Flying visit to Vietnam
Then, you reach Hue, another city in which history has left many a story worth hearing.
The fourth emperor of Vietnam’s Nguyen dynasty, Tu Duc (18291883) had 104 wives, more than 100 concubines, three adopted sons and an incredible tomb. He created a sanctuary across 12 hectares, on which 40 buildings were built from 1864 and at which he spent many a day before he died. His final resting place is a secret — all his 200 servants were beheaded upon his death.
From the peaceful oasis planted with jack fruit, frangipani and pine trees, we head into the city centre’s most revered icon — the Imperial City.
Designed by the French, it is 10km in diameter, with walls 21m thick. After the war, the 140 buildings once held inside were reduced to 20, but restoration is big in Vietnam, whether it’s the preservation of their centuriesold pagoda, or the restoration of what is, today, one of Hue’s tourist hot spots — and a Unesco World Heritage Site.
We reflect on a busy day of history lessons sipping on local Hue beer in a place that sells New Zealand ice cream.
Hanoi
In the north of this long country, Hanoi is the only city we visited that can attest to experiencing four seasons.
We pondered whether another ‘‘bike tour’’ was a good decision as rain (heavier than that of Hoi An) persisted, but a ‘‘cyclotour’’ is exactly what you should do in such weather. Passengers sit pretty in a covered seat, while a driver pedals and steers this threewheeled chariot from behind. We smugly toured the city while watching, in pity, tourists atop real bicycles, forming poncho rainbows of unrest as they passed our rather royal wheels.
Our Active Asia guide stopped us at key points of interest — from the Ho Chi Minh’s tomb (closed to visitors June to August), to the railway line (curiously flanked by cutely curated coffee shops), the government buildings and the north gate of this city’s citadel. The ‘‘old quarter’’ offers narrow streets and tall buildings, clearly home to many, with plants trailing over balconies stacked with bonsai and even the odd pot plant hanging off the crisscross of power lines.
Our visit to Hanoi was all too brief, with one night to take in the sights. For those staying longer, there is every kind of shop you could imagine here — from fashion to manchester and designer homewares. Start the day with a good coffee, and you could wander the streets all day long. — Star Media/Allied Press
Kate’s itinerary was prepared by House of Travel in conjunction with Active Asia. To book your own Vietnam adventure, speak to your local House of Travel representative, houseoftravel.co.nz