From Ho Chi Minh City, travel along National Highway 13 for about 35 kilometers, cross So Sao Crossroads in Binh Duong Province and you can’t miss Dai Nam Tourist World. 

The park, which covers 450 hectares and cost about VND3 trillion (US$187.5 million) to build, is one of the biggest tourism-cultural-entertainment complexes in the country.

The project began construction in 1999, with two phases.

The first phase (1999-2007) covered a staggering 261 hectares while the second phase (2007-2010), still underway, is developing the remaining land.

When fully complete, Dai Nam Tourist World will offer visitors a complete picture of the nation’s natural beauty, with seas, lakes, rivers and mountains.

Attractions there include Bao Son Mountain, Bao Thap Tower, Dai Nam Quoc Tu Temple, Dai Nam Citadel, and Mini-Vietnam.

Dai Nam Quoc Tu Temple, which has been completed, covers 5,000 square meters.

It was mainly made of wood and stone.

Its three-story central section is for worshipping Buddha, Hung Kings and late President Ho Chi Minh.

All the statues of these figures are gilt with 24K gold.

Vietnamese visitors to the temple may be able to follow their ancestry by reading the worshiping tablet containing 54 ethnic groups and more than 1,000 lineages.

Rising from Bao Son Mountain is the nine-story Bao Thap Tower.

The structure with carvings of different styles is a place to worship gods, kings and lords and war martyrs.

Meanwhile, Mini-Vietnam, which depicts the achievements of 64 provinces/cities and 54 ethnic groups, Dai Nam Citadel (13 kilometers in length), Rong Xanh Cave (30,000 sq. m.) and World in a Window (with replicas of places and wonders from around the world) are still under construction.

Entertainment facilities and accommodation with about 5,000 rooms are also under construction.

At present, Dai Nam Tourist World is open for groups of visitors.

Dai Nam Tourist World

Hamlet 1, Hiep An Commune, Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province

Reported by Kim