Near Hanoi: In the rain - and in the water. Gravestones in the middle of the rice fields.
Near Hanoi: In the rain, cows in the rice, and that white blob is ducks who are turned into the rice to keep it free of bugs and weeds.
We fly from Hanoi to Hue on Vietnam Airlines. Photo from the airport bus in Hue.
Our hotel in Hue. All of our hotels are nice, maybe about 3 stars in our categories.
Near Hue: Took a boat on Huong River to see Thein My Pagoda.
Near Hue: Thien My Pagoda.
Near Hue: Thien My Pagoda.
Near Hue: An, our guide, wears a colorful headband today.
Near Hue: Thien My Pagoda.
Near Hue: We were stopped in the bus and saw these water buffalo. This mama charged (slowly) one of our members who got too close, but she (our fellow-traveler, not the buffalo) got on the bus quickly.
Next stop: Walking tour of Hue Imperial Citadel UNESCO, moated, walled citadel surrounded by eleven stone gates. We tour the citadel, the Imperial Enclosure, the inner Forbidden Purple City.
Hue Imperial Citadel UNESCO walking tour.
Hue Imperial Citadel UNESCO walking tour - beautiful metal work on cannon.
Hue Imperial Citadel across the moat and through the thick gates.
An Entrance to Hue Imperial Citadel UNESCO Heritage site.
Beautiful Hue Imperial Citadel.
Hue Imperial Pallace: In front of the moat (river).
Hue Imperial Citadel UNESCO - detail with the colors showing the effects of age.
Hue Imperial Citadel UNESCO- huge metal kettles.
Hue Imperial Citadel, beautifully restored detail of the entrance.
We had lunch at the Dieu Thanh Buddhist Pagoda Nunnery and had an interesting conversation with a young woman preparing to be a nun.
Hue: A busy street scene along the road from the nunnery to the orphanage.
Hue: Minh Tu Orphanage visit.
Hue: Babies have been left under this tree for the orphanage to find and care for.
Hue: Getting lots of loving care.
Orphanage near Hue: Another very young (and sleepy) orphan.
An is friends with these twins, who are being raised in the orphange.
Hue Orphanage Dinner. All of the children seem to be healthy, well-behaved, and enjoying each other.
On the way to Hoi An. This was a pit stop that became quite interesting. These are all used for oyster fishing.
From Hue to Hoi An: The oyster fishing area. The bike tires in the lower right are used over the sticks (I think) as the oysters fasten onto them.
From Hue to Hoi An: Her job is to brush the oysters off the bike tires. Or maybe the oysters are already gone to the clean water step and she is scraping off the shells. I don't know.
From Hue to Hoi An: Fishing nets hanging over the water. My understanding is that the nets will be lowered into the water, then later lifted by the 4 corners, and the catch harvested.
From Hue to Hoi An: These two go out in their floating basket to harvest from the nets.
Almost to Danang, where I think we have lunch.
Yes, almost to Danang, then on our way again to Hoi An.
Hoi An: We arrive in Hoi An, check in, and head for dinner at a place that works with silk worms.
Hoi An: Moth of the silkworm. Rather ghostly, I think.
Hoi An: Watching as she pulls out threads of silk.
Hoi An: Cooking demonstration and dinner. Lester (right) is clearly helping!
Hoi An: Showing us how to cook silk worms. I didn't feel 100%, thus just wasn't hungry for worms that night!
Hoi An: known as the city of lanterns, and they are everywhere!
Hoi An: Workman carving interesting designs...
Hoi An: One of his creations. I like it!
Hoi An: This is a beautiful 16th-century Japanese bridge with a Buddhist temple located inside. Hoi An old town is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Hoi An, looking across the river from Old Town.
Hoi An old town is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Hoi An: Dragon fountain in front of Quang Trieu Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Hoi An: Detail-Dragon fountain in front of Quang Trieu Cantonese Assembly Hall.
