Do you Know the Way to Hue?

Shiva Linga

Ruins with American Bombs that Destroyed the Temple

Cham Ruins

Fried Rice and Calamari

Marble Mountain

Spring Rolls

Dragon Bridge

Red Beach where the American's First Invaded

We left the resort of Nam Hai in Hoi An Vietnam. The good news is that we got frequent stayer points towards other of their properties. The bad news is the other property is the fabulous resort The Ananti. The really bad news is that is located in all places in North Korea! You can read about the Ananti here: Ananti. Why do I think I won’t be cashing in my points? If you want to borrow them feel free.

In Danang we drove across the Dragon Bridge. This is such a fun architectural idea. The bridge supports are made to look like a giant dragon and every Friday and Saturday night it actually breathes out fire. It is an amazing piece of architecture.

We drove to the ancient ruins of My Song. This gets very complicated very quickly, but the essence is that in the 11^th century a Hindu culture flourished here. There are ancient temples to Shiva, and other Hindu Gods. Most of these ruins were lost to humanity and then re-discovered by the French in the early 20^th century. They are in the middle of the jungle and we had to drive down a narrow road, then walk to see these ruins.

This Hindu civilization is called the Cham, and its descendants still live in Vietnam. The temple complex we visited, unfortunately was bombed by the US and among the ancient relics they display US bombs. It is a horrible thing to contemplate. The destruction of these ancient ruins for no good reason, makes you ashamed.

Driving to the ancient Imperial Capital of Hue we stopped at a roadside small building where three generations of a family have baked (actually steamed) a rice tortilla like pancake that they sell. I made one and it wasn’t to bad. I felt this wasn’t a gimmick but a real business.

On our way to Hue (it rhymes when you say it aloud) we also drove by a marble mountain with its accompanying stores of carved marble. I didn’t know that Vietnam actually had marble.

The entire country is getting spiffed up, Tet, the lunar new year is quickly approaching and in addition it is the 85^th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

We finally arrived in Hue and are staying at the La Residence. This hotel was originally the Residence of the French administrator of Vietnam, before they lost the war to Ho Chi Minh. It is very art deco. We checked in and immediately headed for massages. 

We absolutely love the food in Vietnam. They really understand vegetables (and good wine). In addition we have no fear of eating fresh lettuces, the hotels all grow their own.

Tomorrow we explore this imperial city.