THE COASTAL CENTRAL

Nha Trang: The most picturesque coastal town and one of nicest beach resort in Vietnam.  White sands, clear skies, crystal blue sea and fine weather is all the makings for a perfect tan.  Nha Trang is just about 440 km from Ho Chi Minh City.  If you don’t like the driving, well there are also daily flights to this beautiful resort just 30 minutes flight from Ho Chi Minh.  Nhatrang’s coastline stretches over 7-km pure white sand.  Besides lying on the beach you can also visit the Oceanographic Institute, the Champa Ponagar Tower in the city.  A boat ride offshore to start your morning can be memorable visit to different islands and various coral reefs, swimming, snorkeling or even scuba diving are available.  For the seafood lovers don’t forget savor the tantalizing fresh seafood served fresh everyday in this delightful little splendor of Vietnam

Qui Nhon: It is not only a pleasant place to break overnighter for the long journey to Hue.  In this peaceful fishing seaside town you will see many Cham Towers, relics of the past Champa Civilization still standing in it’s perfect and magnificent state.

Hoi An Town: Only 30 km south of Da Nang is the ancient town of Hoi An (Faifo), one of the oldest town is South East Asia which remains untouched and unchanged from the passing of time.  This ancient quarter is one of the earliest towns of Vietnam having commercial ties with Japan in the 17th century.  Many do not know that Marco Polo has ventured through this area.  Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports of southeast asia in the 12-13^th Century.  More than perhaps any other place in the Vietnam, Hoi An retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you with mystic and au the more you explore it.  Some of the must see sites include the Phuc Kien Pagoda, Quan Cong temple, Hoi An Museum, Chua Cau pagoda, Japanese Bridge, Candy factory, Cantonese Pagoda, Phung Hung.  The Phung Hung House is one of the oldest houses in Hoi An attesting to the advanced architecture design still preserved as it was hundreds of years ago.

My Son Holy Land: My Son is the Cham intellectual and religious center; the Cham’s counterpart to the grand cities of Southeast Asia’s other Indian-influenced civilizations: Angkor (Cambodia) or Ayuthaya (Thailand).  70km Southwest of Da Nang, it is the biggest Cham ruin in Vietnam, which was constructed by King Bahadravama I, in the 4th century.  It is place for worshipping the gods of Hinduism in Champa kingdom.  Originally there were about 70 towering temples here, now there remain only 20 towers, square and built of red bricks without mortar, typical of the Champa architecture.  This is really a photographic site to enjoy, given that you are willing to put up with the hard and bumpy ride to this jewel of the Champa civilization.

Da Nang City: Area 950 sq.km; Population 800,000; average temperature 27 C.  The city is also a maritime commercial port.  The most eye catching sight of Da Nang would be ancient Cham architectures found all over the city, most typically is the Cham Museum with best collection of the Cham relics in Vietnam where 297 Cham sculpture work of sand-stone are still preserved.  The seaside of Da Nang is lined with many beautiful beaches.  The most famous and well known to many was “ China Beach” or called Non Nouc.  Other beaches include My Khe, Tien Sa, ...  Furthermore, Danang was known for marble from Marble Mountain “ Ngu Hanh Son” (The five-element mountains) creates a unique and distinctive character of this area.  It is known for the high quality craftsmanship of marble sculptures.  Also this is the site where the 1^st Marine Corp., 1^st Division landed during the Vietnam War.  The many remnants of war still exist, such as the old U.S Embassy or the old U.S military bases.  Some of the runways built by the U.S military were so well built that it is still in tact after 20+ years, but now is used by local peasants to dry rice.

Hue, The ancient Capital: Area 340 sq.km; Population 300.000; average temperature 26 C., 650 km from Han Noi. Hue is one the major tourist attraction in Vietnam.  The greatest attraction of Hue is its world-renowned treasure of architectural works in the ancient royal capital.  It comprises of the citadel, splendid imperial tombs and pagodas of the Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty starting at the beginning of the 19th century, built admits a poetic scenery on the shore of the Perfume River.  Take a boat ride on the dragon boat down the Perfume River you will understand why the Imperial Dynasty of Vietnam has picked this harmonizing surrounding to be their home.  At present, Hue has received assistance from UNESCO to preserve its cultural vestiges.  UNESCO also named it as a “World Heritage”.  In the evening you can step back in time to experience how it was to have dinner with the emperors of centuries past.  You will be prepared in costumes of royalties to attend the royal dinner.

Ho Chi Minh Trail: It is a road, but a road that stood against the McNamara electronic fence system (Or McNamara’s wall).  So, it is the road of greatest historical significance in the struggle for the reunification of the country built by shear human labor and ingenuity.   Originally it was a trail, then later it was developed into a system of trails and large roads for trucks transporting materials and munitions.  The trail extends over 20,000 km, worming along the majestic chains of Truong Son mountain range.  Along the trail, you can visit the Truong Son cemetery (a Memorial monument in commemoration of the Vietnamese that died building the trail). Aside from the old battle sights there is also the sights of the gentle and clear emerald water set inside the Phong Nha Cave.  Its beautiful colorful natural rock formation is a sight not to forget.  To see all these sights requires about 2 days 1 night stay in Dong Ha travelling from Hue.

DMZ (demilitarized zone or known as the 17^th parallel): It was a border mark that was set by the U.S to differentiate the South and the North during the Vietnam War?  The 17th parallel (17 degrees latitude) is where throughout 20 years of war (1954-1975) the Hien Luong Bridge joins the two banks of the Ben Hai River separating the South and North of Vietnam.  An area of 5 km to either sides of the demarcation line (the 17 parallel) where some of the bloodiest battles took places.   What are left now are bald areas where U.S bases were set. Vinh Moc Tunnels is also another intricate tunnel system that was dug in this area.  The scenery as you drive along the national highway 9 is superb: the minority villages, the Dakrong bridge, the wonderful view of the nearby green river valley.  It is hard to believe that there was a war that existed here over 20 years ago.  This is a full day trip requiring you depart from Hue at 6 am.