A tale of three cities

Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast
June 22nd 2012

Published: October 15th 2012

We’d decided long ago to travel Vietnam from south to north, overland. We’d envisaged making reasonably rapid progress on sleeper trains, similar to our experience in Thailand. Then we bought $45 bus passes, entitling us to travel the one thousand miles from Saigon to Hanoi, on buses in various states of disrepair, with numerous stops on the way. So our journey took us to the better-known des... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 67, Displayed: 21

Rooster

A common sight, and sound, on our travels.

Pagoda

Another familiar sight, but a splendid one at that.

Guard

Entrance gates to Minh Mang's burial complex

Their shabby nature does not give a clue to what's inside.

Minh Mang - first pagoda

Life in a place of death

Minh Mang burial complex

The final journey

It transpires that the final gates are locked, leaving Minh Mang in peace forever.

Statues deep in thought

Minh Mang's burial complex.

Entrance to Khai DInh's tomb

Tomb is at obscured third level

Khai Dinh himself

He only reigned for nine years, but in his tomb, he can sit there for as long as he likes.

Khai Dinh, statesmen

He is most remembered for his opulent tomb, in order to pay for which he allowed the French to raise taxes on the peasants.

Ceiling detail

Khai Dinh's tomb

Wall detail

Khai Dinh's tomb

Making incense sticks

The finished product - incense sticks

Sold for a pittance.

Entrance to the Forbidden City

Colours of restoration

Hue was on the frontline during the Vietnam War; it was heavily bombed. Many historic monuments were badly damaged, then fell into neglect under communist rule.

Restoration

Presumably the mobile phone will not form part of the finished article.

Royal court/theatre

Forbidden City

15 minutes of fame

The 'peace sign' can, of course, be traced back to the Vietnamese nobility.

Very regal

What's the point of calling it the Forbidden City, when people can get away with this sort fo thing?

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A tale of three cities

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