Hue

After a chaotic crossing into Vietnam we landed in Hue after dark, in the pouring rain and without a hotel room. The bus dropped us off along the side of the road about three to four km out of town. Soaked to the bone 5 of us flagged down a mini Kia taxi and crammed into it, packs and all. Not a great start to our stay in Vietnam but we found a very nice hotel, The Sport Hotel, and once again a good story.

Hue, an old capital of Vietnam is a World Heritage city located along the Perfume River and has lots of things to see. We visited the Citadel (the old moated city built in the early 1800)-fantastic, and the Imperial Enclosure museum. Along with wondering the streets for hours on end, we enjoyed a tea and coffee at one of the many small stalls, I think we saw as a lot the city had to offer, and to my delight that included a few Christmas decorations.

Unfortunately, after a small mishap in the washroom, where my camera fell into the toilet and then decided to quit working, I will be forced to look for another somewhere along the way (maybe a late Christmas present) for now the iPad will have to do. What a crappy thing to happen!

We have been traveling with Eloisa, from Brazil, off and on since entering Lao and from Hue she decided to head north for a while and we made plans to catch a local bus for a long 4 hour 135 km ride to Hoi An.

Great shopping in the local market...everything and more that you would ever need for your kitchen.

Checking out the grounds of the Citadel.

Tourist boats on the Perfume River..."only one dollar for hour, Mister"

Russian designed Meg 21, used by the Vietnamese Airforce to attack the Americian B52 Bombers.

One of the gates at the entrance to the Citadel.

Noodle soup anyone?  Eloisa enjoyed a bowl.