Well, what can I say. First impressions were spot on. We both loved Hue. The DMZ tour on the 26th was a long old day. We had a ridiculously early (6am) start and didn't get back till nearly 7pm, but it was a really good day. The Vinh Moc tunnels were a real eye opener as well as a bit of a back breaker. These were dug and used by villages supporting the North Vietnamese during the war. They were not only used for storing and transporting all sorts of weapons and supplies but also were home to an entire towns population. Within the tunnel system were family quarters, eating rooms, treatment rooms and bathrooms. Of course most Vietnamese are under 5'7" so we spent 40 minutes bent double trying to avoid cracking our heads.
We were a bit tired that evening so decided to eat in our hotel rather than heading into town. Now this was a mistake I tell you! Having ordered our meals we were informed that there would be a 30 minute wait, but not told why. Just under 30 minutes later Carol spotted a what looked like a take away meal being delivered to the kitchen. And yep, two minutes later our luke warm dinner was served. Yuk!
We had a fab second day here. A more relaxed tour around some of the historical sites of Hue, including a few of the old imperial tombs and temples, plus a wander around the old citadel. For those who want the history lesson, Hue was the imperial capital of Vietnam until 1945.
We spent the evening at our favourite haunt, the DMZ bar, watching the comings and goings of the mopeds. It's amazing how at home these guys are on them and how well the pillion passenger can balance. We saw numerous passengers sitting on the rear of the bikes with their knees pulled up to their chests, completely tucked up under the same rain poncho as the driver (poncho's rule cos it's far too hot for coats, even when raining). Alternatively they'll have an umbrella on the back of the bike.
Today (28th) we travelled south to Hoi An. The old part of the town is the main attraction, dating back 200 plus years, and is lovely to just stroll around. The numerous shops & stalls mainly consist of art galleries, restaurants and tailors (It was in Hoi An where the Top Gear boys got kitted out). We ended up buying a few more souvenirs which we're now going to have to post home tomorrow as our bags are already rammed. We're only two weeks in and this will be the second lot we've posted home. Finger's crossed they'll still look good when we're back home and not just look like travel tat!
We're planning on having a quiet mooch around town again tomorrow before catching an evening flight south to Dalat, and then on to the central highlands over the following days.
That's all for now folks.
lots of love from Mr & Mrs xxx
Ps Dickie, for your info the eggs are still working.
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