Filming is a complex process which requires meticulous planning of the smallest details. Besides the characters, the script and the action, the setting is also vital to the success of a film. Vietnam, because of its various picturesque sceneries, has been chosen for many famous filming projects including Hollywood’s. We would like to provide you with some treasure information on the following movie scene locations found in some of the most well-known films among the Vietnamese people such as Hollywood’s Kong-skull island, Pan,  Vietnam’s I saw yellow flowers on green grass, etc. 

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

This reboot of the King Kong franchise could not attract more attention: its cast includes well-known actors such as Tom Hiddlestone, Samuel L.Jackson, etc. and the enormous budget of $185 million. The film told the story of a group of scientists and US troops retreating from Vietnam after their 1973 defeat there. The Americans got lost on an unknown island and came up against horrible creatures, including the mighty Kong. Apart from high-quality actors and actresses, another appealing feature of Kong: Skull Island is its setting. Kong: Skull Island was filmed in Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, and Cat Ba Island in Quang Ninh (Northern Vietnam), and Quang Binh (Central Vietnam).

Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba Island

Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, consists of 1600 islands and islets formed in various shapes and sizes. Needless to say, Hạ Long Bay has been so popular that it is always the first destination that one can ever think of when deciding to take a trip to Quảng Ninh Province. Recognized twice as one of the world’s heritage sites in 1994 and 2000, Hạ Long Bay until this moment has been preserved and still retains its own unique and natural landscapes that will astonish every single visitor who seeks for true beauty that lies within the most ordinary place. Read more here

Van Long lake

About 80km from the capital city of Hanoi, this location takes visitors about 2 hours on motorbike or car to get to. It was not created by Mother Nature but by the process of constructing a dike to prevent the Day River from flooding the area. However, its beauty is still appreciated by visitors and locals alike. With an area of 3500 ha, it is also considered the largest aquatic natural reserve all over the Red River Delta.

The site can be accessed from the 1A National highway to Phu Ly, then Gian Khau fork and finally Gia Van commune, Gia Vien ward.

Van Long lake is known for its biodiversity as well as the picturesque scenery. The mountain ranges and caves, together with their reflections on the static water surface, take the visitors’ breath away.

This site is also home to lots of endangered species in Vietnam, including the langur.

Trang An Landscape Complex

Another famous site present in Kong- Skull Island is Trang An, a location of great archeological and cultural significance. The Trang An Landscape Complex’s caves are known to have been inhabited for over 30,000 years by seasonal hunter-gatherers, who adapted to great landscape changes, including those in late Pleistocene and Holocene times. Furthermore, Trang An is famous for its geological properties: having been invaded by sea several times but still is emergent on land. The complex consists of 3 protected areas: Hoa Lư citadel cultural- historical area; Trang An- Tam Coc—Bich Dong Scenic area and Hoa Lư Special- Use Primary Forest.

Another breathtaking feature of Trang An is the karst tower landscape. The cone-shaped rock towers approximately 200 metres in height make Trang An a unique site. Deep down the cavern system, tourists can take a boat tour for a close view of the grottoes, which were formed through a long process of erosion.

Tam Coc and Bich Dong, situated in Van Lam village, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh province. Tam Coc, which means “three caves” in Chinese, have cloud-like stalagmites and stalactites of great geological meaning. They suggest these caves were underwater millions of years ago and gradually emerged from the water surface.

Tu Lan cave system

Consisting of more than 10 caves, Tu Lan cave system was first discovered in the early 1990s. As it has yet to attract as much attention as Sơn Đoòng caves, Tu Lan still retains its natural, intact beauty. This is a perfect location for adventurous travelers, as getting to the cave really means quite a lot of trekking and swimming. Most tours require decent swimming skills from tourists. The journey through the cave system can be split up into 3 days. Day 1 is mainly about warming up, you won’t need too spend much energy except for walking through a wood, exploring the first cave and trekking the Lom Com and Xoai mountains. Day 2 is much more challenging as tourists start with Ken cave- the deepest one in Tu Lan system and swim 200 meters against the flow to Kim cave. On day 3, tourists again must go against the flow to Hung Ton cave. The last checkpoint is Bi Mat cave- 15 meters down and only accessible through a ladder. The thrill of climbing down a ladder in such mysterious surroundings is the last checkpoint of your journey.

Tu Lan cave system is approximately 70 kilometers away from Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park (Quang Binh Province) and next to Tan Hoa ethnic village. As it is surrounded by grass and corn fields, you may need instructions from locals our tourist help desks in the area.

Indochina (1992)

The Vietnamese film industry has yet to reach the level of its European counterparts, but our country’s sites have appeared in an Oscar-winning film: “Indochine” by the French director Regis Wargnier. The film tells the story of Eliane Devries, boss of a rubber plantation during her stay in Vietnam with her daughter. A large part of the film took the Imperial City of Huế as its setting.

Hue

Hue, together with its cultural values, has become a household name. Ask any foreigner traveling to Vietnam to list some Vietnamese cities, and there is no way Hue can go missing. Though probably not as well-known as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city, Hue has always been among the most recommended places to visit throughout Vietnam.

Hue, once the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty, has a rich and diverse culture. From the most ordinary to the most luxurious, every piece of Hue has its own significance. Its food culture is unique: no one who plans to visit Hue would afford to miss out on banh beo, banh nam and other specialties, which are on offer in Dong Ba market, the most crowded and exciting site in the city.

Its ancient buildings and romantic scenery make up an irreplaceable part of Indochine’s setting. Foreign tourists, especially those who have watched this Oscar-winning masterpiece. Let’s check out some of this city’s must-visit sites:

Just as Da Nang has Han River, so Hue owns one of the most beautiful rivers throughout Vietnam. Perfume river got its name from the pleasant scent from the flowers that dropped into the water from upriver orchards.  Although its beauty and scent have been somewhat reduced by modernization and an increasing number of boats passing by, it remains one of Vietnam’s most interesting and romantic site where groups of youths gather and couples hang out

Thien Mu Pagoda, located on the northern bank of Perfume River, is another emblem of Vietnam, especially its religious culture. At 4 centuries of age, this building has never lost its significance to locals and tourists alike.  Khai Dinh and Tu Duc Mausoleums are other spots of interest for their historical meaning during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass (2015)

Aside from famous, classic masterpieces, this list also includes a 100% Vietnamese film: Yellow flowers on green grass, adapted from Nguyen Nhat Anh’s similarly titled novel. The film tells the story of two brothers, Thieu and Tuong, who both have a liking for a young girl in the neighborhood and compete for her affection. Despite the simple setting, this story is an epitome of love, friendship, and brotherhood. This masterpiece by Victor Vũ made its debut at the Cannes film festival in 2015.

Phu Yen

The film was set in Phu Yen, a province in central Vietnam. Bãi Xép, the background for the scenes in which the kids fly their kites, is actually quite an attraction. The beach, approximately 500 meters in length, may not be popular for tourists, but this is a perfect place for childhood memories. The best way to reach Bai Xep is from Tuy Hoa city nearby. The path to Bai Xep is covered in vast rice fields, the iconic image of Vietnam countryside lifestyle. However, its appearance in Yellow flowers on green grass made Bai Xep much more well-known and the high numbers of tourists resulted in the beach’s pollution.

Another attraction in Phu Yen is Cu Mong lake. This is a perfect site for boat tours. Water surface remains still most of the time, coupled with the cool breezes, bring a sense of soundness to all people on board. Onshore, tourists can befriend fishermen and listen to their stories about the battles between Quang Trung and Tây Sơn dynasty taking place on the lake that was passed down from generation to generation.