PLACES OF
INTEREST
Vietnam has many interesting
places to visit such as Ha Long Bay in the North, the Cu Chi Tunnels in the South as well
as large temples and major cities.
| Hanoi has been the capital of
Vietnam for 800 years. It lies on the banks of the Red River, and is home to the first
university in Vietnam, which was built in 1076. This city is surrounded by many tiny
streets that form the old quarter. In this area it is possible to buy and barter for
goods. Each street specialises in a certain product. In Hang Gai street, you go to have
silk |
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| clothes made, go to Trang Tien for books, and Hang Dao near the lake for sunglasses. |
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Hanoi still retains many buildings
that show the French influence. Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum which houses his embalmed body is
in the centre of the city. In a theatre in Hung Dau street the famous Water puppets
perform to packed houses every night. The puppets are controlled by people behind screens
using sticks under water .It only costs 20,000 |
| dong ($2.50 Australian) to go to this world
famous production. |
| Ho Chi Minh City the
first port of call for most tourists, has tree lined streets and many fine buildings built
by the French in the late 1800's. Notre Dame Cathedral was built out of red brick, and was
constructed with two bell towers and a statue of the Virgin Mary at the front. The Opera
House which is in the centre of the city has recently been rebuilt .The Cuc Lam Pagoda was
built in 1744, and is the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. Phung Son pagoda, was built
between 1802 and 1820 on ancient grounds and several tombs lie inside this |
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| pagoda. Ho Chi
Minh is a very busy and noisy city. |
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Ha Long Bay is in the Gulf of Tonkin
and is made up of over 3000 islands. According to legend these islands were formed when a
dragon flashed it's tail in the gulf. Many believe this area should be listed as one of
the Natural Wonders of the World |
| Hue is a beautiful city. It lies on
the banks of the Perfume River. It is also the third largest city in Vietnam. The City of
Hue is very important, as the last 13 Emperors of Vietnam lived there and their splendid
tombs are a tourist attraction. Hue was badly bombed during the Vietnam war and the walled
fort called The Citadel is being rebuilt.
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Hoi An is a tourist area where the
main streets are very narrow and cars are not allowed. It is a famous spot for artists and
a major tourist attraction.
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Da lat is a
favourite spot for honeymoon couples. There are many beautiful big homes with lovely
gardens, which were once the holiday houses of government officials in the early 1900's.
Most of these have been turned into hotels. There is a big market where |
beautiful flowers
and delicious fruits , especially strawberries are for sale. |
| The Cu Chi tunnels were originally used as a
military headquarters by the Viet Cong. It consisted of hundreds of underground tunnels
with dead ends and punji pits, a form of booby trap to fool and kill intruders. The Mekong delta is a lush, wet lowland that |
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is home to the
majority of Vietnam's rice paddie's vegetable and fruit crops. |
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In the mountains in the North about
30 tribes of ethnic people live, including the Hmong. Many tourists travel great distances
to see these people, as they wear very colorful costumes and have an unusual way of life. |
Jojo and Tien
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