Vietnam Part 3

We made our way back from Halong Bay to Hanoi. That evening we would catch the overnight train to Hue. I had heard  not to expect the Orient Express. We would be sleeping in bunks in four birth cabins with a blanket and pillow. Our guide suggested we bring our own food rather than buying from the food cart on the train as the potential to suffer stomach ailments might be increased – putting it nicely.

As the train rattled through the night, we did our best to get some sleep in our bunks that had some questions hanging over them on just what the cleaning practices were – including the pillows and blankets. I faired pretty well and did actually get some quality sleep. The biggest tip I can give on this trip is if you need to go to the loo in the morning make sure you get there early. Being a male was a huge advantage in avoiding what can only be described as a swirling full bowl that would overflow with the movement of the train.

The morning had us moving through the landscape filled with water buffalo, rice paddies and the local village temples. We arrived safely in Hue and looked forward to getting into a cleansing shower at our hotel. We visited the bustling Dong Ba Markets, enjoying some of the fresh local foods.

We toured the area via a rickshaw venturing into the Imperial Citadel complex which contained temples, state houses and the emperor’s palace. The Imperial Citadel reminded me of the Forbidden City in China and in its day would have been quite spectacular. Unfortunately it was targeted and heavily bombed during the Vietnam / American War suffering massive damage. Today it stands as a testament to a determined and resilient country.Our final day in Hue was as pillions on a motorbike tour which was an experience in itself. We stopped for lunch at a local nunnery and visited a Buddhist monastery where young monks live and study their calling in life. I got the feeling they weren’t overly keen to welcome us. We were another group of tourists seeing them as no more than an attraction. Personally, I found them fascinating but I understood their disposition.

This monastery also houses the little blue car which a monk drove to Saigon in 1963, then setting himself alight, tragically burnt to death in protest of the poor treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime.

Leaving Hue, we headed over the Hai Van Pass arriving in the wonderful town of Hoi An. The town’s architecture has a beautifully preserved French influence. Hoi An is famous for its plethora of tailors. We took full advantage of being able to buy tailored outfits at unbelievable prices. Just strolling through the cobblestone streets within the French district looking at the art, clothing, shoes, bags and anything else that you might be interested in was such a fun experience and the shopkeepers are very keen to haggle with fierce competition for the tourist dollar. Take along a picture of your favourite designer piece and they’ll make it.

We also signed up for a cooking class with one of the local chefs, surprisingly creating some wonderful Vietnamese meals. Hoi An also has great restaurants to savour and enjoy the Vietnamese cuisine which is just fantastic.

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If you are planning on going to Vietnam, Hoi An is a must visit and is within easy reach of some of the major resorts along the Cua Dai beach. As usual when we travel, we stayed at a local boutique hotel within the town so we could experience the local vibe.

From Hoi An we move onto Ho Chi Minh City formerly Saigon, where we will visit the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta. But that’s for another day -RD

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