The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception อาสนวิหารพระนางมารีอาปฏิสนธินิรมล is a Catholic church and is located in the city of Chanthaburi, in the province of the same name, in Thailand.
The cathedral, visible from most of the city, was formally inaugurated in 1909 as one of the largest Catholic churches in Thailand. It was built on a previous structure of more than 300 years. It was constructed in Gothic style during the 10 years of occupation by France on this territory although it remained unfinished at that time (1893–1904). There is a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of the Cathedral.
The center piece of the inside of the cathedral is the statue of the Virgin Mary. It is covered by semi precious gems donated by the local congregation – estimates of the number of gems range from 200,000 to 500,000.
It serves as the Roman or Latin rite seat of the Diocese of Chanthaburi (Dioecesis Chanthaburiensis, ...
My Son Sanctuary, also known as Mỹ Sơn, stands as one of Vietnam’s most remarkable ancient sites and a powerful testament to the Champa Kingdom. Nestled in a serene, jungle-covered valley surrounded by mountains in Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, the sanctuary lies roughly 40–50 kilometers southwest of the historic town of Hoi An and about 70 kilometers from Da Nang.
The Thu Bon River flows nearby, enhancing the site’s natural beauty and symbolic significance, as the valley was chosen to represent the mythical Mount Meru, the sacred center of the Hindu universe.
The history of My Son begins in the 4th century, when King Bhadravarman I established the first temples around 380–413 as a sacred religious center dedicated primarily to the Hindu god Shiva, worshipped here under the name Bhadreshvara.
Early structures were made of wood, but after a devastating fire in the 6th century, later kings rebuilt them using durable red brick, a hallmark of Champa architecture. Over the ...
Han Market (Chợ Hàn) stands as one of the oldest and most iconic traditional markets in Da Nang, serving as a bustling commercial hub right in the heart of the city along the west bank of the Han River. Its name comes directly from its prime location beside the Han River, and it has long symbolized the growth of Da Nang’s trade and daily life.
The market traces its roots to the 1940s when locals began gathering spontaneously along the river to exchange agricultural products, fresh seafood, and everyday essentials in an informal setting. During the French colonial era, when Da Nang was known as Tourane, the area gained more structure with the addition of infrastructure like a railway system called Tourane Marché for transporting goods and surrounding shophouses run by Chinese and Vietnamese merchants. Some historical references suggest trading activity near the river as far back as the 17th century, but reliable accounts point to the 1940s as the start of its modern form.
The market was ...
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture (Bảo tàng Điêu khắc Chăm Đà Nẵng) is the world’s largest and most important museum dedicated to the ancient Champa civilization. It houses the finest collection of Cham Hindu and Buddhist stone sculptures anywhere, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in Vietnam’s ancient history, especially after seeing My Son Sanctuary, as many of the artifacts originally came from there.
The museum was established by the French in 1915 during the colonial period when Da Nang was called Tourane and officially opened to the public in 1919. French archaeologists including Henri Parmentier collected and preserved sculptures from Cham temple sites across Central Vietnam to protect them from looting and decay.
The museum has been expanded over the decades and was recognized as a first-class national museum in 2011.
Today it preserves nearly 2,000 artifacts with more than 400 on permanent display including 12 National Treasures of Vietnam. The building itself...
