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Danang City
Known as Tourane under the French, Danang is a
seaport of endless stretches of unspoiled sandy
beach midway between Ha Noi to the north and Ho
Chi Minh City to the South. The city was also
the center of civilization of the Champa Kingdom,
a kingdom which flourished In the area as early
as the 2nd century A.D. Appealing stone sculptures
(from the 4th-14th centuries) of Vishnu , Shiva
and other Gods of this Kingdom can still be found
in the Cham museum located in the center of the
city Towards the coast south of Danang are five
large hills known as the Marble Mountain. Mysterious
caves within the mountains shelter altars delicated
to Buddha, Bodhisattvas and The different genies
arising from the popular beliefs of the area's
inhabitants. With its own international and domestic
airport, Danang provides an ideal stopover based
for excursions to the ancient town of Hoi An,
the imperial city of Hue and My Son-site of the
Ruins from the Cham civilization.
Cham Ruins
For those interested in seeing all that these
fifteen towers have to offer, plan on spending
a minimum of one day. These towers are located
at My Son in the Duy Xuyen district.
Cham Museum
 The
Cham Museum built in 1915, expanded in 1935 ,
completed in 1936, is in a lovely setting And
has large, open well lighted rooms with around
296 statues and artifacts of the Cham People dated
back to the 7th century.
Marble Mountains
Consisting of five limestone peaks, about five
(8km) miles south of town. They can be explored
by following the paths leading to the peaks.
 Non
Nuoc Beach
China Beach, one the most wonderful beaches of
Vietnam , was once an in country rest and Recreation
centre for the US military during the Vietnam
War.
Hoi An Ancient Town
Forty-five minutes by land south-east of Da Nang
is the ancient town of Hoi An, which was one of
the most important trading ports in Southeast
Asia for merchants from China, Japan and afar
for a couple of centuries ago. Originally a seaport
in the Champa Kingdom, by the 15th century It
had become a coastal town under the Tran dynasty.
Also served as the hub of East-West c ultural
exchange, Hoi An's ancient past is superbly preserved
in its fascinating temples, pagoda, shop houses
and home which make up the town's old quarter.
Walking in the streets of this ancient town, one
can observe the influence of the architecture,
Sculpture and decorative styles of China and Japan
and the skill of former Vietnamese architects
Who have absorbed their influences and created
something similar yet somehow uniquely different.
Dalat
The mountain resort among the Central Highlands
has scenic surroundings as well as remnants of
the French colonial era. The Ethnic Minority Museum
is certainly worth visiting for those interested
in the costumes, gongs, ornaments and other artifacts
collected by locals from the Lam Dong province.
As another point of interest, there is even an
old abandoned nuclear power plant.
Haiphong
Cat Ba
 This
island is the largest in the Cat Ba archipelago.
It is potentially one of the major beach destinations
in Southeast Asia. This region has beautiful beaches
and pristine waters. Within the mountains are
caves and grottos. Located 36 miles (58km) east
of Haiphong.
Halong Bay
One of Vietnam's most beautiful areas, Halong
Bay has fascinating limestone formations, coves
for nighttime excursions, sheer cliffs, grottoes,
arches and scores of small islets.
ENTERTAINMENT
Vietnam is not the place to go for the latest
in nightspots, but a number of large hotels have
nightclubs and dance halls. Bars are fairly easy
to find, even in smaller hotels. Try asking the
locals for the current popular spots. |
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