Dai Nam Van Hien Tourist Complex, Binh Duong

Dai Nam Van Hien, a huge tourism complex in the southern Vietnam, was opened on September 11^th, 2008 in Binh Duong Province. This tourism site was constructed on 450 hectare plot of land, some 40 km from Ho Chi Minh city. 

The Paradise now includes the Dai Nam Van Hien Temple, an entertainment site, zoo, shopping area, hotels, and cuisine sites. The 12.5 ha open zoo is part of the 450 ha Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Entertainment Complex. The park is home to rhinos, white lions, tigers, elephants, bears, ostriches, chamois, zebras, gnus, squirrel-monkeys, and foxes, many of which are not typically found in Viet Nam.

Highlights of Dai Nam Van Hien Tourist Complex

Upon arriving at the complex, you first see the Dai Nam Van Hien Temple, one of the most important structures in the park. The temple contains historical exhibits and is used as a place of worship. Exhibits of Vietnam’s various dynasties from Ngo to Nguyen are also on display here. 

People decorated Dai Nam Van Hien with figures of four supernatural creatures – a dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix – and of flowers and plants – lotus, apricots, orchids, daisies and bamboo. It is said that this temple can hold about 3000 people inside. 

Near the Dai Nam Van Hien lies the artificially created Bao Son Mountain Range and the nine-storey tower, Bao Thap. The five mountains symbolise the five elements of the universe: Kim, Moc, Thuy, Hoa, Tho (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth).

The Bao Son Range is a rough copy of the Ngu Hanh Son Range in the country’s central region. The surfaces of the mountains are planted with many species of plants, flowers and grass. Inside the artificial shell of the mountains are exhibits on Vietnamese history, from Lac Long Quan and Au Co eras, to the Le Dynasty and the 1975 liberation of South Viet Nam. Depictions of Vietnamese legends such as Banh Day (Round Cake), Banh Chung (Square Cake) and the story of the Dua Hau Do (watermelon) are also on display.

The river around the temple was built as a version of the imposing Mekong River which helped to create the country’s fertile southern delta. Along the river’s two sides are bonsai and flowers as well as recreational facilities that include a circus, trains and a mirrored “laughing house” for children and a roller coaster and water slides. 

Adults can bathe in warm water stream or practise tai chi. These recreational zones are separated by yards of grass and small paths lined with colourful flowers.

The northern region of the country looks like a replica of Quang Ninh Province’s Halong Bay. The artificial bay was created on an area of 180,000sq.m and filled with water, both small and large artificial limestone mountains.

The park, built to international standards, contains man-made lakes, rivers and mountains as well as a wide range of recreational activities that appeal to people of all ages. Replicas of the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Angkor Wat, Thailand’s Golden Pagoda, and the Kremlin are also on display. 

In the safari park, you can sightsee on an 18th century replica of a sailboat, sunbathe or swim. The zoo was built on an area of 80 hectares with artificial works, containing four main sections that include areas for reptiles, herbivorous animals and carnivorous animals and small animals. You can see rhinoceros, white lions and many other animals not typically found in Viet Nam, such as zebras, gnus, oryxes, squirrel monkeys and foxes.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem at a recent visit to Binh Duong Province, said, “The park is imbued with the Vietnamese people’s cultural and historical characteristics and can be compared with those in the region and in the world in aspects of size, value, and diversity of tourist services.”

Best Time to Visit Dai Nam Van Hien

Dai Nam Van Hien is such a large tourism site with so many interesting things to offer tourists. So, there will be lots of people coming on big holidays. In order to avoid the crowd, the best time you should visit is August, September and October. This is also the time when the weather here is a little bit cooler, which is suitable for outdoor activities. 

How to Get to Dai Nam Van Hien

You should start your trip in Ho Chi Minh city. It is only 35 km from here to get to Dai Nam so you can choose the car, bus or motorbike to go. 

If you go by car or motorbike, head to Binh Trieu Bridge from the city center. Then, go along Highway No13. After reaching Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong, go for a while and you will see Dai Nam Van Hien in front of your eyes. 

If you go by bus, you have to go to 1 out of 3 bus stations named Ben Thanh, Cho Lon and Mien Tay. Then, catch a bus to Dai Nam Van Hien.

What to Eat at Dai Nam Van Hien?

It is totally possible if you bring your own food to Dai Nam in order to save money. However, if you want to discover more about Vietnamese cuisine, you can try some delicious food such as bun tom, banh beo bi or goi mang cut in so many restaurants here. 

Where to Stay?

There are a number of hotels available near Dai Nam for tourists to stay. Here is a list recommended for you.

• Becamex Hotel

Location: Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong

Tel: 0274 2221 333

• The Mira Hotel

Location: Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong

Tel: 0274 3678 888

• Bcon Binh Duong Hotel

Location: Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong

Tel: 0274 3822 811

Historic images of Viet Nam’s 64 provinces and cities, replicas of the wonders of the world, a zoo, and a colourful natural space are all on offer in the Dai Nam tourism complex. So, let’s pay a visit to that new symbol of culture and tourism…