Spent the morning at Beach Bar Hue at Thuan An beach about half an hour from Hue. Blue skies, lovely beach, warm water, rolling waves and a tropical drink before we left. Kelsey rearranged our itinerary slightly when I requested some beach time.
We lucked out with perfect weather (this is the rainy season) and it was my favorite kind of beach - uncrowded, warm water, shells, and perfect waves for me. Thank you Kelsey!
Our taxi took us on a shortcut back to the hotel on interesting local back roads through rice paddies and fishing areas which made for a change of scenery from the city and a very interesting ride back. Local farmers rake their rice onto the side of the paved roads on sunny days to dry it. Quite a sight to see.
Back to the hotel for a quick shower. Then spent the afternoon visiting 3 emperor's tombs along the Perfume River and within 15 minutes drive of Hue: Minh Mang, Khai Dinh and Tu Duc tombs. Much more interesting than it sounds and than it first sounded to me. Each were large compounds with many buildings. They had lakes, statues, old buildings and the tombs all on acres of land in a park-like setting. Khai Dinh is set on the side of a hill with beautiful views of the mountains.
Our taxi driver, who had been waiting for us at each tomb, took us back to the city of Hue to the Citadel (a fort) and the imperial enclosure. The imperial enclosure is where the ruling emperors lived: ruins from the emperor's palace and compound buildings, a theater, most at least partially restored, gardens and ponds. Some areas had been bombed and destroyed in the Vietnam war. Huge area that we criss crossed and saw almost all of before closing time.
Mostly sunny and very hot and humid all day. We had lots of water with us but did not take time to eat lunch. We were sweaty and exhausted at the end of the day from walking all afternoon. Ate dinner at the hotel restaurant, relaxed by the pool in the dark, then took a taxi to the train station to catch the 9:30 p.m. 15 hour train ride to Hanoi. It is an old train, we are on the bottom berths in our cabin, with a young French couple on the bunks above us. It is 7:30 a.m. now and I am looking at the scenery, mountains and fields, passing by.
We lucked out with perfect weather (this is the rainy season) and it was my favorite kind of beach - uncrowded, warm water, shells, and perfect waves for me. Thank you Kelsey!
Back to the hotel for a quick shower. Then spent the afternoon visiting 3 emperor's tombs along the Perfume River and within 15 minutes drive of Hue: Minh Mang, Khai Dinh and Tu Duc tombs. Much more interesting than it sounds and than it first sounded to me. Each were large compounds with many buildings. They had lakes, statues, old buildings and the tombs all on acres of land in a park-like setting. Khai Dinh is set on the side of a hill with beautiful views of the mountains.Our taxi driver, who had been waiting for us at each tomb, took us back to the city of Hue to the Citadel (a fort) and the imperial enclosure. The imperial enclosure is where the ruling emperors lived: ruins from the emperor's palace and compound buildings, a theater, most at least partially restored, gardens and ponds. Some areas had been bombed and destroyed in the Vietnam war. Huge area that we criss crossed and saw almost all of before closing time.
