After a
quick stop in Da Nang to rejoin the tour group, we rode on the bus through the Pass
of Ocean Clouds with nice views of the South China Sea (Vietnamese call it the
East Sea) and a pretty fishing village, making our way to Hue. It was
certainly beautiful, but we have seen so many of these views in New Zealand and
Vietnam just can’t compete.
I found the
religion in Vietnam confusing at best with the Bhuddism, Hinduism, Taoism,
Confucianism, Christian, and Islam all influencing the current practices or
non-practices today. More Vietnamese call themselves Bhuddists than anything
else, but it does seem to be a mix of many religions. We saw temples, towers,
pagodas, a cathedral, churches, and a monastery.
While in Hue
we visited a pagoda and a Bhuddist monastery where young boys were studying to
be monks, the Imperial Citadel, and the Mausoleum of Tu Duc, emporer during the
Nguyen Dynasty. The Mausoleum had been planned while Tu Duc was still alive,
and he lived there for several years, had over one hundred wives, many
concubines, but no children. It was a large and at one time lavish place, but I
had seen enough ruins and was ready to head to Hanoi.
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| The shrine where the Buddhist monks worship |
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| Thiem Mu Pagoda |
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| The monks and "monk in training" in the kitchen | |
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| Thai Hoa Palace inside the Imperial Citadel |
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| Night view of The Citadel from our hotel |
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| Some of the restoration at Tu Duc Mausoluem |
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