Hue, Vietnam

We sailed into the industrial port of Chan May, just north of Da Nang, the nearest port to the ancient city of Hue. After a 90 minute coach ride, we arrived in the city of Hue. Along the way, we got a good look at the countryside in this part of the world.

Part 1 – Historic Citadel

Our first destination in Hue was the Historic Citadel. Hue was the capital of Vietnam from around 1800 to 1945, and the Hue Imperial City was the administrative center. Much of it was destroyed during the Vietnam war, but some of it has been restored, and it’s now a Unesco World Heritage site.

Part 2 – Thien Mu Pagoda

After the Historic Citadel, we took the short ride to the Thien Mu Pagoda, west of the Citadel. The pagoda was built in the 16th century, and various buildings have been added over time.

After visiting the pagoda, we had perhaps the most delicious lunch of the entire vacation at the ‘Silk Path Grand Hotel and Spa’. Here, we were introduced to Pomelo salad, something I’ve since made several times at home!

Part 3 – Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc – Historic Tomb Complex

After our delicious lunch, we visited the Lang Tu Duc historic tomb complex, south of the Citadel. The Tu Duc Tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc who reigned from 1848 until his death in 1883. This is a sprawling complex of tombs in a pleasant setting. An interesting Google ‘documentary’ on the complex is located here.