Archaeologists in central Vietnam have discovered what locals are calling the "Great Wall of Vietnam", The Korean Times reports.

The wall is up to 4 meters (13 ft.) high in spots and stretches for 127 km (78 miles). While parts of it are an earth embankment instead of a stone wall, it's still a major engineering feat and the longest monument in Southeast Asia. It's almost as long as Hadrian's Wall, the old Roman barrier between England and Scotland, and like Hadrian's Wall has forts at regular intervals along its length.

Hiking Hadrian's Wall is an awesome experience and has become increasingly popular in recent years. Perhaps Vietnam will add a Great Wall hike to the many attractions that draw tourists to their country.

Unlike its more famous namesake, the Great Wall of Vietnam is fairly recent. It was started in 1819 by order of the Emperor Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty, pictured here. It separated the lowlands from the northern mountains and was used not only for defense, but also to regulate trade.

[Photo courtesy Ledinhlong via Wikimedia Commons]

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