Nov 16 2016

Thursday Doors: 17/11/16

I didn’t post for Thursday Doors last week as I was en route to Vietnam.

I’ve now reached Huế in Central Vietnam.

Huế was the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and the national capital from 1802-1945. 

The city is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Perfume River, just a few miles inland from the East Sea. It is about 700 km (430 mi) south of Hanoi and about 1,100 km (680 mi) north of Hồ Chí Minh City.

During the Republic of Vietnam, Huế’s central location very near the border between the North and South put it in a vulnerable position in the Vietnam War.

In the Tết Offensive of 1968, during the Battle of Huế, the city suffered considerable damage not only to its physical features, but its reputation as well, due to a combination of the American military bombing of historic buildings held by the North Vietnamese, and the massacre at Huế committed by the communist forces.

After the war’s conclusion, many of the historic features of Huế were neglected because they were seen by the victorious communist regime and some other Vietnamese as “relics from the feudal regime”; the Vietnamese Communist Party doctrine officially described the Nguyễn Dynasty as “feudal” and “reactionary.” There has since been a change of policy, however, and many historical areas of the city are currently being restored.

And beautifully so. Huế is the place to see tombs, pagodas, temples and the Imperial City and dive into the history of the  Emperor dynasties.

I’ve started with tombs ( these tombs are equivalent to country estates) and am working up to the Imperial City for my final day.

I’m not one for coach tours, so having found a great Vietnamese motorbike driver in Hoi An (who touted me on the side of the street.Yeah, I know, I did wonder what I was getting into, but, hey, I’m grown up now…) and who gave me an amazing day out in the villages around Hoi An, we made an arrangement that suited us both for 2 days biking around Hue.

Today was Tomb and Pagoda day. Impressive. All beautifully kept and such serene places, steeped in tradition.

It was a joy to do history and culture today, and then cool down on the back of a bike.

Walk with me around the tomb of  Emperor Tự Đức who was the fourth emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam and reigned from 1847–1883. Concentrating on doors  of course…(and arches too, forgive me Norm, I couldn’t leave them out!)

 

Information about Huế from Wikipedia.

A post for Thursday Doors, Norm Frampton’s weekly challenge . Pop on over to check out other doors for this week…

17 comments on “Thursday Doors: 17/11/16”

  3. Wow, some pretty amazing shots. It is incredible when you start thinking about the amount of time and effort an dedication that went into building some of these structures.
    This is a part of the world that I will probably never get to, so I really do appreciate the chance to take the tour thanks to these shots.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Hi Vicki

    We loved Hue as well when we were last there…. It is beautiful and steeped in history. Sounds like you are having a great time…. Are you going to Hoi An?

    Enjoying your posts.

    Will and Georgie

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hi there, travellers, I’ve done Hoi An, leaving Hue tomorrow, will send an email, it was thanks to your advice that I took the plunge. Hope you are both safe & well and enjoying India xx Vietnam has been wonderful…

      Like

      Reply

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