Built in the 17C, Quan Thanh Temple is a magnificent example of the art of wooden sculpture , with its finely carved doors, window frames and altar. To the rear of the temple, note the huge bronze of Tran Vu , whose acts of courage were honoured wh..

Tran Quoc Pagoda (Pagoda of National Defence), one of the oldest in Vietnam, was originally built in the 6C on the banks of the Red River. Threatened by erosion, the pagoda was rebuilt on Ca Vang island (Goldfish Island) in the West Lake in 1615. T..

Kim Lien Pagoda (Pagoda of the Golden Lotus) is dedicated to Princess Tu Hoa , who founded the sanctuary on the shores of the West Lake in the 12C, and Quynh Hoa , the princess of silk worms. The latter, now part of the Buddhist pantheon, was said ..

The Thay Pagoda (“Master’s Pagoda”), also known as the “Pagoda of the Heavenly Blessing”, was built on the shores of the Dragon lake in the 11C to honour the monk Tu Dao Hanh (1072-1116). The hill behind the pagoda is home to several sanctuaries ( ..

The wooden sculptures displayed at the Tay Phuong pagoda are worthy of particular note as they are a perfect illustration of this art form. Decorative features embellishing the pagoda’s structure and statues reveal great realism in their impressive d..

Dinh Bang, in the Red River Delta, has two monuments worthy of interest. The den Do , a temple built in memory of the Ly royal dynasty (1009-1225) which came from the village, attracts large crowds, particularly during a huge festival held during th..

A mix of biblical and Vietnamese symbols provides the Phat Diem cathedral with its harmonious sculpted wood decor . The size and architecture of the building, which takes its inspiration from pagodas and communal houses, come as something of a surpr..

Tam Coc can be found in the middle of rice paddies on either side of the Ngo Dong river. With its caves and sugarloaf-shaped rocks emerging out of the watery landscape, the scenery is reminiscent of the limestone islands of Halong Bay. Boat trips dep..

Simple, spacious and rustic in style, this pagoda in the middle of the country has the appearance of a Japanese temple. It was built in the 17C from money offered by a lady of the Court. The main room, in the shape of a T, and its heavy wooden struct..

At weekends, Cat Ba, the largest of the islands in Halong Bay , is transformed into a lively coastal resort, which can be explored by motorbike or bicycle. Following the creation of a national park , around half of this unspoilt limestone formation..

With its source in the Yunnan mountains in China, the Black River ( song Da ) carves out a deep canyon through the northwest corner of Vietnam, a region dominated by peaks of over 2 000m. At Muong Lay , the gorge crosses that of the nam Na – in 19..

Visitors make their way to Sin Ho for the road which leads there and the stunning landscapes it passes through. Situated in a mountainous region dominated by Ta Phin mountain (1 868m), the village is surrounded by isolated limestone outcrops resemb..

Leaving Sapa, the road crosses the Muong Hoa river then climbs up through the rice fields to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Continuing across fields on the same side of the river, you then come to the Giay village of Ta Van. Head back down towa..

Famous for its landscapes during the colonial period, this region only became a national park in 1992. The park protects 23 000ha of rivers and waterfalls around Ba Be , the “Three Lakes”. This huge 8km-long lake can be accessed by road, but it’s mo..

This small lake lies in a landscape of limestone cliffs dotted with waterfalls and gardens. Erosion has formed caves in these rocky cliffs, such as the prosaically named Dong Ba Cua , a cave with “three windows” overlooking the lake. The small islan..

An excellent way of exploring the superb scenery of the Ba Be National Park is to take a boat trip down the Nang river from Cho Ra to Lake Ba Be. In the middle of mountains covered with thick tropical forest and hundred-year-old trees, steep rocky ..

The citadel was built in 1805 during the reign of Emperor Gia Long , following a layout inspired by Vauban’s fortifications. It has retained much of the purple and gold decor which contributed to its earlier splendour and is organised in concentric ..

The Imperial City within the citadel comprises the Forbidden Purple City where the emperor and his family lived, the official buildings from where he ran his empire, temples, gardens and water features. The city is surrounded by a wall with four ga..

The Palace of Supreme Harmony is one of the most spectacular buildings in the Imperial City. This vast room, where the emperor presided over ceremonies and received important guests, is richly decorated in red and gold lacquered teak and engraved wit..

The Nguyen emperors were very much concerned with life in the hereafter and paid close attention to the design of their mausoleums. These grandiose complexes also acted as secondary residences during their lifetime, where the emperors enjoyed spendin..