We are now comfortably situated in the centre of the Imperial City of Hue… A World Heritage site where the wealth of Vietnam and its reigning kings resided for 100s of years. Yesterday we wandered the city via rickshaw. The most visited site is The Citadel. It is a palace fortress built between 1803 -1810 and contained within a moat (channelled off the Perfume River). Within the Citadel lies the Imperial City surrounded by high walls…and within the Imperial City lies the Forbidden Purple City , where the emperor, his family & closest confidantes lived and worked. Keep in mind, Vietnam was ruled by 13 different kings from 1803 til 1945 . In 1958 the Communists of N Vietnam destroyed much of the Forbidden Purple City to get rid of all the important memories of the South Vietnamese people. Then during the Vietnam War about 1970, the USA destroyed the rest of the city while bombing this area which was full of North Vietnamese soldiers.

From 1945 to 1987 the Communist government owned everything .. Businesses, buildings, etc and they gave the people a ticket for purchasing small amount of food. Some Vietnamese worked 8 hrs and others were lazy, but everyone got the same pension from the government. Most Vietnamese were unhappy and upset about their economy. In 1987 , the embargo was lifted and their Economy became based on capitalism (with no welfare or government assistance), but their political system remains communism to this day.

We also visited Tu Duc’s 50 building tomb complex that includes lakes, gardens and many ancient statues. Tu Duc was the 4th king who had 103 wives but no kids since he was sterile from smallpox at a young age. But, his Great-grandfather, the 2nd King had 500 wives and 143 kids. Busy to say the least.

It is so hot and humid, and with all this walking today, we are realizing how much weight we are carrying and vowed to get skinny” on our return to Texas.😜

One of the most notable memories of the area will be the locusts. Millions in the tree making a deafening noise that actually makes your ears hurt. They are a delicacy here. At night, the local take a lantern and wait at the base of a tree for the baby locusts to come down to the ground so they can catch them and prepare them for dinner. Bon appetite!