Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Day 17 - Our first day in Hue - we are here a while so didn't want to rush things. We head down stairs for breakfast which consists of noodle soap, toast and homemade jam, fruit and coffee - not too bad as it's all included in our £12 a night!
First stop to get me some glasses - head to a shop recommended on good old Trip Advisor (not that I'm obsessed or anything) and then proceed to try on nearly every pair in the shop. Settle on a pair of black frames and some sunglasses - he then quotes me 750,000 dong for the frames, lenses and anti-reflective coating - that's about £20!!! When we double check the price he thinks we're haggling but we just can't believe how cheap it is (just spent £250 on two pairs at home!). The sunglasses I choose were a designer pair by Bebe.
He says to come back in an hour so we head off for the Citadel and Imperial City of the old Emperors of Vietnam. It's an impressive complex of buildings, but they have been badly damaged by the two Indochina wars (bullet holes and all) so it needs a lot of restoration. We quite like the over-grown ruins - it's very thought provoking reading about the battle between American forces and the Vietnamese army just over 30 years ago that took place at what is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stop for some lunch - trying some Hue speciality spring roles - and then back to pick up the glasses. Then wandered around the local market and the first supermarket we've seen on our travels. A bit of chocolate had to be bought!
We decide to find a quiet spot to chill out and do a spot of people watching - so select a bench by the side of the Perfume River - bad choice!! We lost track of the number of 1 hour boat rides, drinks, paintings, cyclo rides we were offered - not very relaxing!! Whilst sitting I noticed that the sunglasses said Bebe on one side and Beb on the other, unbelievable, can't believe they are fake for that price (please note sarcasm)! Chris is feeling generous today and is thinking of buying all his mates some 'genuine' Armani sunglasses!!
When we get back to the hotel we are greeted by complementary fresh orange juices! We organise an afternoon tour of the tombs for tomorrow and a bike ride for the day after - just got to be brave enough to cycle here!
Dinner at Nina's cafe - another Trip Advisor recommendation. It's down another dodgy looking alley but worth finding. More spring rolls - including ones we had to roll ourselves (I didn't really master the technique) and then we stopped for a quick drink on the way back to the hotel at a westernised bar, the Why Not Bar.
- comments