The iconic buildings of Vietnamese cities

Khue Van Cac (Hanoi)

In 2012, the National Assembly ratified the Law of the Capital, which recognizes Khue Van Cac – Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) as the symbol of Hanoi.

It explained that the symbol of the capital city is the typical image associated with the history and culture of Hanoi and the Vietnamese people; it expresses the aspirations, the pride of Hanoi people and Vietnamese people about a capital of culture, civilization and modernization.

Khue Van Cac was selected because it is the traditional symbol of the eagerness for learning of Hanoi people and Vietnamese people as a whole.

Khue Van Cac was built in 1070 as the first university of Vietnam, with over 700 years of operation, training thousands of talents for the country. According to ancestors, Khue Van Cac means the concentration of essence between earth and heaven and it aims to promote Confucian culture of Vietnam.

Turtle Tower (Hanoi)

The Turtle Tower is another iconic work of Hanoi, popular with domestic and foreign tourists.

Turtle Tower, also called Tortoise Tower, is a small tower in the middle of Sword Lake. There is a legend associated with the tower.

This tower stands on a little island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. It was erected in 1886 on Turtle islet, the former fishing site under King Le Thanh Tong. Before it was built, the Restored Le Dynasty (17th and 18th centuries), known as the Trinh Lords, had Ta Vong Temple built on the islet, but this left no trace with the Nguyen Dynasty.

Turtle Tower was built in the 19th century as a reminder of mystical happenings. The tower has three floors, and its ground floor was built in the 18th century. The other floors were built in 1884. This is seen as a place of sunshine, where turtles live and eggs are seen…  

Read the legend about the Hoan Kiem Lake and Turtle Tower here.

Nha Rong Wharf (HCM City)

Nha Rong Wharf – Ho Chi Minh Museum has been chosen as the symbol of HCM City.

Although it is called a wharf, Nha Rong, a name popular among locals, is not a gathering place for boats or vessels. It is considered a major icon of the city alongside Ben Thanh Market, Thong Nhat Reunification Palace and the like. It is a place of history, not only because of a great volume of historical materials available there, but also because of its own history through the ages. It is a worthwhile sight-seeing venue.

Nha Rong Wharf located at the former Saigon Commercial Port, known as Saigon Port now, used to be the headquarters of the Emperor Transport Corporation (Messageries Impériales), one of the first buildings built by the French after their capture of Saigon. It had even appeared before other famous buildings in Saigon like Ben Thanh Market, the City Hall or Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The building, whose construction took one year and a half from the middle of 1862 to the end of 1863, was a combination of both western and oriental architectures with the special image of the moon being flanked by two sacred creatures on the roof, a typical decoration at temples and pagodas in Vietnam. That was the reason why the building was called Nha Rong, or Dragon House.

In 1955, the commercial port was transferred to the former regime of Saigon to manage and repair after the French colonists had been defeated. However, the old architecture of the headquarters is still kept intact to this day.

The building is associated with late President Ho Chi Minh. The young man Nguyen Tat Thanh, the late president’s name then, left the country on June 5, 1911 to get on board the French ship Admiral Latouche Treville, starting his 30-year journey around the world for national salvation. Since then, the 150-year-old famous destination has witnessed many events and historic changes.

In September 1979, on the occasion of the late president’s 10th death anniversary, Nha Rong Wharf welcomed visitors to an exhibition on “President Ho Chi Minh” and launched a new historical relic and memorial area dedicated to the Vietnamese leader. Then, the HCMC government decided to turn the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial into the Ho Chi Minh Museum on September 20, 1982.

After being repaired twice in 1990 and 1995, the museum now has nine galleries covering an area of nearly 1,500 square meters. Up to now, there are nearly 11,400 documents, items and around 3,300 books which have been collected, preserved and displayed about late President Ho Chi Minh’s life and revolutionary career.

Besides, the museum also keeps precious materials that marked important landmarks in the history of the nation.

For instance, national declarations of independence through the thousand-year history, such as the poem “Nam Quoc Son Ha” written General by Ly Thuong Kiet in 1077, “Binh Ngo Dai Cao” by Nguyen Trai in 1428, and the Declaration of Independence by President Ho Chi Minh in 1945 that proclaimed the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam are being kept there.

In addition, the museum is also the venue for many activities such as seminars, presentations and screenings. It is also a place for meeting, learning and entertainment for organizations and unions.

Nha Rong Wharf is frequented by many visitors, locals and foreigners alike.

On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Saigon-HCMC in 1998, Nha Rong Wharf was chosen as the city’s symbol. At the same time, the city government in collaboration with France’s LYON Association equipped the museum with a spectacular lighting system. The project, inaugurated on November 21, 1998, highlighted the beauty and liveliness of the wharf in the evening.

And more is to come. The museum management board in cooperation with relevant units expects to carry out a project to recreate Saigon Port landscape in 1911 in the open air and the restoration of the French ship Admiral Latouch Trevill, with an aim to make Nha Rong Wharf an even more worthwhile sightseeing venue for locals and foreigners alike.

Hai Phong Opera House (Hai Phong)

Hai Phong Opera House was built by the French in 1904 in the old market area of An Bien ancient village and completed in 1912. It was considered the central area of the city of Hai Phong, and was also the meeting place of Europeans, Chinese and Vietnamese under the plan by the French government at the time.

It was designed according to the prototypes of Paris Opera House and architecture of medieval France. The building materials were shipped from France to Vietnam, then constructed by Vietnamese workers under the direction of a French architect.

The Opera House has 2 floors, with 100 doors and windows, corridors, lobby, mirror room, canteen and a main stage with the 400 seats. Auditorium was designed with vaulted ceiling and decorated with flowers and names of famous European

artists like: Mozart, Beethoven, Molière … Outside the theater is the large square, facing the garden and fountain.

In the period of French colonial, the Opera House is the center of politics and culture of the rich people and French. At that time, only the troupes from France or the famous troupes in country were allowed to represent in Opera House. Today the Opera House is not only the place occurring the major holidays, ceremonies and cultural activities, but the plaza is also the site of important events, especially the moment welcoming the New Year’s Eve in the city, contributing to enriching the cultural and spiritual life of the people.

It is one of three opera houses built in Vietnam during the French colonial period. The two others are the Hanoi Opera House and HCM City Opera House.

Dragon Bridge (Da Nang)

The 666m Dragon Bridge, which spans the Han River in Da Nang City, serves as a connector between the Da Nang International Airport and the area’s most popular beaches and downtown area. This spectacular example of engineering, which is shaped like a dragon and literally breathes fire, was inaugurated on March 29, 2013.

Construction of the bridge began in 2009 and cost a reported US$85 million. The sloping steel arch that makes up the dragon’s body is the longest structure of its kind in Vietnam, measuring a total of 568 m and weighing more than 2,000 tons. The main stretch of the 37.5 m wide bridge is bookended by two 128 m side sections.

To create the illusion of an enormous dragon soaring through the sky, a dragon’s head is perched on one end of the structure, and a tail on the other.

With unique aesthetic and creative characteristics, the bridge won several international architectural awards.

After opening to traffic in March 2013, the Dragon Bridge has become one of Da Nang’s main tourist attractions and symbols.

Ninh Kieu Wharf (Can Tho)

This is a popular place for tourists when visiting Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta.

The wharf looks over the charming and peaceful Hau Giang River, near the city’s center. In the past, Ninh Kieu was once a river wharf situated at Can Tho Market. At that time, there were many boats and ships traveling to and fro every day at Ninh Kieu Wharf. There were lines of poplar trees which covered the wharf and prevented storms; that is why the wharf was once called Hang Duong (line of poplar trees). Hang Duong wharf was expanded and upgraded as the purchase of goods gradually developed. Then the wharf became a tourist attraction.

Tram Huong (Agarwood) Tower (Nha Trang)

Tram Huong Tower is considered a symbol of Nha Trang city. It has unique and exotic architecture. From far away, it appears to be a lotus bud shining under the sun. It was put into operation on December 22, 2008 with the main purpose to introduce pictures and specialties of Khanh Hoa province to tourists.

Ngo Mon Gate (Hue)

Ngo Mon, also known as the Gate of Noon, is the main gate to Hue Imperial City. This is the historic symbol associated with the heyday of Hue. Constructed in 1833 in the traditional Nguyen style under the rule of Emperor Minh Mang, it was used by the sovereign as an observation point for troop movements and ceremonies.

The gate is divided into two levels: the stone and brick fortress-like base structure, and the more elaborate, palace-like upper level.

The ground level has five entrances, of which the centre one was always reserved for the monarch’s use only. The two, slightly smaller, side entrances were reserved for mandarins, soldiers and horses. The two small arched entrances on the side were for the rest and commoners.

The upper level consists of a grand pavilion, called the Five-Phoenix Pavilion. From the main hall, the emperor would watch troop movements and his subjects bringing homage. The pavilion’s roof is decked in imperial yellow, glazed ceramic roof tiles. On the roof tiles are various animals and creatures to ward off evil. The main hall is flanked by two side pavilions, which were reserved for members of the court.

Monument of Victory in Buon Me Thuot City

Victory Monument is located in the center of Buon Me Thuot City. It was built in 2010, on the 35th anniversary of Mau Than victory that liberated the city. The monument features a Vietnamese heroic mother, representing the heroic and undaunted spirit of the people of Vietnam through the historic period.

Flagpole in Nam Dinh

Nam Dinh flagpole, recognized as a national historical, cultural relic, is an icon of this northern city.

Vung Tau Lighthouse

The lighthouse is considered the symbol of the coastal city of Vung Tau. Built in 1862, this is one of the oldest lighthouses of Southeast Asia.

The iconic buildings of Vietnamese cities

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