Xứ
Việt Nam 
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Provinces: Quang Nam | Da Nang | Quang Ngai | Binh Dinh | Phu Yen | Khanh Hoa Attractions: Hoi An | Da Nang City | Nha Trang SOUTHERN CENTRAL AT A GLANCE: The Southern Central Zone of Vietnam includes the provinces of Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa.
Da Nang: known as Tourane under the French, is surrounded by the provinces of Thua Thien Hue along the northern border and Quang Nam on the southern border. Da Nang
Hoi
An is
30km south of Da Nang City and lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied
by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of
Southeast Asia in the 16th century. More than five centuries ago the
Vietnamese nation of Dai Viet expanded its territory southwards, encroaching on
the Indianized Kingdom of Champa, which covered much of what is now central
Vietnam. Hoi An, located on the Hoai River, emerged when Japanese and Chinese
traders built a commercial district there in the 16th century. Hoi An
still has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow
streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost
intact. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards
and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with
ornamental designs. Tourists can visit the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham
cultures. They can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the romantic Hoi An
River, Cua Dai Beach, and Cham Island. Over the last few
years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam. As
long being a cultural crossroad, diverse cultural influences remain visible
today. Visitors will find Hoi An's Old Quarter lined with two-storey Chinese
shops, their elaborately carved wooden facades and moss-covered tile roofs
having withstood the ravages of more than 300 years of weather and warfare.
These proud old buildings, which back onto the river, My Son Sanctuary, a holy Champa city, built in the fourth century. It was the sight of the important Cham intellectual and religious centre, and also served as a burial place for Cham monarchs. The monuments here are set in a verdant valley surrounded bu hills and shadowed by the massive Cat’s Tooth Mountain (Hon Quap). Clear brooks (perfect for a swim) run between the structures and past nearby coffee plantations. Most of the temple in My Son were dedicated to Cham kings associated with divinities.
Nha Trang is the main city of Khanh Hoa province and is famed as the finest city beach in Vietnam. The town is also a key transport crossroads, with Cam Ranh Harbor, Nha Trang Airport and good access to roads and railways. The vibrant local economy is based on fishing, tourism, forestry products and its comprehensive infrastructure. Ethnic minorities include the Ede, the Cham and the Raglai. Highlights include the Ponagar Tower, a Vinh Phuoc commune, built in the 9th century by King Harivacman and boasts a group of Cham towers and a stunning 2.6m tall statue of Ponagar, wife of the god Shiva, the Nha Trang Cathedral, built by the French in 1928 and equipped with a grand clock and three giant bells, all still in fine working order, Hon Chong, an imposing rocky promontory virtually in the city centre. It is said to resemble a human hand reaching out to sea. Around Nha Trang are the Doc Let Beach, 50km north of Nha Trang, and is a popular tourist destination with 10km of white sand beaches, moderate surf and clean air, the Dien Khanh Citadel, 10km south of the city, built in 18th century by King Nguyen Anh in an architectural style influenced by contemporary Western palaces, Dai Lanh Beach, 80km north of Nha Trang, which is a beautiful resort that also houses some relics of the American War. |
Binh
Dinh:
remind visitors of another era, when Hoi An's market was filled with wares from
as far away as India and Europe. Colorful guildhalls, founded by ethnic Chinese
from Guangdong and Fujian provinces, stand quietly, a testament to the town's
trading roots. In ancient times, Vietnamese people made lamps out of
shallow bowls filled with oil. Later, foreign traders introduced lanterns,
ranging from round and hexagonal designs from China to diamond and star shaped
ones from Japan. When developing plans to preserve their town's ancient
character, Hoi An residents decided to revive the practice of using colored
lanterns. Starting in the fall of 1998, one night each month is declared a "lantern
festival". On the 15th day of each lunar month, residents on Tran Phu,
Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi and Bach Dang streets switch off their lights and hang
cloth and paper lanterns on their porches and windows. Television sets, radios,
street lights and neon lights are turned off. Strolling through the
lantern-lit streets is like walking into a fairytale. It is all the more
picturesque since motor vehicles are banned from Hoi An's Old Quarter. On Trai
Phu Street, stop at the beautifully preserved Faifo Restaurant to sample
some traditional Chinese-style pastries. Or walk on to the Treated Cafe,
where bamboo baskets, commonly used to wash rice, have been transformed into
unique lanterns. These basket lamps are but one e
Cham Museum, built in 1915, expanded in 1935 and completed in
1936, houses more
than 300 sculptures from the area of the opulent Cham kingdom, dating from the
7th to the 15th centuries. It is in a lovely setting and has large, open well
lighted rooms. An important group of pagodas including Pho Da, Tam Bao,
Phap Lam, Tam Thai and Linh Ung illustrate Vietnam’s changing
architecture. Da Nang Airport is just 3km southwest of city. There are 4
trains daily from Hanoi to the Da Nang Railway Station. A variety of
long-distance services to the northern and southern provinces and other
destinations in the central region from the city’s bus station or Sinhcafe Bus
from Hue or Hoi An. Around Da Nang City are the Hai Van pass, with
a 496km peak, which crowns Vietnam’s great nature barrier between north
and
south and offers stupendous views; Ngu Hanh Son with five marble
mountains which symbolize metal, wood, water, fine and earth, located 8km from
the city centre and Non Nuoc Beach - 5kms of white sand and clear green
water at the foot of Ngu Hanh Son mountains . Non Nuoc Beach or 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.