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After a long and bumpy ride on the train, we arrived at Hue station at around 9 am. Lots of cab drivers were waiting for foreign visitors outside this train station. However the cab fare they quoted us was rather pricey of their standard. After a long bargain with one driver, we decided to take his cab to the area where most hotels are located.
Our aim was just to have a room for shower and checked out before 6 pm for our flight. Most of the hotels quoted us for a room usage were too expensive. Finally negotiated for a room at about USD 10, located at one of the corners of the street. Had ourselves washed up and went to look for some eateries around the area.
Brunch
Finally found one hotel restaurant that matches our requirement. After finishing our 'brunch', it was already about 11.30 am; almost half a day was gone. We could only plan to walk to the Imperial city instead of joining any typical half-day or full day tour where it covers other itineraries like the imperial tombs and the river cruise.
Imperial City of Hue
The Imperial City of Hue was built by Vietnamese Emperor Gia Long in the year 1804 according to the layout of 'Forbidden City' in Beijing, but with a reduced size. This imperial city was the palace of the royal family until mid-1900s when the monarchy was overthrown. Since then, the buildings inside this city were damaged by termites' infestation, natural disasters and US bombing during the Vietnam War. However the remaining buildings that had survived are still impressive and grand, especially the Meridian gate.
The Imperial City of Hue was designated as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.The grounds of the Imperial City are protected by fortified ramparts 2-km by 2-km, and ringed by a water moat where water is routed from the Perfume River. Imposing Palace Gate (left photo below) and the pair of stone lions (right photo below) once guarded the imperial citadel.
The most impressive gate is the Meridian Gate (午門). Also known as the South Gate, it is the main gate to the Imperial City (photo below). The gate is divided into two levels: the stone and brick fortress-like base structure, and the more elaborate, palace-like upper level. The upper level consists of the "Five-Phoenix Pavilion" with its roof decked in imperial yellow, glazed ceramic roof tiles.
The Royal Reading room (太平樓) was the only building to survive the ravages of the 20th century (left photo below). Both the French reoccupation and American bombs failed to bring it down. It was first built by the Emperor Thieu Tri between 1841 and 1847. In the old days, the Emperors used to retire to this Royal Reading room to read books and write letters.
From the surviving buildings and items exhibited such as the Imperial Edict (right photo below) that it is obvious that Vietnamese had adopted Chinese writings and culture during the Nguyễn dynasty.
It can be interesting to take about an hour or two to visit this city at an admission price of VND 55,000 (about SGD 5.50), though there are not many surviving buildings left inside the imperial city.
Mandarin café
While walking back to the hotel, we decided to have some snacks at Mandarin café (left photo below). This café was recommended by most travel magazines to be one of the friendliest cafés for backpackers in Hue. Its owner is an avid photographer who had lots of photo displaying inside the café. Visitors can browse through his photo album and buy these photos at the agreed price.
Of course, we were more interested on the food menu. We've ordered the ice-cream banana pancake (right photo below) for VND 18,000, Vietnamese Spring roll wrapped in rice paper (bottom left photo) for VND 25,000 and fried shrimps (bottom right photo) for VND 40,000. Total cost was VND 83,000 (about SGD 8.30) which was worth its value.
Phu Bai International Airport
Managed to book a mini-coach to Phu Bai International Airport (Hue) via the hotel front desk and arrived almost 3-hours ahead of our actual flight timing. There weren't any shops or eateries open at that time in the terminal (left photo below). We could only try to take a nap inside the airport until the eateries open, and only had a bowl of miserable instant noodle at VND 10,000 (about SGD 1.00) for dinner. We realized that there were more eateries and shops inside the transit terminal. the IATA for this Phu Bai International Airport is HUI.
Vietnam Airlines
We got our air tickets one day before at Hanoi from the Vietnam Airlines sales office just located near the Hoan Kiem Lake. We waited about 20 minutes for the ticket processing and paid USD 60.40 for this evening flight. Probably it was a domestic flight, the Vietnam airline counter opened relatively late, only at about 1½ hour prior to the departure. As it was my first time taking Vietnam airlines, I must comment that it was a rather pleasant experience for a short flight of 1 hour and 20 minutes (right photo below). There was even food served during the flight; some sandwich and water.
After coming out from the Ho Chi Minh domestic airport, we were approached by one cab driver who claimed to take metered fare. During the journey, the driver kept introducing some other hotels but was refused by us as we had decided on one hotel recommended from a local travel magazine. The driver even deliberately "turned off" his cab meter claiming that it was faulty. We were so pissed off by him that we got off in the middle of the road and paid him the last shown fare. We got onto another cab and reached the hotel we've decided.
Again luck was not with us, the hotel was fully booked, but we managed to book the N.Y. Kim Phuong Hotel located diagonally across the road at USD 25 per night. Finally had a good rest after all these hassles.
Day Eight
First agenda was to the Sinhcafe (Vietnam famous travel agent) to book our day tour for the following day; which took us about ½ hour to reach this travel agent. Managed to book our day tour for the next day.
Breakfast
As the breakfast served at N.Y. Kim Phuong Hotel (left photo below) was rather not appetizing and pricey, we decided to hunt for our breakfast around district 1 of Ho Chi Minh (HCM) city. After having our day tour booked, we saw Ben Thanh Market while on the way back. Decided to have our breakfast at a western café before going to this market. It was rather expensive (to Vietnam standard) for two eggs with some bread at VND 18,000 (about SGD 1.80), however there wasn't any other decent choice found along that area (right photo below).
Ben Thanh Market
The Ben Thanh market (photo below) is often associated with Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok by many Singaporean; where all the things needed are found in a single building. However the Ben Thanh market is much smaller in scale compared to Chatuchak weekend market.
Pho24 restaurant
Went back to N.Y. Kim Phuong Hotel to check out our room. While walking to our next hotel, we saw this Pho24 restaurant (left photo below). This restaurant was recommended to have authentic Vietnamese taste (right photo below). Personally it tastes better than the ones we've tried at Sapa, of course in a more hygienic environment setup.
Rex Hotel
Checked in at Rex Hotel (left photo below). This is a five-star hotel which has the sheer luxury design in its room (right photo below). Most importantly, the hotel is 'strategically' located besides HCM city hall, many shopping malls and tourist information centre; which is very convenient for most first time visitor (photos below).
After some wash-up, we began exploring HCM city by foot.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
This is the city hall of Ho Chi Minh City (photo below). The building is not open to the public, therefore can't do much except photo-taking.
Next is the Reunification Palace (left photo below). This building used to be the home and workplace for former South Vietnam President during the Vietnam War. It was the site of the Fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975 that ended the Vietnam War, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates.
The Reunification Palace has two main floors, two mezzanines, a terrace and a basement with about 100 rooms decorated in different styles to suit different purposes. The cabinet room was used to organize meetings and cabinet launch ceremonies (right photo below).
Lots of luxurious furniture and decorations with combination between modern Western and classical Eastern styles can be found inside this building (photos below).
Admission price was VND 15,000 (or about SGD 1.50) and opening hour is 7:30-11:00 and 13:00-16:00 daily.
We then walked to the War Museum but didn't enter as we found out from the security guard that it consists of just photos and some rusty war-crafts on display.
Main Post Office
Next stop, the Main Post Office (photos below). The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century. It counts with Gothic, Renaissance and French influences. It was constructed between 1886 and 1891 and is now a tourist attraction.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is a cathedral located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City (photos below). The cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880, and its name 'Notre-Dame Cathedral' has been used since 1959. It has two bell towers, each reaching a height of 58-meters.
Dinner
Had our dinner at a food court in one of the shopping malls. Ordered Fried Rice at VND 38,000, or about SGD 3.8 (left photo below) and later we tried 4 scoops of New Zealand Natural ice cream (right photo below). We also tried their 'Highlanders' coffee, in which its taste was typical as those found in Singapore.
Had an early rest to prepare for the day tour on the next day.
Day Nine
Full Day Tour
Booked a full day tour from Sinhcafe at USD 7 for the itinerary to Cao Dai temple and Cu Chi tunnels.
We've waited almost half an hour for the shuttle bus to pick us up from our hotel to Sinhcafe main office, where we were then transferred to another coach bus. The journey was long from HCM city to Cao Dai temple as the traffic was packed in the morning.
Cao Dai Temple
- Cao Dai Temple is the center of Caodaism faithful in South Vietnam. What is unique is their religion belief Caodaism which is an indigenous Vietnamese religion combining the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam. Cao Dai religion is ethnic to Vietnam and has about 3 million followers worldwide.
The construction of the temple started in 1933, but it was not completed until 1955. The temple spreads over an area of 5600-sqaure meters with a length of 140-meters and a width of 40-meters (photos below). It consists of 4 towers which are named differently as Tam Dai, Hiep Thien Dai, Cuu Trung Dai and Bat Quai Dai.
Even unique is the architecture of their temple where it is beautifully decorated with dragons and various religious icons (photos below).
Cao Dai's pantheon of saints includes such diverse figures as the Buddha, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Pericles, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, and the Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen. These are honored at Cao Dai temples, along with ancestors (photos below).
It is a real eye-opening experience to witness their daily prayer at 12 noon (photos below).
Lunch (at own expense) was taken at a coffee shop near the temple.
Cu Chi Tunnels
- Next itinerary was to visit the Cu Chi tunnels where it used to be military tunnels for defending and attacking during the Vietnam War. Our tour group was first brought into a presentation room to watch a documentary on the history of Cu Chi tunnel. This was then followed by visiting some of the tunnels.
None of us could identify the opening of tunnel cover until the guide showed us, and the opening is big enough to actually squeeze an adult (photos below).
More surprises when we were shown with the types of booby traps used during the war, where some could be deadly (photos below).
We then invited to crawl in the safer short parts of the dark tunnel system for experience (left photo below). In order to accommodate tourists, this tunnel has been made wider and taller. Visitors could also pay to experience the thrill of firing real bullets in the range; of course these live-firings no longer fascinate me as I've been through the National Service.
Day Ten
Went to Ben Thanh Market for final shopping in the morning. Bought more of the Trung Nguyen 3-in-1 sachets and a pack of grounded coffee powder.
While walking back to hotel, we noticed their grand Municipal Theatre (left photo below). After checking out from the hotel, we decided to have our lunch at the Saigon Trading Group Shopping Mall (right photo below) that is located opposite our hotel.
Lunch
Decided to pamper ourselves with good food at Sushi Express. I've ordered a Bento set and a Sushi wrap set for a total of USD 7, excluding VAT (photos below).
Ho Chi Minh City Airport
After lunch, we took a cab to HCM airport. This airport is very modern and has many shops inside the transit terminal (left photo below). Personal experience is to exchange all the Vietnamese Dong at the money changer located within the Departure hall (right photo below). It really saves the hassle of exchanging the Dong in HCM city and the exchange rate is reasonable at this money changer.
No worries about buying more souvenirs as USD and VISA can be used at the shops inside the transit terminal.
Singapore Airlines
Standard meal (left photo below) was served during the SQ flight back to Singapore. The sky turned dark in the evening during our flight back (right photo below).
