham Kingdom.
Architecture
in My Son
The
temples in My Son were built into groups that basically followed the same
model. Each group was comprised of a main sanctuary (kalan), surrounded by
towers and auxiliary monuments. The kalan, which is a symbol of Meru Mountain
(centre of the universe, where the gods live) is dedicated to Shiva. The small
temples are devoted to the spirits of the eight compass points. In the towers,
topped with tiled, curved roofs, were stocked the offerings and sacred objects
of the pilgrims. Cham temples do not have windows, so they are very dark
inside. Windows are only found on the towers.
Cham
towers and temples are built of bricks associated with sandstone decorations.
It is quite noteworthy that no adhesive can be seen in between the bricks,
which is amazing since some of the works have survived thousands of years. The
structures were built, and only then did the sculptors carve the decorations of
floral patterns, human figures or animals. This technique is unique in Asia.
Every
kalan in My Son is comprised of three parts: the bhurloka (foundations), the
bhurvaloka (body of the tower) and the svarloka (roof).
In
December, 1999, at the 23th meeting of World Heritage Committee of UNESCO in
Marrakesh, Marocco, My Son was recognized as world cultural heritage based on
two prominent criterions: typical example about cultural exchange and unique
evidence of disappeared Asia civilization
Relics of Hue
Complex
of Hue Monuments lies along the Perfume River in Hue City and some adjacent
areas of Thua Thien Hue Province. Hue City constitutes the cultural, political
and economic centre of the province, and was the old imperial city of Vietnam
under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.
Cultural
values
Located
in the centre of Hue, along the Perfume (Huong) River’s northern bank, the
complex of royal architecture represents and demonstrates the power of the
Nguyen Dynasty's centralism. Contained in this complex are Kinh Thanh Hue (the
Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (the Royal Citadel or Imperial City) and Tu
Cam Thanh (the Forbidden Citadel) clustered together, symmetrically placed
along the longitudinal axis and facing to the south.
Surrounded
by a square wall, almost 600 meters in length on each side, the Imperial City
has four gates, of which the south gate (Ngo Mon) is most typical in
construction and is widely seen and recognized as the symbol of Hue Citadel. It
served not only as the main entrance but was also the place where important
events of the dynasty took place. Within the area of the Imperial City, the
Forbidden Citadel was the area reserved for daily activities of the royal
family.
In
addition, place-names that embellish for the beauty of the Complex of Hue Monuments
can be named as: Huong River, Ngu Binh Mountain, Thien Mu Pagoda, Bach Ma
Mountain, the Thuan An and Lang Co Beaches...
At
the meeting of the 17th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in
Columbia, from the 6th to the 11th of December 1993, UNESCO has come to the
decision of recognizing the architectural ensemble of Hue as a world cultural
heritage. This was a noteworthy event in the cultural history. For the reason
that Hue is the first site in Vietnam ever listed in the World Heritage list.
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi
An is an old town down the Thu Bon River, on the coastal plain of Quang Nam
Province, about 30 km south of Danang City. Hoi An used to be known on the
international market with many different names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho
and Hoi An.
What
is so special about Hoi An is that this little port town is in an incredible
state of preservation. It offers some of the most densely-concentrated sights
in Vietnam with its old streets bordered with ancient houses and assembly
halls, its pagodas, temples, ancient wells and tombs. In total, more than a
thousand places of interest. The architecture of Hoi An is characterized by a
harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. After many
centuries, Hoi An is still respectful of its traditions, folk festivals, beliefs
and of its sophisticated culinary art. Set in a quiet environment, Hoi An is
surrounded by peaceful villages that have crafts such as carpentry, bronze
making, ceramic...
Researchers
said most of the buildings in Hoi An underwent restoration at the beginning of
the 19th century, even if they might be constructed long time ago. The ancient
architecture shown most clearly in the Ancient Town that located in Minh An
Ward. It covers about 2 square kilometers and almost of all famous relics in
Hoi An are gathered here. The streets are very short and narrow, having a
winding, crossing as the chessboard style. The topography of the ancient town
tilts gradually from north to south. The building in the old town is built
mostly with traditional materials such as: brick, wood and no more than two
floors. The traces of time is able to find not only on the architectural design
of each building but also everywhere like: on the yin-yang roof tiles covered
with moss and plants; the old gray mold walls; the pictures carved on a strange
animal, or describing a old story… Having inherited a multi-cultural
architecture so varied and sophisticated, Hoi An must have attracted numerous
and talented workers in carpentry, ceramics, and woodcarving from China, Japan
and other regions of Vietnam.
Rich
in traditions and early exposed to the outside world, the Hoi An people feature
a unique cultural identity, which has been well preserved from generation to
generation. Lives of people who stay here incline to be interior with subtle quiet.
In the mind of the natives of Hoi An, this town constitutes a large ancient
home that shelters a big family of many descendants including hospitable
dwellers, friendly hosts and hostesses, kind-hearted women, obedient children
and so on. They together form a harmonious community who has lived peacefully
side by side through successive generations.
The
architectural significance of Hoi An has been recognized by UNESCO, during the
23rd Congress which took place in Marrakech (Morocco) from the 29th of November
to the 4th of December 2009, since the town was officially listed as a World
Cultural Heritage Site.
This
article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vietnam Heritage Travel
For
original article, please visit:
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