Day 217, Hue, Vietnam

Entrance to the Imperial City 

Had a great night in the train, a few beers, a game of cards and some music, so we made a bit too much noise for our (German & grumpy) neighbours. An excellent sleep, didn't even notice I was on the train, but that might have been due to the beers consumed.

The details are beautiful 

We arrived in Hue and straight to the hotel by 10.30 this morning, then out for lunch to the coolest little restaurant. Started in 1965 by the current owner, it is still extremely successful.

The restaurateur's family tree

He is deaf and mute, his 93 year old mother still comes into the restaurant every day, and he has a very unusual bottle opener, which he demonstrated and then promptly made one for each one of us in the group. There are messages written all over the walls from diners and he has the most beautiful heart warming smile you have ever seen.

Lunch was so yummy and fresh, and came to $5.00! 

Hue is the historical and cultural centre of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of January 31, 1968, as part of the Tet Offensive a division sized force of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong soldiers launched a coordinated attack on Huế seizing most of the city. During the initial phases of the Battle of Hue, due to Huế's religious and cultural status, Allied forces were ordered not to bomb or shell the city, for fear of destroying the historic structures; but as casualties mounted in house-to-house fighting these restrictions were progressively lifted and the fighting caused substantial damage to the Imperial City. Out of 160 buildings only 10 major sites remain because of the battle. The buildings that still remain are being restored and preserved. The latest and so far the largest restoration project is planned to conclude in 2015. [Source: Wikapedia]

Next a visit to the Imperial City, a huge 420 hectares site dating from the early 1800's, where the first king of the Nguyen dynasty resided. 

A very impressive citadel which unfortunately over the last few wars has been severely destroyed and was recognised as a Unesco World Heritage site in 1993, so now a lot of restoration is taking place. Very interesting to hear how the king lived, with his numerous wives and many more concubines. The last king abdicated on August the 30th, 1945. 

Certainly a very fascinating afternoon, learning some of the history of Vietnam.