VietNamNet Bridge – The wooden church, Museum of Culture, Kon Tum Prison and Indochina cross-roads are interesting stops on the journey to explore the romantic land of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

The first site that any traveler visits in Kon Tum is the Kon Tum cathedral or the wooden church.

The wooden church

Located in the city center, construction was begun by a French priest in 1913, and was completed in 1918. 

The work is created by the talented hands of Binh Dinhand Quang Nam artists in accordance with the manual method and it is combined Roman style and the stilts of Bana. 

This kind of architecture also represents interference between Highland culture and European culture. 

Nearly over a century later, the church still shows no sign of degrading and is becoming a well known tourism attraction of Vietnam.

Designed in Roman architectural style combined with the shape of house on stilts of the central highlands community, the church includes of 5 main parts: the cross tower of 25m height, two roofs – upper and lower – with slate tiles, the walls, the dome and floor.

All are made of rare kinds of wood such as ironwood, rosewood. 

The most impressive is that the church includes more than 100 pillars arranged in four rows: two rows inside the room and two others close to the walls. 

All the pillars are equal in shiny black with diameter of 40cm.

The interior is decorated with wood combined with brocade and tree cover, which express the skillfulness of the ethnic artists, but arranged in European style. 

Overall, the wooden church is just like a giant cross.

Inside the church, there is a display room introducing the custom and tradition of minor ethnic groups in the central highlands of Vietnam.

Bac Ai, the most famous pagodas in Kon Tum  

The pagoda has beautiful ancient structure according to the style of “Mon”, which means gate. It was built by the people who came to explore this land and then settled here.

The Kon Klor communal house

The Kon Klor communal house is the largest in Kon Tum. It is the place for community activities, and a symbol of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands.

The house is 17 meters long, 6 meters wide and 22 meters high and was designed in traditional style with wood, thatch and leaves with meticulous patterns and detail.

All the pillars, which are 5-60cm in diameter and the floor of the house, were made from xoay wood- a precious wood instead of reinforced concrete like the old version. 

Kon Klor is not only a communal house - a cultural public place for local people - but also a tourist site and a unique cultural symbol of the ethnic minority people in Kon Tum Province.

Previously, a group of students broke into the old Kon Klor communal house on May 19, 2010 to mess around. 

But a dangerous game led to a student setting a fire that led to the destruction of the house in a few seconds. The house was rebuilt in 2011, at the cost of VND1.8 billion.

Kon Klor suspension bridge

Kon Klor suspension bridge is located in Kon Klor village, about 2km from Kon Tum city center, connecting the two shores of Dakbla River. 

The bridge is 292m long, 4.5m wide, built from 1993 to 1994. Since its construction, locals have more facilities to go from their village to the city. Standing on the bridge, tourists will feel peaceful and relaxed. 

Kon Klor, the most beautiful suspension bridge in the highlands, is considered a conduit linking urban culture to village culture. 

Next to Dak Bla River in early morning or under the sunset, dozens of ox carts carry farm products across the stream under the glistening sunlight. 

The wooden boats are the oldest means of transport for locals; they are simple and reliable and change is not needed for these people.

Kon K’Tu Village

Just 8 km from the city centre, Kon K’Tu Village is the pride of residents here because it still retains ancient, majestic and pristine features. 

Currently, the villagers still maintain the gong teams, Xoang dancing teams and traditional festivals. 

In particular, getting to Kon K’Tu, visitors will have opportunity to explore the original culture features of long houses and stilt houses.

Culture Museum of Kon Tum

Located on the gateway to Kon Tum city the Culture Museum of Kon Tum helps visitors understand the culture of the Central Highlands.

Kon Tum prison

Kon Tum prison built by the French during the French colonial period to detain political prisoners, and soldiers of Vietnam’s revolution in the period of 1930, 1931 is an important place to visit and understand more about history. 

Ky Quang pagoda

Ky Quang pagoda in Dak Ha district hosts significant Buddhist events of Kon Tum.

Dak Ha Victory Monument

Dak Ha Victory Monument on Hung Vuong Street is a symbol of unity of ethnic groups in Kon Tum.

Dak To - Tan Canh Victory Monument

Dak To - Tan Canh Victory Monument on the National Highway 14, at an altitude of 600m, is a national historic site.

Ho Chi Minh - Truong Son trail

Ho Chi Minh - Truong Son trail in Ngoc Hoi is a national historic site.

Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border landmark

The Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border landmark or Indochina T-junction.

Kon Tum is also well known for landscapes scattered in other communes and districts such as Chu Mom Ray National Park adjacent to two natural protection zones of Laos and Cambodia, Yaly waterfall, among others.

Compiled by Pha Le