Our only goal for the day was to see an emperor's tomb. We hadn't totally decided whether it would be the closest one or the farthest one, but we were going by bicycle, so we could decide as we went based on how tired we were. This was a very good theory. We also set aside loads of time because there wasn't a great map for directions (we were he...

After our very adventurous trip to Halong Bay we were all nice and tired so off we went to get the night train to Hue. We had booked a first class compartment with "soft beds" (I think the alternative was a bench so we didn't have much choice). I don't know what it is about me maybe I smile too much or I have a really innocent face but the minut...

Get the joke in the title...Hue is pronounced Way..ha ha Hue used to be a the main tourist spot in between saigon and Hanoi as it was the former imperial capital but I have to say i've found it pretty dull and two days here is a day and a half too long. That and everyone thinking i'm Cameron mackintosh!!!! The good stuff are the mausoleums dedic...

No photos in this one..... Summary of our Vietnam experience Costs We really don't try too hard with haggling over prices - everything is cheap! Once you've seen something set price and reasonable, and committed it to memory, don't be ripped off! You will be asked very high prices by the most humble stallholders (over US$3 for some normal shoe l...

I'm drying out here in Hue, a former capital of Vietnam. With Ayuthaya and Sukothai in Thailand, and Luang Prabang in Laos, that makes my fourth ancient capital. When I arrived on the overnight train from Hanoi, it was rain cats and dogs and frogs and didn't let up for two days. We now know that it was a pretty serious typhoon, but I'm happy to ...

Hello again, Thirteen emperors ruled Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945). Of the 13 tombs, about half have been destroyed by either war or thieves. Of the ones that survive, three are interesting enough to visit. The Nguyen emperors selected the location of their tombs and designed the site while still living. To many Vietnamese, death...

We have been in Hue for 3 days now having arrived on the overnight train at 8.30am two days ago. The train in itself was ok and not as bad as we thought. Trains get booked up here miles in advance, and we could only get hard sleeper cabins. this means six beds in a berth, with a hard bench and a one inch foam "mattress" on it. You get pillows an...

We arrived in Hue bright and early on the 4th April after another tedious overnight experience, this time on a bus. After a very minimal amount of sleep we arrived only to be bombarded by a group of hotel staff waving business cards in our direction and asking us to stay at their hotel. We followed one of these people a couple of metres to the P...

I really went to Hoi An to be nosy. I didn't have much time, but I really wanted to have a look at the famous old city Hoi An where the Quiet American was filmed so I booked myself into a dorm in the Greenfields hotel for two nights. Hoi An is famous mainly for its tailors. It's really picturesque, because the buildings are all old fashioned as ...

After doing a nice bike trip yesterday, getting drunk with Sebastian and Inge - a dutch girl from the dorm - and playing pool, I went to the beach today. The weather isn't great anymore, but it was my last chance for the beach, as I'm going to leave Vietnam tomorrow. It's a hard goodbye, as I liked Vietnam a lot. I like the hustle and bustle, th...