Checking out Hue

Trip Start Nov 08, 2006
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102
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Trip End Ongoing


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Monday, April 2, 2007

Our first day in Hue was another beauty: 90 degrees and sunny.  We had enjoyed some warm weather in Cat Ba and Hanoi, but it had yet to get hot.  So in Hue we busted out the flops and shorts and hit the town.
 
Hue is a historic capital of Vietnam.  In 1558 it was the capital of the Nguyen Lords of the south.  In 1802 the northern rivals were defeated, and Hue became the capital of a reunited Vietnam.  But the French showed up in the early 20th century, and Vietnam suffered from foreign occupation for the next 75 years.

Hue is well-known to Americans as well.  The city's Cot Co Flag Tower achieved internation fame on January 31, 1968, when communist forces seized the Citadel and ran up their yellow-starred banner in what is known at the Tet Offensive.

The city suffered severe damage during the ensuing fight for the area.  It also fell into disrepair after the Communist victory in 1975.  But the city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and restoration has been very successful.
 
The park along the Perfume River was beautiful, but after a few hours of the heat we were ready to all it a day.  Back to the AC.
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