Cham Towers in Quy Nhon
Part of the Quy Nhon travel guide — see every topic in All Quy Nhon Guides.
Long ago, the coast around Quy Nhon was part of the Champa kingdom. The Cham people built tall towers of red brick across central Vietnam, and some of the best still stand near Quy Nhon. This guide looks at them as architecture and history. It covers the Twin Towers in the city, the four towers at Banh It, how they were built and how to visit.
Champa and the Vijaya capital
Champa was a group of kingdoms on the central coast of today's Vietnam. For several centuries, from about the 11th century to 1471, the Cham capital of Vijaya stood in this area, north of today's Quy Nhon. The ruins of its old walls are known as the Cha Ban, or Do Ban, citadel. The Cham were skilled builders and sea traders. Their towers stood on hills and plains across the region, and many still stand today. The towers near Quy Nhon belong to a style that experts call the Binh Dinh style. They are a good way to understand the long history of the coast.
The Twin Towers in the city
The Twin Towers, called Thap Doi in Vietnamese, stand in a small park inside the city, about 2 km from the centre. They were built in about the late 12th to early 13th century. The two towers stand side by side. One is about 20 metres tall and the other about 18 metres. They have pointed arches over the doors and stone carvings at the corners of the roofs, including figures of the mythical bird Garuda. The park has palm trees and quiet paths. It is easy to reach on foot, by bicycle or by a short taxi ride.
Banh It on the hill
Banh It is a group of four Cham towers on a hilltop about 15 to 20 km north of the city, just off Highway 1. They date from about the late 11th century. The main tower is the tallest, at about 30 metres. Each tower has a different shape and different decoration, so it is interesting to compare them. A path of roughly a hundred steps leads up the hill. From the top there are wide views over rice fields, rivers and the Thi Nai lagoon. Late afternoon is the best time, when the low sun turns the bricks deep orange.
How the towers were built
The Cham towers are famous for their fine brickwork. The bricks fit very closely together, and experts still study how the Cham joined them so well. Many people believe they used a natural plant resin as a binder, but the exact method is not fully known. The walls have carved brick patterns of leaves and flowers. Some decorations, like door frames and corner figures, are made of sandstone. Inside, the towers are dark and narrow. From outside they look solid and tall, and after many centuries most still stand well. Several have been carefully restored in recent years.
Visiting tips
The Twin Towers are easy to add to a walk or a bicycle ride in the city. Banh It needs a taxi, a car or a motorbike, and it fits well with a trip north along Highway 1. Open hours and any small entry fees can change, so check locally before you go. Wear comfortable shoes for the steps at Banh It, and bring water, as there is little shade. Do not climb on the walls or touch the carvings. The towers are quiet most of the day. Visit in the late afternoon for the best light and cooler air.
Cham Towers at a glance
| Getting there | Twin Towers about 2 km from the centre; Banh It about 15 to 20 km north, off Highway 1 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daytime visits; check open hours locally |
| Cost | Small or no entry fee; check on arrival |
| Best time | Late afternoon for soft light; dry months for clear skies |
| Era | Banh It late 11th century; Twin Towers late 12th to early 13th century |