VietNamNet Bridge – Sculptor Trinh Ba Dung has re-created Da Lat’s iconic buildings in clay as a tourist attraction near the city’s Tuyen Lam Lake, at a cost of nearly $10 million.
Sculptor Trinh Ba Dung is called “Soil conquerer”.
The construction work started in 2010. With a length of 1.2 kilometers, the tunnel is expected to set a world record upon its completion, hopefully by the end of this year. The tunnel includes buildings in both traditional and modern styles – like the Pedagogy College, Da Lat train station, churches, Buddhist temples, ancient villas, primeval forests, peaceful streams, large herds of elephants and typical houses of K’ho ethnic minority.
Also along the walkway are clay replicas of antique cars, Vespa scooters, steam locomotives, and everyday tools, which trace the development of Dalat.
A ‘Vietnam sovereignty house’ has the country’s map on its roof, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa) Spratly Islands.
Some pictures of the clay tunnel:
Dragon head sculpture at the entrance
A popular song about Da Lat by Tuong Nguyen is partly sculpted here.
The house on stilts of the Central Highlands.
Truc Lam Zen Monastery.
The Chicken Church – an icon of Da Lat.
The center of the tunnel are two clay-made houses, carved with Vietnam map on the roof.
An old Vespa motorcycle.
Laodong/Dan Tri/Da Lat News/SGGP