Top 8 Iconic Landmarks in Vietnam Recognized Worldwide

Regarded as a symbol of Da Nang's pride, the Dragon Bridge is an extraordinary architectural marvel that spans the Han River, drawing the attention of tourists from all over. With a length of 666 meters, a width of 37.5 meters, and six lanes of traffic, its remarkable dragon-shaped design is truly a sight to behold. Officially opened on March 29, 2013, the bridge was built at a cost of approximately 1.5 trillion VND. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, and on special occasions, the "Dragon" impressively spews both water and fire. The bridge received international acclaim, winning the prestigious 2014 Excellence in Engineering Award (EEA) from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), often referred to as the 'Oscar' of engineering.

Situated across the Han River, the Dragon Bridge stands as a monumental and proud feature of Da Nang's cityscape. Designed in the image of a dragon from the Ly Dynasty, it symbolizes the city's ambition for growth and development. It is the first single-span steel arch bridge in Southeast Asia, completed to coincide with the 38th anniversary of Da Nang’s liberation. Additionally, the bridge boasts an elaborate lighting system featuring 15,000 LED lights, making it a dazzling spectacle at night. The design and execution of the Dragon Bridge are truly exceptional, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who experiences it.

The 68-story Bitexco Financial Tower, soaring to a height of 262 meters, once stood as a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City's rapid and modern development. The building’s design draws inspiration from the lotus flower, a symbol deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. At 269 meters, it was the tallest building in Vietnam until the completion of the Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower in 2011. The project, with a total investment of 400 million USD, transformed the tower into a massive commercial center featuring restaurants, shopping malls, cinemas, and office spaces. Bitexco was also recognized as one of the top 50 most creative buildings of the decade by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), and it is listed among the world’s top 25 architectural landmarks by CNN.

The main attraction of the Bitexco Tower is its modern shopping mall, where visitors can shop, dine, and entertain themselves with friends for hours. The tower is equipped with 12 high-speed elevators, each capable of traveling at 7 meters per second, allowing people to reach any floor in just 45 seconds. For first-time visitors, this speed can be overwhelming, but it's an unforgettable experience. The building’s control room is located in the basement, linking to an extensive system of operations, including hundreds of cameras, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. The most striking feature of the Bitexco Tower is its rooftop helicopter pad on the 52nd floor. This pad, located 191 meters above ground, is 40 meters long and extends beyond the main structure of the tower, offering an exhilarating view of the city below.

On July 26, 2018, the Landmark 81 tower, developed by Vingroup, officially opened with its first phase, the Vincom Center Landmark 81 shopping mall, after more than 1,000 days of construction. At 461 meters tall, this 81-story skyscraper with a total investment of 1.4 billion USD stands proudly in the heart of the Vinhomes Central Park urban area, Bình Thạnh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Landmark 81 became the tallest building in Vietnam and the first Vietnamese skyscraper to make it into the world’s Top 10 tallest buildings.

The Landmark 81 building serves as the central piece of the luxurious Vinhomes Central Park development, offering a modern, convenient lifestyle that caters to all the needs of its residents. Inspired by the traditional image of a “bunch of bamboo” symbolizing the strength of unity and prosperity of the Vietnamese people, the building rises gracefully towards the sky, marking a new era of growth and ambition. It represents Vietnam’s desire to step onto the global stage, a testament to its evolving power and prosperity.

On February 4, 2018, Sun Group unveiled the Hon Thom Cable Car system, located in the Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park in Phu Quoc. This remarkable feat of engineering stretches over 7,899 meters, connecting An Thoi town to Hon Roi, Hon Dua, and finally to Hon Thom, earning a Guinness World Record as the world’s longest cable car system. The cable car includes two stations, six towers, and the tallest tower (T4), standing at 174 meters. With 69 cabins, each holding 30 passengers, and a top speed of 8.5 meters per second, it slashes the travel time between An Thoi and Hon Thom from 30 minutes by boat to just 15 minutes. The cabins are equipped with Wi-Fi and lighting systems for nighttime rides. Passengers can enjoy breathtaking views of the skies and seas as they travel across the An Thoi archipelago in southern Phu Quoc.

Famous for its pristine beaches and white sandy shores, Hon Thom is located on the An Thoi archipelago, at the southern tip of Phu Quoc Island. Recently, it has become a must-visit spot for tourists. On the 15-minute ride, you’ll experience the sensation of floating among the clouds, with panoramic views of southern Phu Quoc Island. The state-of-the-art, three-rope cable car system glides smoothly from An Thoi station to Hon Dua, Hon Roi, and finally to Hon Thom. Both the An Thoi and Hon Thom stations are designed in Mediterranean architectural style and are popular photo opportunities. So why not try the luxury cable car experience to Hon Thom on your next visit to Phu Quoc?

The Tan Vu - Lach Huyen Sea Crossing Bridge in Hai Phong is the longest sea bridge in Vietnam, featuring groundbreaking construction techniques. It connects the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway (at the Tan Vu interchange) in the Hai An district with the Lach Huyen port entrance (the main international port of Hai Phong) in Cat Hai district. The bridge itself is 5.44 km long, with the connecting roads extending 10.19 km. Designed as a permanent structure with prestressed reinforced concrete, the bridge spans 16 meters in width and accommodates four lanes of traffic. The total investment for the project reached approximately 11,850 billion VND. Officially opened on September 2, 2017, after three years of construction, this bridge was funded by the Ministry of Transport.

The bridge is designed for all types of vehicles and provides a vital link between Hai An district and Cat Hai island. It connects rapidly developing areas on the eastern side of Hai Phong with the Lach Huyen port, the Dinh Vu industrial zone, and the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway. This project is crucial for the growth of the region and supports the expansion of the Lach Huyen international port. The bridge's construction is expected to boost the economy of Cat Hai Island, and local residents are hopeful that it will drive further economic development in the area.

The Golden Bridge in Da Nang, supported by two giant hands, has captured the global spotlight, garnering praise from international media and social platforms. This remarkable structure was listed among the most impressive pedestrian bridges in the world by The Guardian, and Time Magazine ranked it among the Top 100 must-see destinations in 2018. Renowned outlets such as BBC, AFP, Reuters, CNN, and Archdaily have all recognized this architectural marvel.

Launched in June 2018 after nearly a year of construction, the Golden Bridge is located in the Thien Thai Garden at the Sun World Ba Na Hills resort in Da Nang. Funded by Sun Group, the bridge stretches nearly 150 meters in length, with a width of 12.8 meters and eight spans, the longest of which measures 21.2 meters. At an altitude of over 1,400 meters above sea level, the bridge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The iconic giant hands, appearing to be carved from stone and covered in moss, are actually crafted from steel and fiberglass. This bridge has quickly become a new symbol of Da Nang.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is the only resort globally to have won the World Travel Award for the 'World's Most Luxurious Resort' three years in a row. At the 2018 World Travel Awards for Asia and Oceania, the resort achieved remarkable success, winning five awards, including Asia's Most Luxurious Resort, Asia's Most Eco-Friendly Resort, and Asia's Best Wedding Resort. Its Bay North Villa is regarded as one of Asia's most luxurious, and the resort retains its title as 'Asia's Most Luxurious Resort' for the fifth consecutive year since 2014.

The World Travel Awards, often referred to as the 'Oscars of the travel industry,' were established in 1993 to recognize exceptional achievements in global tourism and hospitality. Since opening in June 2012, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort has become a favored destination for global celebrities, political figures, and other influential personalities. Major events, including those during the 2017 APEC Summit, have been held here. The resort is known for its harmonious design that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings of Son Tra Mountain and the sea, combining artistic architecture with both traditional and modern cultural elements.

Bamboo Dailai Complex won the Gold Medal in the 'Resort Architecture' category and was awarded 'Building of the Year' by the Asian Architects Association in 2014. Located in Vinh Phuc, just 50 kilometers from Hanoi, the complex includes the Bamboo Wings restaurant and Dai Lai conference center. The restaurant, which broke ground in 2009, serves both dining and event purposes. Three years later, the Dai Lai conference center was completed. Both buildings were designed by architect Võ Trọng Nghĩa and his team. These were among the first projects in Vietnam to receive international recognition, marking a significant step in establishing Vietnam’s architectural image on the global stage. The distinctive feature of these buildings is their use of bamboo and rattan as primary construction materials, allowing the spaces to blend harmoniously with nature, offering guests a welcoming and organic atmosphere.

Surrounded by stunning natural beauty near Hanoi, Bamboo Wings is a bamboo structure resembling a bird's wings soaring over the water. Designed to function as a versatile venue for cultural events such as fashion, music, and culinary shows, the bamboo framework spans 12 meters and is self-supporting, creating a column-free space that feels open and airy. The structure blurs the boundaries between the natural surroundings, giving visitors the sensation of being immersed in nature. The roof's design channels cool breezes from the surrounding water into the building and casts shadows over the space below, creating a naturally cool environment without the need for air conditioning.