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Vietnam, with a cultural and historical legacy spanning 4000 years, has preserved numerous cultural artifacts of Vietnam recognized by UNESCO. Currently, the nation proudly boasts 5 cultural artifacts, 2 natural sites, and 1 mixed heritage. What are these cultural artifacts? Where can they be found? Explore the details with Mytour below.
What defines cultural artifacts in Vietnam?
Cultural artifacts in Vietnam represent culturally significant tangible assets passed down through generations of Vietnamese. These may include architectural marvels, landscapes, historical relics, artworks, and artifacts.
With its rich history and vast natural resources, Vietnam proudly boasts 5 renowned cultural heritage sites recognized by UNESCO.
UNESCO-recognized Cultural Heritage Sites in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the complex of Hue Imperial City, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Ho Dynasty Citadel are the 5 cultural heritage sites in Vietnam acknowledged by UNESCO. Each cultural heritage site possesses its own architectural beauty, urban lifestyle, and historical significance. The more you explore, the more you'll discover Vietnam's unique ethnic diversity imbued with the essence of the Far East.
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is an ancient city situated along the lower Thu Bon River in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. When we mention Hoi An Ancient Town, what comes to mind?
Is it the unique yellow-painted houses, colorful lanterns, or simply the Chinese assembly halls and temples nestled among traditional Vietnamese houses? With its distinctive features, Hoi An has become a cultural heritage site in Vietnam that stands out.
Hoi An Ancient Town is a unique ancient architectural structure, impressively attracting millions of tourists each year (Image Source: Collected)
Most of the houses in Hoi An feature a blend of architectural styles from various cultures spanning the 17th to 19th centuries. Therefore, Hoi An Ancient Town exudes a serene, poetic, and gentle beauty that is truly unique.
With its remarkable values, UNESCO recognized Hoi An as a cultural heritage site in Vietnam in 1999.
Hue Imperial City
Hue Imperial City is one of Vietnam's historical relics - a cultural heritage site in Vietnam bearing the mark of a bygone feudal era. This majestic architectural complex was built by the Nguyen dynasty from the early 19th to the mid-20th century. Visitors to Hue Imperial City can admire famous structures such as the Forbidden Purple City, the Royal Tombs, the Temple of Literature, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Hien Lam Pavilion.
Simply by wearing Vietnamese traditional costume, you can transform into a historical figure in Hue Imperial City (Image Source: Collected)
In addition, Hue Imperial City is also renowned for its traditional cuisine such as Hue beef noodle soup, baby clam rice, forbidden purple rice,... Nowadays, Hue has become a famous stopover for many tourists around the world.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel
If Hue Imperial City is a cultural heritage site in Vietnam associated with the Nguyen dynasty, then Thang Long Imperial Citadel is the capital city of a glorious past. This place preserves cultural beauty from the pre-Thang Long period through the Dinh - Early Le, Ly, Tran, Le dynasties. Having experienced many feudal reigns, Thang Long Imperial Citadel boasts unique architectural wonders.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a witness to a thousand years of Vietnamese history (Image Source: Collected)
Furthermore, the Confucian tradition and ancient poetry are still passed down through various historical periods. It is no exaggeration to say that Thang Long Imperial Citadel is the cradle of Vietnamese culture, the essence of the Vietnamese people. Once you set foot in the land of a thousand years of civilization - Hanoi, no traveler can overlook Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
Ho Citadel
Although the Ho dynasty existed relatively briefly in Vietnamese history, this era left behind many distinctive marks in shaping and developing the national identity. Among them, the sturdy stone citadel with its unique architecture has become a masterpiece of art. It is also the only remaining stone citadel in Southeast Asia. If you have the opportunity to visit Thanh Hoa province, don't miss the chance to explore Ho Citadel!
Ho Citadel is a rare architectural structure built entirely of stone ramparts, the only one still existing in Southeast Asia (Image Source: Collected)
My Son Sanctuary
While the cultural heritage sites in Vietnam mentioned above all reflect the Vietnamese identity, My Son Sanctuary showcases the creativity of the Cham people. Located in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province.
The sanctuary is nestled deep in the valley surrounded by majestic mountains. It was once the burial place of the ancient Champa kings. My Son Sanctuary boasts over 70 meticulously carved temples. A special feature of this site is the precise arrangement of baked bricks, meticulously stacked on top of each other.
My Son Sanctuary is a unique artistic masterpiece of the Cham people (Image Source: Collected)
Together with Hue Imperial City and Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary has brought three world cultural heritage sites to the Central region of Vietnam. Although My Son Tower is a famous tourist spot, it is located deep in the forest, isolated from the outside world. This only adds to its mysterious and enchanting allure.
What are Vietnam's other world heritages?
In addition to the 5 cultural heritage sites in Vietnam mentioned above, Vietnam also possesses 2 world natural heritages and 1 mixed heritage recognized by UNESCO. They are Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province and Halong Bay in Quang Ninh province. And the only mixed heritage in Vietnam is the Trang An scenic landscape complex.
World natural heritage is an ecosystem comprising beautiful landscapes, habitats for living organisms. Halong Bay and Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park meet all criteria to be recognized by UNESCO as world natural heritages.
World Natural Heritage - Phong Nha - Ke Bang
This is a vast national park located in Bo Trach and Minh Hoa districts, Quang Binh province. Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is a famous natural heritage of Vietnam with 300 magnificent limestone caves.
In addition, it also owns underground rivers and many rare plant caves. It's no exaggeration to call Phong Nha - Ke Bang the 'kingdom of caves' and the 'largest geological museum in Vietnam' because it gathers over hundreds of different types of stones such as stalactites, quartz, silica-containing limestone, and marble.
Phong Nha Cave boasts various unique and colorful stones, creating a mystical and dreamy landscape (Image Source: Collected)
World Natural Heritage - Halong Bay
No Vietnamese has never heard of the name 'Halong Bay'. It is a small bay located on the western coast of the Gulf of Tonkin in northeastern Vietnam. Halong Bay comprises a total of 1,969 islands, enchanting beaches, and romantic scenery. Halong Bay evokes nostalgia among tourists with its majestic natural landscape resembling a mythical fairyland.
Mixed Cultural and Natural Heritage: Trang An Landscape Complex
In addition to the 2 world natural heritages mentioned above, Vietnam also possesses the only mixed heritage in Southeast Asia. That is the Trang An Landscape Complex. The Trang An World Heritage Site is located in Ninh Binh province. This complex covers an area of 2,000 hectares, all of which are created by colorful caves and limestone mountains. Additionally, the Trang An Landscape Complex also owns cultural relics such as temples and pagodas.
In 2014, the Trang An Landscape Complex was officially honored by UNESCO as a world cultural and natural heritage, simply known as a mixed world heritage site.
Vietnam's cultural heritage is not only the pride of the Vietnamese people but also represents the image of Vietnamese tourism to international friends. Through the sharing article from Mytour, tourists will hopefully gain more insightful knowledge about Vietnamese culture and history. If you have fallen in love with these Vietnamese landmarks, call the Mytour hotline to book affordable tours to explore these heritages!
