From Hoi An to Hue

Today, we left Hoi An early in the morning to drive north to Hue. We made a rest stop in Da Nang at a fabulous marble store. There are three marble and limestone mountains here. The marble carvings were various and quite beautiful.

From Hoi An to Hue

On the way to Hue, we also stopped at China Beach, where our servicemen took R&R during the Vietnam War. The American base at Da Nang was close by. China Beach reminded me much of a California beach and I felt almost as if I was home. It overcast and breezy and with colder air than we had previously––very, very nice. I could have stayed a long time here––you can as it is now a resort.

From Hoi An to Hue

We drove over the mountains on the Hai Van Pass, which gave us beautiful views.

I have put our trip from Hoi An to Hue on a slideshow. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Vietnam, “Hoi An to Hue, Tour Day 7(A)”      or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/hoi–an–to–hue–tour–day–7a/

Hue: The Citadel

After checking into our hotel in Hue, we had a tour of the Citadel and the Imperial City, a World Heritage Site built in 1809. Hue was the capital of Vietnam all through the 19th century until 1945. The National Liberation Flag has flown above the Citadel since the National Liberation Front seized it during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War.

Hue: The Imperial City

The Citadel was built to protect the Imperial City, built by Emperor Gia Long. At the top of the Ngo Mon Gate, in the photo, is a watchtower where the emperors sat during state functions. It was also where the last emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai, abdicated in 1945 in favor of the revolutionary government headed by Ho Chi Minh.

I have put my photos of the Citadel and the Imperial City on a slide show. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Vietnam, “Hue: The Citadel, Tour Day 7(B)”     or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/hue–the–citadel–tour–day–7b/

Hue: Cyclo Ride and Dinner

We were offered an optional tour this evening of a cyclo ride and a dinner at a very nice restaurant. The cyclo ride was fun until it started drizzling. The drivers did not carry ponchos to cover us in the rain. When I got to the restaurant, my sweater and pants were wet.

I have put part of our cyclo ride on a movie. It will give you a good idea of what the motorscooter traffic is like in Vietnam. Go to Movies, Asia Movies, Vietnam Movies, “Hue Cyclo Ride,” page 1 or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/vietnam–movies/

Hue: Dinner

Hue is known for good food and our dinner was very good. It was served very attractively as well. On the menu, spring roll decorated with a peacock, vegetable soup, steamed shrimp, Hue special pancakse, mixed fig salad with pork and shrimp, fried rice formed as a turtle, fruit, and green bean cake formed fruit.

I have put my photos of the cyclo ride and the dinner on a slide show. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Vietnam, “Hue: Cyclo Ride and Dinner, Tour Day 7(C) ” or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/hue–cyclo–ride–and–dinner–tour–day–7c/