Last year, Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts filmed “Kong: Skull Island” in Vietnam, and at $185 Million it is by far the largest movie by cost to be shot and set in the country. Featuring stunning scenery from Ha Long Bay and the provinces of Ninh Binh and Quang Binh as well as central Vietnam, it is a sure fire box office hit!

As a result of the film, Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has appointed Jordan Vogt-Roberts as an official tourism ambassador. He will hold the position from 2017-2020 and will be responsible for promoting Vietnam tourism through newspapers, art, photography and other forms of media.

But, did you know….. this isn’t the first famous film to capture the beauty of Vietnam. Check out our list of some other famous titles below:

2002 – The Quiet American. Phillip Noyces’ adaptation of the bestselling novel by Graham Greene, was filmed in HCMC, Ninh Binh and Hoi An. A love story set in 1952 it earned Michael Caine an academy award nomination for best actor.

1992 – The Lover. Jean-Jacques Annaud directed the film based on the semi-autobiographical 1984 novel by Marguerite Duras. A story of forbidden love it took 135 days to complete filming in HCMC, Sa Dec and Vinh Long.

1992 – Indochine by Regis Wargnier. A French film set in the 1930-50’s was filmed in Hue, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh. Telling the story of a French plantation owner and her adopted Vietnamese daughter, it earned its lead Catherine Deneuve an academy award nomination for best actress and the film a 1993 academy award for best foreign language film.

In an age when CGI can definitely enhance a film, now is the opportune time to visit and see the reason so many directors choose to film in Vietnam – the genuine reality of its breathtaking scenery and exquisite beauty.