74 Best Sights in The Central Coast, Vietnam

The Royal Library, a wooden structure east of the Forbidden Purple City, is one of the few largely intact buildings in the Imperial City. The delicately carved architecture has survived, although there are no books or other library-like objects left. 

For the best panoramic views of the city and the coastline beyond, forget the expensive skybars and instead take a ride on the Sun Wheel in city-central Asia Park. Scaling 115 meters (377 feet, it's the 10th biggest in the world) and designed by the studio of famous U.S. architect Bill Bensley, the Sun Wheel is a great way to view the geography of Vietnam's fastest-growing city. Beside the all-time favorite Ferris wheel, there are other entertainment spots worth trying.

  If you are in Danang on either a Friday or Saturday night, time your ride to coincide with the fire-breathing display at the Dragon Bridge at 9 pm.

Across the "Water" Mountain of the Marble Mountains, you'll see the tiny but charming Tam Thai Tu Pagoda, where monks still live. The pagoda is dedicated to the bodhisattva Phat Di Lac, and was rebuilt more than 400 years ago by King Minh Mang of the Nguyen Dynasty. Tam Thai offers a serene view of the landscape below, especially during early morning.

Resembling Hoi An's Japanese Bridge, this covered walkway was built in 1776 and today houses a shrine to the local Tran Thi Dao, who bequeathed her life savings for its construction. Childless, she offered her funds to the Thanh Toan Village for a new bridge to connect villagers on both sides of the canal. In 1925, Emperor Khai Dinh had an altar set up in her honor in the center of the bridge, which is still used by villagers who come to show their respect. Located 8 km (5 miles) outside Hue, this bridge is reached by way of the peaceful countryside, making it a pleasant escape from the bustling city. On the far side of the bridge is a small museum displaying villagers' used farming equipment.

If you visit independently, park your bike at the market 100 meters from the bridge.

Overlooking the Perfume River, this pagoda constructed in 1601 under Lord Nguyen Hoang has impressive Buddha statues, a seven-tiered monument, a two-ton bronze bell, and a marble turtle dating back to 1715. Take note of the engraved graffiti covering the turtle's shell, most of which dates back to the 1950s, when refugees from northern Vietnam inscribed notes of their whereabouts. As Hue's oldest pagoda, this structure still functions as a monastery. Housed inside the grounds is the Austin car once used by Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc, who lit himself on fire in protest of the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963. The best way to reach this official symbol of Hue is by boat up the Perfume River.

For now, Thuan An Beach, which lies out on a peninsula 14 km (8 miles) from central Hue, has only one beach resort, leaving an unspoiled, long, sandy stretch of coconut- and casuarina-tree-lined beach all but empty. In the summer months the tranquil turquoise sea and gentle breeze make for the most idyllic break from the city, while in winter it makes for wildly romantic walks, with scatterings of family temples, fishing villages, and Vietnam's largest lagoon to explore. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: walking; swimming; sunset.

For much of the year Tinh Tam Lake is hardly worth the bother, but during the spring and summer months this little lake in the citadel comes alive with lotus flowers that cover it entirety. Do as the emperors once did and walk across one of the bridges to the island for a brief respite. The best way to see it (and find it) is by asking your driver to include it in a cyclo tour of the citadel.

Dong Khanh was a despised puppet emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty who died during the French rule at the age of 24. This tomb complex, originally built for his father, took over 35 years and four kings to complete. The result is a unique fusion of traditional imperial Vietnamese and colonial design.

Emperor Dong Khanh's final resting place was built near Ngung Hy Temple, an elaborate triple temple complex typical of the citadel. Look for the well-preserved lacquer art and Chinese calligraphy that adorn the walls, and the illustrations featuring the 24 filial sons and daughters taken from the Chinese story Nhi Thap Tu Hieu. The surrounding area is the colonial-style graveyard that was constructed between 1916 and 1923.

When his beloved Queen Thua Thien passed away in 1814, Emperor Gia Long, the founder of Nguyen Dynasty, built a grave for her at this magnificent location surrounded by 42 hills and mountains. As a symbol of their love, he then had his grave built less than a foot away from hers. Apart from commemorating Emperor Gia Long and his first queen, this 7,100-acre compound also serves as the eternal home of his second queen, Emperor Minh Mang’s mother, plus his mother and other family members. It is a delightful surprise to run into the beautiful rice fields scattering this solemn tomb complex. A 5-km (3.1-mile) stone-paved lane snakes around the tombs, pine hills, and the Long Lake, allowing guests to have a leisurely walk or cycle in this scenic grand tomb complex. You can rent a bicycle with the price from 10,000d/hour at the ticket booth.

A Hue classic, the Tomb of Minh Mang, emperor from 1820 to 1841, was completed in 1843 by his successor. His tomb is one of the most palatial, with numerous pavilions and courtyards in a beautiful pine forest. The burial site is modeled after the Ming tombs in Beijing. Sculptures of royal officers, elephants, and horses line the route to the burial site. The mountainous backdrop and crumbling structure make it one of the most eerie, yet beautiful, tombs to visit.

This elegantly designed house was built in 1802 by Tran Tu Nhuc, a 19th-century Mandarin and Chinese ambassador, as a place of worship for the Tran family's deceased ancestors. It's packed with interesting antiquities. In the morning, light floods down through a glass tile in the roof, illuminating the family altar that stands behind three sliding doors—the left for men and the right for women. The central door (designed for deceased ancestors to return home) is opened only at Tet and other festivals; it's an architectural touch common for older residential houses throughout the country.

The altar houses a box with pictures and names of dead relatives, a 250-year-old book that records the Tran family history, and a bowl of Chinese coins representing yin and yang—toss one for good luck. Tours are given in English by members of the Tran family.

Stretching over 202 acres, 27 km (8 miles) northwest of Dong Ha, this somber memorial site marks the final resting place for over 10,000 Vietnamese soldiers and civilians who lost their lives defending and maintaining the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the Vietnam War.

Each tomb is marked with the word "liet si" ("martyr"); some are adorned with pictures or sculptures of the deceased, and others lay empty, a mark of respect to one of the 300,000 soldiers that remain missing in action to this day. Along the way to Truong Son you'll pass Con Thien Firebase, an old French bunker located 1.5 km (1 mile) down a dirt track to the east of the road, barely visible through the rubber plantation that has taken over the area.

One of Hue's most beautiful and peaceful pagodas is accessed via a junglelike path off the road, past a half-moon-shape pool. Built in 1843, the temple houses a large Buddha and it is the root pagoda of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. It's a good place for quiet meditation. The monks live in simple rooms off to the side and hold services several times a day. At the far corner of the pagoda is a cemetery for the Nguyen Dynasty's eunuchs who made contribution to building and renovating the pagoda.

Local villagers built the 2-km-long (1½-mile-long) Vinh Moc Tunnels during the early 1960s to escape American bombing. The tunnels were later used by the North Vietnamese army to transport goods to Con Co Island. Less claustrophobic than the ones at Cu Chi near Ho Chi Minh City, these tunnels are a testament to the determination and ingenuity of the Vietnamese people under extreme circumstances. Guides are available at the small museum on-site; we suggest grabbing one to get the most out of your visit.

If you have time, head down to the beautiful beach that runs along the eastern perimeter of the tunnels.