Vietnam Travel Diary (2): Hue

I woke up to the sound of something lashing outside that I really thought our hotel was near the sea. When I quietly tiptoed to our hotel window since Ahne was still sleeping, I was surprised to see that a storm was actually brewing outside. For two years of having not experienced a tropical storm, I actually had forgotten how a storm particularly sounds. 

We were then advised to stay inside and wait for the storm to calm, before going about our travel itinerary.

"Travelling is always humbling because it makes you realize that there are certain things that you can hardly control---your emotions on a dragging bus ride and most especially, the weather."

…while waiting for the storm to calm.

THIEN MU PAGODA

The pagoda is situated on Ha Khe hill, on the left bank of the Perfume River, in Huong Long village, 5 km from Hue city.

It was built in 1601, and then Lord Nguyen Phuc Tan had it renovated in 1665. In 1710, Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu had a great bell cast (2.5m high, 3.285kg) and in 1715, he had a stele (2.58 m high) erected on the back of a marble tortoise.

The name of the pagoda comes from a legend: a long ago, an old woman appeared on the hill where the pagoda stands today. She told local people that a Lord would come and build a Buddhist pagoda for the country's prosperity. Lord Nguyen Hoang, on hearing that, ordered the construction of the pagoda of the "Heavenly Lady". (http://www.vietnamtourism.com)

HUE IMPERIAL CITY

The Imperial City at Hue is the best-preserved remnant of a vast citidel and royal quarters that once existed on the site. 

In the early 19th century the Emperor Gia Long consulted geomancers to find the best place to build a new palace and citadel. The geomancers chose the present site at Hue. The Emperor wished to recreate, in abbreviated form, a replica of the Forbidden City in Beijing. At his command, tens of thousands of laborers were conscripted to dig a ten kilometer moat and earthen walls to form the outer perimeter of the citidel.

Nowadays the city has been declared a UNESCO site and the remaining buildings have been lovingly restored. (http://www.orientalarchitecture.com)

GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

We did not pass up the chance to go out and have a late night drink…coffee drink, that is----since Vietnam is well known for its coffee.

We were so delighted with the cute Vietnamese girl who went in front of our table and started singing some local songs. All of the people in the coffee shop applauded when she finished and we also received a lot of warm smiles when they knew that we were not locals. I think that this was one of the highlights of my Vietnam trip. It is always, always, the wonderful surprise brought about by interacting with the locals in a foreign land that would always make me remember fondly a particular place.