Vietnam’s diverse natural environment, geography, hístory, and culture ảe convenient for the development of tourism .Vietnam hás all long coastlines, forests, flat paddy fields and mountains ưith beautiful caves. As well, Vietnam has a history and culture of ancient architecture , religions and cults, and traditional festivals. Vietnam is the neighbour of China to the north, facing the west borders (on) Laos and Cambodia, and to the east is reaching the Pacific Ocean . It is located in the centre òf South East Asia . Vietnam’s territory stretches from Lung Cu village ( Ha Giang province ) to the north to Mui Rach Tau cape ( Ca Mau province) to the south. In addition , the goverment has some control over a group of islands and archipelagos , including Hoang Sa and Truong Sa . In area, Vietnam’s mainland covers 330,991 square kilometres.
Based on the archaeollogical discoveries made at Do Mountain, the theory suggested that life in Vietnam might begin 300000 years ago. Anyway, it history was was officially certified to be formed 4000 years ago ưhen Vietnam was supposedly founded by the Hung Kings. It was then named Van Lang. The climate covers the tropics in the south creating the rainy season(that begins mid-June and ends mid-December) and the dry season(occuring between mid-December and mid-June of the following year), and the monon in the north, forming the rainy season from mid-May to mid-September and the warm, dry season from mid-October to mid –March.Typhoons coming together with floods, at times , bring havoc to many part of central Vietnam. Travelling from north to south and vice versa, tourists will find many interesting places alongside beatiful beaches, where, all year round, they can ẹnoy their stay and the charm of the seaside. There are more than 20 beatiful beaches along the coastline, such as Tra Co, Ha Long,Do Son, and Sam Son in the north and China Beach (Da Nang), Nha Trang, Vung Tau and Ha Tien in the south . Best of all , tourists are deeply impressed with the four world cultural heritage sites;Ha Long Bay, Hue Royal Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Holyland, recognized by UNESCO.

People and culture
In 1999, Vietnam’s population reached 76.324,753. More than eighty percent is ethnic-vietnamese( also known as the Viet ỏ the Kinh), 2% ís ethnic-Chinese, and the rest is made up of Khmers, Chám and the other ethnic minorities. The Vietnamese culture originated from the Red River Delta and the Mekong Delta where Vietnamese people cultivated paddy fields .They led a natural and simple farm life . They were close and helpful. This lifestyle has remained unchanged in the countryside. Vieynamese personalities may diFfer somewhat from one region to another. For example, northerners are characterized as talkative , ceremonious and stong-willed ; Southerners are gracious , leisurely and extroverted . People from Central Vietnam are cónsidered honest, friendly, introverted and củrious. Under the inference of Cònfucianism, great respect for elders is always shown by younger people. Diversity is the main characteristic of religion in Vietnam. Exact statistics on the size of various Vietnamese religious group are not available ; however ,in one survey in which Vietnamese âdults were asked about their religion, more than 45% identified themselves as Buddhis, 15% Catholitth and protestant, 0,05% Islamic and the other percentage as Cònfucianist , Taoist and ireligious . The majority of the population belongs to a pagoda, Buddhist temple, ỏr church.

Hue – historical & cultural relics and tourist attactions

Hue is located on the central coast òf Vietnam , 108 kilometres north of DaNang and midway between HaNoi and Ho Chi Minh city. In the 19th century it was the cultural and intellectual centre and home to the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty
Although Hue has substained much devastion from natural disasters and wars , most òf the ancientcity’s structures remain intact. As a former capital city, Hue is relatively young since the Nguyen Dynasty( 1802-1945) only ended about 60 years ago. Of the ancient capitals in Vietnam, Hue is the only one whose complex’s architecture is nearly the same as it was , This complex of the monarchical capitals cónsists of walls, palaces, and royal tombs, Cónsequently , Hue is officially listed in Vietnam’s most valued national treasures in térms of history and hẻritage . In 1981, àfter visiting Hue, Mr Âmadou-Mahtar- M’s Bow, then Dirẻctor General of UNESCO proclaimed Hue tobe “ a masterpiece of urban poetry”. On Dêcember 11, 1983, UNESCO’s Director General, Federico Mayor acknowledged the complex oF monuments of Hue tobe a world Cultural Heritage. With the population òf 350000 Hue is not a particularly large city. But it full òf histỏrical attractions
Hue is famous for its rainy climate. The rainy season lasts longer from May to Dêcember, and even dủring the so-called dry season it regularly rains . There is a lot for tourists and holiday-mảrkers to discover in Hue and its surroundings. The imperial walled city known as “ The Forbidden Purple City” is a major and quite unique landmark in Indochina. The Citadel and Thien Mu pagoda’s special architecture is what appeals dêeply to vísitors. Making a boat trip down the River Huong is a “múst” for many tourists to experience the romantic and picturesque scenery of Hue, which has been admired for ages. The ancient royal city
The ancient imperial city òf Hue comprises a moated outer Citadel (kinh thành) the Imperial enclosure and the Forbidden . The moated outer Citadel, which was built on the area of 520 hectares in 1805, is surrounded by 2 metre-thick brick walls . It was designed to protect the royal insides from enemy’s attacks. The Imperial Enclose , a square citadel ( called the Great Inner Citadel or a citadel-within-a citadel) with a perimeter 2,450 m, surrounded by five-metre high walls, symbolizes the history of Hue in particular and of Vietnam in general. The Imperial Enclosure (Dai Noi) was built in 1805 in imitation of the Royal Palace in Beijing. The Imperial Enclosure has Ngo Mon ( the Noon Gate), Thai Hoa Palace, Can Chanh Palace , the Forbidden Purple City, the tombs of the seven Nguyen Kings, and the worshipping site of Nam Giao. A small inside area of about 300 metres long to each side was the forbidden ground called the Forbidden Purple City, which only the emperor and his immediate court were allowed to enter. Unfortunately, the buildings inside the Imperial Enclosure were partially destroyed by the severe attacks carried out by American troops in 1968.

The tombs and other sites along the river Huong

Except for Bao Dai, who went to France after he abdicated power to the Japanese, each of the thirteen Nguyen emperors was burried in the Valley of the Dead along the River Huong . Designed as places of rest and chosen by astrologers , each of the tombs has three parts . One, a nearly building houses personal objects where a funerary tablet is dedicated to his soul. And three, tall monoliths are inscribed with each emperor’s imperial deeds and accomplishments . Many of the tombs also have a vast courtyard and stone figures of elephants, saddled horses, and soldiers, as well as civil and military servants , all secluded in vast and mysterious gardens.

The royal tombs of the emperors- tu duc tomb Spread about the valley, each tomb is only a few miles from Hue, and many of them can be visited in a day by boat. Pham Quynh, one of Vietnam’s celebrated writers described the tombs as ‘ the patient and inspired work of the artist whose intention was to colour the countryside to awaken the awaiting soul.” The most impressive and well maintained are the tombs of Tu Duc, Minh Mang, and Khai Dinh, which remind of Vietnam’s past with their elegant architecture and nobble grandeur. Tu Duc tomb Emperor Tu Duc had the longest reign in the Nguyen Dynasty, dying in 1883 after 35 years on the throne . Built between 1864-1867, his tomb includes 50 monuments surrounded by a wall approximately a mile long . He was an expert in eastern philosophy, history, and literature, leaving behind 4,000 versesof poetry. Being a romantic, Tu Duc worked throughout his life to construct a poetical world for his eternal life after death. Architectural elements of his tomb are decorated with poems and verses , all designed to blend with the natural setting of the landscape.

Minh Mang and Khai Dinh Tombs Minhh Mang Tomb The Nguyen Dynasty reached its height during the reign of emperor Minh Mang (1820-1840). His tomb was built for four years ( between 1840 and 1843). Ten thousand soldiers and artisans worked on 40 monuments of various sizes, which are encompassed by oval shaped wall. A walkway bisects the interior of the complex into two equal halves which include the Salutation Court, Stele House, Sung An Temple, Minh Lau Pavillion, and the tomb itself in the far back. Khai Dinh tomb Emperor Khai Dinh (1916-1925) ruled Vietnam for 9 years, but his romb took 11 years to complete. Under his rule, Western culture and its influence began to sleep into Vietnam; infact he visited France in 1922. Of all the tombs, Khai Dinh’s least resembles oriential architecture . Built of concrete, it has a slate roof, a wrought iron gate, and electric lights.Throughout the interior of the yomb , though, Eastern influences abound. Here you will find coloured glass and ceramic mosaics of Vietnamese motifs hand- painted ceilings, much like those in western churches, but adorned with dragons and clounds.

A popular tourist destination The ancient town of Hoi An lies on the River Thu Bon, more than 30 kilometres to the south of Da Nang. Occupied by the early western , Hoi An was one of the major old-time commercial ports of Southeast Asia in the 16th Century . Hoi An is famous for old temples, pagodas, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets ; their original structures have remained almost intact. The houses, temples and pagodas were all built of rate wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with famous Chinese characters. Their pillars were also carved with ornamental designs. Tourists can visit the relics of Sa Huynh and Cham civilizations. They can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the River Thu Bon , cua Dai Beach etc.In recent years , Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam. Importantly, the Commitee of the World Heritage of UNESCO officially certified Hoi An as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

The history of Hoi An From the 2 nd and 10th centuries , Hoi An was the principal port of the seafering Champa Kingdom, a former powerful society that embraced Indian culture and celebrated it through sculpture. Champa, encompassing most of southern Vietnam, survied for more than 1000 years , withstanding attacks carried out by the Chinese, Vietnamese , Khmers and Mongols. In the 15th century, the Viet from the north pushed the Cham people south and opened the port to foreign traders. Japanese , Chinese and Portuguese merchants had permanent settlements here by the early 1500s . When the Minh Dynasty was overthrown in 1644, many Chinese mandarins expatriated to Hoi An . They built beatiful assembly halls and harbour-side homes. For the next 200 years , Hoi An ( then known as Faifo) flourished. Prosperous merchants built shops, bridges and temples. Hoi An ‘s unique architecture was formed from the mingling of the Chinese, Japenese and Portuguese styles. During the 16th and 17th centuries, this was the most important port for southern Vietnam.Giant four-mastered junks and majestic square riggers plying the china-India trade route regularly called at Hoi An. Here they anchored, sometimes for months, waiting for the monsoon to shift homeward again. When the harbor silted up in the 1800s , a new port was built on the Han River in Danang. Time came to a halt in Hoi An , and the world passed it by.

A modern night life off

In a wood-fronted shop stands a woman in traditional dress who is engulfed in the light of oval- shaped lanterns made from bamboo. Outside sut two old men that are absorbed in playing Chinese chess by candle-light. These scenes of the 17th or 18th century reappear in Hoi An , a quiet and peaceful riverside town. On the 14th of every lunar month modernity seems to be replaced by mostalgia. On such an evening the whole ancient town is bathed in the warm glow of coloured slk, glass and paper lanterns instead of street lamps and fluorescent lights . In those days, Vietnamese people made lamps lit by oil. Later, variety of lanterns were introduced from Chinese and Japennese traders.

Foods and a Hoi An speciality Hoi An’s cuisine is a blend of the stir-fry and noodles of the north and the spicier dishes of the south. We can order a cake eaten with shredded duck, shrimps and spices; rice paper wrapped shrimp spring rolls with chilli- spiced peanut sauce ;stir-fried vegetables and two bowls of “Cao Lau” .Prices on the menu are written in English , French and Vietnamese. The most expensive item is US$3. Most are under US$1.50. “Cao lau” is a Hoi An speciality , served in a steaming bowl of flat, yellow rice noodles in a broth flavored with citron , ginger, anise, basil and mint. The dish is eaten with crisp bean sprouts, croutons, fried onions and slices of pork or, optionally, chicken or duck topping it . Served with edible rice paper, it’s a delightful dish at any time of day.With two large BGI beers( a good brew from Danang) the bill is just US $10. “Cao lau” is not widely known because it seems to have been confined to Hoi An . According to the local residents, nearly 100 years ago a young man named Le Don immigrated to Hoi An from La Tho village, Dien Ban Distiict, Quang Nam Province. Here he opened an exclusive restaurant that served “Cao lau” to overseas traders . This original dish for the restaurant was made in accordance with Le Don’s recipe. The three main ingredients , used to make this dish , are rice flour ,’ nhun’ and broth .The rice must be soaked in an ash solution (making the solution is a secret) before being ground . The soaked rice will be yelllowish. It is cooked and stirred until it is a bit dense.Then it is spread into 3-4mm thick pieces and steamed. Now the Trung Bac and the Ba Canh are considered the best “cau lau” resteurants in Hoi An. It is said that the Ba Le well water, Cham islet ash and Tra Que vegetables themselves from the distinctive flavours for the dish.

CHAPTER FOUR MY SON HOLYLAND
Lesson one

Considered the biggest relics of Cham civilization in Viet Nam. My son is old religious and intellectual site located in a valley surrounded by mountains, 68 kilmeters southwest of Da Nang. It is developed in the late 4th century and it was in use until the 13th century, during the Champa kingdom which prospered in the central and south Viet Nam from 2 nd - 15th centuries. My son wa bombed by the American Air durring the war.At present about 20 of the 68 origina structures remain nearly intact. Theu ear mainly temples Nd towers that were firmly built with great efforts of red sticky brick, which remains a mystery of Cham people’s invention, to reflect the divinity of the king.

LESSON TWO

The prime foundation of the architectural complex was believed tobe a wooden temples to worship the siva Bhadresvera genie. A theory suggested that the temple b e burned to the ground in the late 16th century. Its historical mysteries have gradually been uncovered by archaeologists and reseachers. What was engraved on the stone stelae together with some information gathered about the royal dynasties have proved My Son tobe the most important tobe Hollyland of the Cham from the late 4th to the 15th centuries. For many centuries, the Cham built Lip, a mutually linked architectural cmplex, of bakedd bricked and sandstone. The main temple worships the Linga- yoni, who represent great invention. Beside the main tower (Kalan) are several sub- towers worshipping Genies of deceased kings. Althoough the towers have been ruined with time and by war, their sculpural and arrchitectural remnants still reflect the style and history of the art of Cham people. Their masterpieces mark a glorious time for the architecture and culture of the Cham, and of Southeast Asian in general. Each temple worshipping a genie or a king has its own impressive architecture that characterizeds a particular dynasty. All of the Cam towers were built on a quadrate foundation and each comprises three parts: the solid tower base, symbolizing the word of human beings; the tower body, representing the world of spirits; and the tower top bilt in the shape of the man offering flowers and fruits or of trees, birds, animals,ect., characterizing what is close to the spirits and human beings.

LESSON THREE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND MYSTERIES

According to many reseachers on the ancient Cham towers, the architecture of the Cham towers at My son Santuary was formed by the convergence of different styles, including the ancient styles of the 7th- 8th centuries, Hoa Lai style of the 8th -9th century,Don Dung style from the mmid-9th century, My son and My Son - Binh Dinh styles. Among the remnants of the complex excavated in 1898, a 24 metre high tower was founded almost intact in Thap Chua area and coded AI by archaoelogists and reseachers. This tower bdy is high and delicate with a system of pillars; six sub- towers surround the tower. This two- storey tower looks like a lotus flower. The top of the upper layer was madeof sandstone and carved elephant and lion designs. In the lower layer, the walls were carved with fairies or sea monster and man riding elephants. Unfortunately, the tower was destroyed by the US bombing raids in 1969, Several statues of females dancers, genies and imagined animals worshiped by the Champeople together with artifacts (used) for their commual activities, which have been collected and displaywd in the Cham Architecture Museum in Da Nang city, have made some more mysteries unvieled . These are what almost represent the sculptural work of the Cham. What’s more, they are vivid proofs of the history of a nationality living within the Viet Nam community.