Part of the reason that Vietnam is such a popular tourist destination is the wealth of amazing historical sites that you’ll find within the country’s borders. These offer an insight into the various chapters that make up Vietnam’s colorful past – but if you have limited time to spare, you might only be able to visit a few of them.
So, which should you prioritise? Let’s take a look at three worthwhile places to visit during your Vietnam tours.
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi
First, we should delve into Vietnam’s ancient past. In the capital, Hanoi, you’ll find a complex of impressive historic buildings that were first constructed just over a thousand years ago, and which remained a seat of government for centuries. You can find what remains of several key ruling dynasties, here, including the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties. While much of the complex was demolished by French colonialists, the impressive Doan Mon gate remains, alongside the 18th-century Hanoi Citadel.
Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi
While the French demolished some of the most important buildings in the history of Vietnam, they also constructed some significant ones, too. This prison was originally intended to house political prisoners, but it was later used for American prisoners of war, during the Vietnam War of the 1960s.
Pay a visit to the prison today, and you’ll find it mostly demolished – but a small corner survives. Housed within it is a museum that details exactly what conditions were like, and the role that the facility played during the war. There’s a particular focus on a small number of American prisoners, including Senator and US Presidential Candidate John McCain, whose flight suit is on display in the museum, alongside a photo of his rescue from the crash site.
If you want to learn about the struggles that helped shape modern Vietnam, this is a reasonable place to start.
Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City
The Viet Cong used a number of innovative tactics during the war. Most famously, they were heavily reliant on a network of tunnels, via which they could disappear at any moment and emerge in a different location. This made surprise attacks and ambushes practicable, and extremely potent. But this wasn’t the only purpose for which these tunnels were used; they also functioned as storage, shelter, and even living space.
Take a guided tour through the tunnels, in Ho Chi Minh City, and you’ll be shown exactly what the US was up against. There are traps, kitchens, and living quarters to explore – and you’ll be able to crawl through the tunnels on your hands and knees, and experience just a taste of what life was like for the Viet Cong themselves.