Day 25 Hoi An to Hue

Off to Hue with our driver Vu and guid Hao.

First stop was China Beach ,then on to see the bunkers, first built by the Nugyen dynasty in the early 19 century followed by the French in the early 20. Used during the Vietnam war at Cloudy ocean mountain.

Another small detour to see oyster and mussel farming and harvesting in the local brackish inland lacks. Cleverly done – letting the mollusks grow on old bicycle tires.

Then off into the hills around Hue, which have many tombs of the Nguyen dynasty emperors. These were built not just as an eternal resting place but also for recreation. The Nguyen kings remained on the throne during French occupation. However the 9th, 10th and 11th kings didn’t see eye to eye with the French and were exiled to Algeria and the Reunion isles.

First tomb was the Khai Dinh Tomb. Known as the “Puppet Emperor” because of his affiliation with the French, he was the 12th King in power from 1916 -1925,  and was the only Vietnamese king who travelled abroad.  The construction of tomb took 11 years, with material being brought in from Japan, China and France, and was built by prisoners, soldiers and more than 300 artisans.

Then in stark contrast to the opulence of this tomb we went to the tomb of the Emperor Tu Duc , the 4th and longest ruler from 1847-1883  He had 103 wives but no offspring as he had contracted mumps in earlier years. There were gardens and lakes, pavilions, paved walkways.

After lunch we checked in to our hotel and then walked over the river on a a bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel to the local market.

Incredibly hot day, most of south east Asia is experiencing a heat wave, temps were over 100F, (40C), and humid which was a bit intense for sightseeing!  Can’t remember ever sweating this much!

in the early 19 century followed by the French in the early 20. Used during the Vietnam war. Cloudy ocean mountain.

Another brief stop to see oyster and mussel farming and harvesting. Cleverly done – letting the mollusks grow on old bicycle tires.

The hills around Hue have many tombs of the Nguyen dynasty emperors. These were built not just as an eternal resting place but also for recreation.

The Nguyen kings remained on the throne during French occupation. However the 9th, 10th and 11th kings didn’t see eye to eye with the French and were exiled to Algeria and the Reunion isles.

Next stop was the Khai Dinh Tombs. Known as the “Puppet Emperor” because of his affiliation with the French, he was the 12th King in power from 1916 -1925,  and was the only Vietnamese king who travelled abroad.  The construction of tomb took 11 years, with material being brought in from Japan, China and France, and was built by prisoners, soldiers and more than 300 artisans.

Then in stark contrast to the opulence of this tomb we went to the tomb of the Emperor Tu Duc , the 4th and longest ruler from 1847-1883  He had 103 wives but no offspring as he had contracted mumps in earlier years. There were gardens and lakes, pavilions, paved walkways.

On the way to lunch in Hue was stopped for a quick visual lesson on making incense and the typical conical paper hats.

After lunch we checked in to our hotel and then walked over the river on a a bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel to the local market.

Incredibly hot day, most of south east Asia is experiencing a heat wave, temps were over 100F, (40C), and humid which was a bit intense for sightseeing!  Can’t remember ever sweating this much!