International Focus Magazine Vol. 3, #2 | Page 32

travel Vietnam WORLD HERITAGE SITES Vietnam is a country of tourism. From the north to the south, any province has its own advantages to attract visitors. Among thousands of interesting places in vietnam, there are a total of 7 world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, and these heritage sites help Vietnam a lot in earning tourists through years. Halong Bay UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1994 Halong Bay was listed in 1994 as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization. Having been a famous destination for years, this site becomes even more renowned after this world famous recognition. With 1960 islands in different sizes and an unbelievable smooth sea surface, Halong Bay has written its name to one of the worthiest places in the world to visit. An especially great time to visit Ha- long is in May when the annual Halong Bay carnival takes place. Phong Nha Ke Bang UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 2003 Phong Nha Ke Bang Park does not have a long history like Ha- long Bay but the area bears its own ace. It has the largest grotto in the world, as well with the longest underground river. More- over, Phong Nha has rocks and stones naturally set in different sizes and shapes and a wide range of living creatures inside the park. Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world, was recently discovered in this complex of natural wonders. Hue Complex of Monuments UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1993 The Complex of Hue monuments is a combination of many royal aspects from the Nguyen dynasty (the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam) with the Imperials City (Hoang Thanh Hue) including the famous High Noon Gate (Ngo Mon), many tombs of Nguyen Emperor (Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh, Khai Dinh..), monuments, temples, pagodas, and load of other interesting elements. A visit to Hue will not be complete without a day spent on appreciating the historical values of Hue citadel and tombs. 32 iF Magazine | February 2018