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Vietnam, with its 4000 years of rich culture and history, has preserved numerous cultural artifacts recognized by UNESCO. As of now, Vietnam proudly possesses 5 cultural artifacts, 2 natural heritages, and 1 mixed heritage. So, what are these cultural artifacts? Where are they located? Let's find out below.
What are cultural artifacts in Vietnam?
Cultural artifacts in Vietnam are tangible cultural assets of significant material value, passed down through generations of Vietnamese people. In its simplest form, cultural artifacts in Vietnam can be architectural structures, landscapes, historical sites, artistic works, artifacts, etc.
Thanks to its long history and vast natural resources, Vietnam proudly boasts 5 renowned cultural artifacts recognized by UNESCO.
UNESCO-recognized cultural artifacts in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the complex of Hue Imperial City, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and Ho Citadel are the 5 cultural artifacts in Vietnam acknowledged by UNESCO. Each cultural artifact possesses its own architectural beauty, urban lifestyle, and historical significance. The more you explore, the more you'll discover Vietnam's unique ethnic identity steeped in the beauty of the Far East.
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is an ancient, time-honored urban area situated on the lower reaches of the Thu Bon River in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. When we mention Hoi An Ancient Town, what comes to mind?
Is it the rows of unique yellow-painted houses, the colorful lanterns, or simply the assembly halls and temples of the Chinese community alongside traditional Vietnamese houses? With its distinctive imprints, Hoi An has become a special cultural artifact in Vietnam.
Hoi An Ancient Town is a unique architectural masterpiece, captivating millions of tourists every year (Image source: Collected)
Most of the houses in Hoi An feature a blend of architectural styles from various cultures spanning from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Thus, Hoi An Ancient Town exudes a nostalgic, romantic, and gentle charm like nowhere else.
With its remarkable values, UNESCO recognized Hoi An as a cultural artifact in Vietnam in 1999.
Hue Imperial City
Hue Imperial City is one of the historical relics - cultural artifacts in Vietnam bearing the imprint of a bygone feudal era. This grand, magnificent 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, Hien Lam Pavilion, and more.
With just a Vietnamese traditional costume, you can transform into a historical character in Hue Imperial City (Image source: Collected)
In addition, Hue Imperial City is also famous for its traditional cuisine such as Bun Bo Hue, clam rice, forbidden rice,... Today, Hue has become a renowned stopover for many tourists worldwide.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel
If Hue Imperial City is a cultural artifact in Vietnam closely associated with the Nguyen dynasty, then Thang Long Imperial Citadel is the capital city of 'a glorious era.' This place preserves the cultural beauty from the pre-Thang Long period through the Dinh - Pre-Le, Ly, Tran, Le dynasties. Having witnessed many feudal kings, Thang Long Imperial Citadel possesses unique architectural wonders.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a testament to the thousand years of Vietnamese history (Image source: Collected)
Moreover, the Confucian tradition and ancient poetry are still passed down through many historical periods. It's not an 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 'thousand years of civilization' land - Hanoi, no traveler can overlook Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
Ho Citadel
Although the Ho dynasty existed relatively briefly in Vietnamese history, this dynasty left many special marks in shaping and developing the national identity. Among them, the solid stone citadel with its unique architecture has become a masterpiece of art. It's also the only stone citadel remaining in Southeast Asia. If you have the chance to visit Thanh Hoa province, don't miss the opportunity to explore Ho Citadel!
Ho Citadel is a rare architectural structure built entirely of stone ramparts, the only one remaining in Southeast Asia (Image source: Collected)
My Son Sanctuary
While the other cultural artifacts in Vietnam mentioned above bear the essence of the Vietnamese people, My Son Sanctuary is the creation of the Cham people. My Son Sanctuary is located in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province.
The sanctuary lies deep in the valley surrounded by majestic mountains. It was once the burial site of ancient Cham kings. My Son Sanctuary boasts over 70 intricately carved temples. The unique feature of this structure is the meticulous arrangement of fired bricks, carefully 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 destination, it is nestled deep in the forest, isolated from the outside world. This only adds to its mysterious and enchanting charm.
What are Vietnam's other world heritages?
In addition to the 5 cultural artifacts 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 Landscape Complex.
World Natural Heritages are ecosystems comprising beautiful landscapes and habitats for living organisms. Halong Bay and Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park meet all the 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 stunning limestone caves.
In addition, it also possesses underground river systems and many rare and precious plant caves. It's no exaggeration to call Phong Nha - Ke Bang the 'kingdom of caves' and the 'largest geological museum in Vietnam.' This is because it gathers over a hundred different types of rocks such as stalactites, quartz, silicified limestone, and marbles.
Phong Nha Cave boasts various unique and colorful rock formations, creating a surreal and dreamy landscape (Image source: Collected)
World Natural Heritage - Halong Bay
There is no Vietnamese who has not heard of the name 'Halong Bay.' It is a small bay located on the western coast of the Gulf of Tonkin in Northeast Vietnam. Halong Bay comprises a total of 1,969 islands, with picturesque beaches and charming landscapes. Halong Bay evokes nostalgia for tourists with its magnificent natural scenery resembling a 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 up to 2,000 hectares, all created by colorful caves and limestone mountains surrounding it. Besides, 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.
Vietnam's cultural artifacts are not only the pride of the Vietnamese people but also represent Vietnam's tourism to international friends. Hopefully, through the sharing article from Mytour, travelers will gain more valuable knowledge about Vietnamese culture and history. If you have fallen in love with these Vietnamese scenic spots, call the Mytour hotline to book affordable tours to explore these heritages!
