Hoi An, Hue etc.

Lotus pond at Tu Duc's tomb and park area in Hue

Hoi An .... Thu Bon River close to flooding .....

Peaceful street scene in Hoi An

Tu Duc's peaceful retreat in Hue, where he spent many hours sipping tea, reading and meditating

View along Thu Bon River in Hoi An

Tu Duc's tomb entry gate area in Hue

Hoi An ... a peaceful historic town, on the banks of the Thu Bon River and once a very active trading port, acquired a very rich cultural heritage from China, Japan and Europe. This is very evident in the buildings, bridges etc. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the city has many of the long narrow tube houses still intact. Given the recent flooding and heavy rains all over central Vietnam, (note the river is almost at the sidewalk in one photo above) we walked about exploring, mostly sheltered under our umbrellas! Participating in a cooking class one evening was great fun ....... we washed down our efforts with a healthy dose of local Dalat wine and "333" beer :)

Yaly, a well known clothier in Hoi An, whose employees can magically manifest awesome tailored outfits, complete with two fittings included, all within 24 hours, (the "new Hong Kong" in Asia) saw just about all our group purchase something .....

Group photo in front of grounds at the tomb of Tu Duc in Hue (kind of mixed up some of my photos :) ..... minus Pauline who was laying low at the hotel with a tummy bug of sorts. Tu Duc was a much loved and favored King in his time, who designed his own tomb and preferred the quiet comforts of same to his own palace apparently. Set in pine-forested hills, surrounded by beautiful lotus ponds and fragrant frangipani trees, it is little wonder he would want to spend time there ..... that and escaping the constant presence of his hundred concubines .... can tire out an old king!! :)

Entry gate to Tu Duc's tomb in Hue