By James and Shayla
After a great breakfast at the Asia Hotel, the day started out with an early bike ride. Riding along Hue’s roads was both challenging and exciting. There was never a dull moment along the 25km trek! The city of Hue is known for many things, one of which being its high density of motorcycles. We all had to be alert to carefully and strategically navigate our way through the traffic, which is an example of a cultural difference between Melbourne and Hue. On many occasions, we noticed large groups of motorists would continue to drive through the intersections, even on red lights, which was a big surprise for most people in Vietnam Grey.
Our first stop along the bike ride was at the Imperial Palace of the Nguyen Dynasty. We learned that this was the last dynasty of Vietnam which lasted from 1802-1945. At the center of the Imperial Palace was the Purple Forbidden city, which sadly was ruined during the war in 1968. During our time at the palace, we also saw blocks of mahogany wood that had been inscribed with characters and used as notebooks. The palace was absolutely stunning, with intricate detail along every wall. It was suffused with an air of ruined grandeur. Behind the far left walls lay vibrant gardens, overgrown with grass and various broken brick walls dispersed amongst it. It was awe-inspiring to see the contrast of the lively grass laying beneath the rubble of demolished structures. Although the palace was breathtaking, it was hot and everyone was in dire need of refreshments. We all took a quick rest and cooled down with ice cream and drinks, before we got back on the bikes and headed to our next destination.
By the time we reached our next stop, everyone was feeling slightly fatigued but still excited to see the Heaven Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu). This pagoda was built in 1601 and is the oldest in Central Vietnam. One of the main attractions in the pagoda was a special car which was driven from Hue to Saigon by a significant Buddhist monk. In 1963, he burned himself in protest of South Vietnamese laws that banned Buddhism.
After lunch and some rest time, we had the opportunity to go on cyclos for a thirty-minute tour around the inner city. A cyclo is a common Vietnamese bike, containing three wheels and seating two, and is pedaled by a driver. These bikes are a great way to experience the inner life of Hue, whilst also being rather relaxed. The cyclo trips also provided some excitement, as you are in the midst of busy streets. It was fascinating to see the night life of Hue, as we rode past the various decorations and events. By the end of the ride, everyone was sad that it had to end – but also relieved, since we were all getting hungry.
For dinner, we all split up into small groups and went off in search for a place to eat. The choices of restaurants ranged from Vietnamese to Mexican to western. Overall, we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals and were ready for a good last night in Hue.
Shayla: I miss you guys so much and I’m having a great time in Vietnam, say hi to Skyden for me. See you guys in 5 days.
James: Hey mum and dad, miss you guys a lot, I’m loving Vietnam, give the dogs some love. Wishing Jess all the best for her exams. See you soon and I hope you’re looking forward to your presents.
