Thankfully the 13-hour train "experience" went better than expected, and we hopped off the train into the blinding early morning sun. Avoiding the multitude of various transportation options, we made the short hike to the Binh Minh Sunrise hotel. Thankfully they had rooms available and we could check in immediately. Hello nap time!
After our much needed break we headed out across the Perfume River to check out the Citadel - the former home of the Nguyen dynasty for 400 years. It was heavily hit during the Vietnam War, considering Hue's position near the DMZ. That damage is still quite visible today, and it definitely added another element to the site. Although reluctant at first, we agreed to hire a cyclo driver to pedal us around the area. That was one of the best decisions of the trip. Not only did we get to see more in a shorter time period, but we gave our weary legs a welcome respite. I can only imagine what the immense complex and it's beautiful architecture and gardens looked like at its peak.
The next day we set out on a short boat cruise to see one of the Nguyen family tombs before our evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City. We could have done a much longer trip and took in more sites, but the trip ended up being almost five hours anyway, and that was plenty long. But it was nice to relax on the boat and enjoy the wind in your face while taking in the surrounding Vietnamese countryside as it alternated between jungle and farm land.
The only real negative from the trip was that we ended up being a captive audience for the sales pitch of our hostess. From post cards to bookmarks, clothing to figurines, we were offered it all. There were some interesting items, so we did make some purchases, probably more than we would have in different circumstances, but it wasn't the end of the world.
Back on land, we hurried back to the hotel to check out and then waited for our bus to the airport. Because I waited too long to book tickets we had little choice but to purchase business class tickets. The experience was pretty cool, but it would have been nice to have for a flight longer than an hour! Having called ahead we checked in to our hotel in HCMC and crashed in the blackness of our window-less room. I don't think I've slept that well in quite some time.
Next up: HCMC.
After our much needed break we headed out across the Perfume River to check out the Citadel - the former home of the Nguyen dynasty for 400 years. It was heavily hit during the Vietnam War, considering Hue's position near the DMZ. That damage is still quite visible today, and it definitely added another element to the site. Although reluctant at first, we agreed to hire a cyclo driver to pedal us around the area. That was one of the best decisions of the trip. Not only did we get to see more in a shorter time period, but we gave our weary legs a welcome respite. I can only imagine what the immense complex and it's beautiful architecture and gardens looked like at its peak.
The next day we set out on a short boat cruise to see one of the Nguyen family tombs before our evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City. We could have done a much longer trip and took in more sites, but the trip ended up being almost five hours anyway, and that was plenty long. But it was nice to relax on the boat and enjoy the wind in your face while taking in the surrounding Vietnamese countryside as it alternated between jungle and farm land.
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| One of the courtyards in the massive tomb complex. |
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| Boats of all shapes and sorts floated the river. |
Back on land, we hurried back to the hotel to check out and then waited for our bus to the airport. Because I waited too long to book tickets we had little choice but to purchase business class tickets. The experience was pretty cool, but it would have been nice to have for a flight longer than an hour! Having called ahead we checked in to our hotel in HCMC and crashed in the blackness of our window-less room. I don't think I've slept that well in quite some time.
Next up: HCMC.
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