We choose the overnight train from Hanoi which took us 14 hours in a private sleeping cabin which I got for some bugs more to the conductor.
This area was strong effected by the recent cyclone so we weren`t sure about the situation when we arrive. The cities were flooded up to 1.5meters but within few days everything was cleaned up and the live was back is usual. Was really impressive how this was handled in such short time - you could see their routine as such flooding happens 2-3 times each year.
Hue was once the capital of the kingdom featuring a huge Imperial Palace which still can be visited today.
Today it`s covered with grass and gives it a bit of a “Lost Kingdom” touch, which allows you to explore the maze of temples and back alleys on foot as you like.
Here the transport is still years back and depends on bicycles and rickshaws.
The real highlight lies a bit outside of the city – the emperor tombs. About 9 (annexed by French) kings reigned over Vietnam and most of them build huge tombs during their reign to set a timeless example of their power.
Some tombs took even longer to build than the reign time of the king itself.
My clear favorite is Khai Dinh tomb which sits on top of hill overlooking the rice fields with a grey gothic touch of marble and impressive tomb walls featuring millions of mosaics.
This tomb can easily compete with the Taj Mahal in India but is unkown in comparison – so that`s a real INSIDER TIP ;-)
Yours Tomb Raider
More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/TheMajesticEmperiorTombsInHue
