107. CENTRAL VIETNAM

The ancient imperial capital of Hue is on the banks of the Perfume River. This is home to an Emperor's tomb, Tu Duc, and what's left of his palace complex, now undergoing restoration...

Nearly 7 years ago, I visited My Son, about an hour's drive from here and saw the ruins of an ancient Hindu  temple dating back to the 4th Century erected by the kings of Champa. This kingdom ruled what is now southern and central Vietnam up till 1832...

 



















 

 

Restoration work taking place...Hue is undergoing extensive work to make the old look new and the new to look aged...it's the same malady I saw in Thailand, Myanmar...

 

The lotus on most buildings...

 

Like something from Dream of the Red Chamber...

  

Hai Van Pass saw much action during the Vietnam War...this is what's left...

Hoian's ties with the Japanese - a bridge simply referred to as the Japanese Bridge. Hoian's a port town and like all port cities, they are visited by traders and people from all over. Many would have stayed on and started families - the Chinese were here for 1500 years, they would have planted their seeds far and wide...

                                    Floating Resto

Street scenes that tell stories of a place and its people

They do fine lacquerware...
They excel in fine detailed work, tailoring and embroideries are beautifully done...


 

Water taxi - she waits patiently for a fare



Craftsmen at work - from the roots of trees, they carve beautiful bearded faces





































Slepping bags anyone?

This little tyke sleeps on the floor of his parents' shop - from a young age, he's made to adapt to whatever the circumstances

Noticing the birthdate in my passport, I was greeted with this bouquet and upgraded to a suite - you can't beat service like this...

 

This was the trouble they took for 2 

Siesta time with her doggie - in a country that has many dog restaurants - this love for pet dogs will change their eating habits

I've long admired the work ethic of the Vietnamese and their resilience. It's been a good 7 years since I first visited Danang, Hue and Hoian. The changes have been dramatic but not necessarily for the better. Danang is now more built-up, crowded and noisier but its people are still warm, thoughtful and considerate - let's hope this lasts.

Big name hotels have moved in targeting the convention crowd ever since nearby Hoian and the imperial city of Hue became UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Central Vietnam is more Chinese physically than the several cities I've been to in China. Here, as in the South, many homes, restaurants and family inns have altars with the threesome Fu Lou Shou and Happy Buddha. This temple below is like those older ones that still stand in parts of Malaysia. It is still untouched, unspoilt...but for how long? 

Danang is the 3rd largest city in Vietnam....