Hue, Vietnam - The Peaceful City Of Palaces And Historical Value -- Sightseeing

Ao Dai at Hue, Vietnam

View Photos (3) Image © 2010 Allison Dinh

URL:

http://vietnamhotels.net/hue/

Description:

Thai Hoa Palace

The halls form a courtyard, the fourth side of which was once a wall dividing the more public area of the citadel from the emperor's private residence, the "Forbidden Purple City." Unfortunately, it takes quite a bit of imagination to picture the buildings that once occupied what is now a grassy expanse. What wasn't destroyed by a fire in 1947 was bombed in the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Off to one side of the central axis of the forbidden city, about midway, is the Thai Binh Lau or Royal Library. You will find similar ponds, fountains or even large bowls of water in many structures all over Vietnam.

Perfume River

It's hard to explain the uncanny beauty of the river, though doubtless the iridescent, aquamarine waters, together with the profusion of colorful craft and boat women sporting non la--the ubiquitous cream-colored conical hat of Vietnam--all contribute to the effect.

Published on 10/1/10