Our shortest stop in our Vietnam trip is to the small city of Hue - about an hour’s flight from Hanoi. We made a half day trip up the Perfume River on a noisy boat feeling like being in the middle of a Vietnam War movie. First stop was the Thien Mu Pagoda where, our guide explained the significance of the number seven in Buddhism. Most impressive here is that you get to see the Austin car used by Buddhist monk Thích Quang Duc when he burned himself to death in 1963 in Saigon. He was protesting at a crackdown on Buddhism. This was the starting point of his trip to Saigon. Three more monks and three nuns did the same - making it seven deaths.
Further up the river is the huge Ming Manh mausoleum. Well worth seeing, though I expect it would be more spectacular later in the year when flowers would be blooming. We were driven back to our hotel after this and we spent the rest of the afternoon in downtown Hue. Not quite as busy as Hanoi, but we sat at the side of the street drinking beer while soaking in atmosphere.
Some photos from the day:
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At the Ming Manh Mausoleum.
Thích Quang Duc’s car.
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