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Vietnam Historical Trip. Day 4-5: Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang

It was our last morning in Saigon city. We had a domestic flight to Da Nang in the evening.While there were still plenty of time before the checked-in, we just meandered around the city, and for my wife last minutes shopping. We also bought along souvenirs and some local delicacies.After having lunch at the nearby restaurant, we had a late check-out and get ready for the pick-up to the airport.

We were thought of skipping several sites just because the 3 days of our stay was not enough. As we still had a plenty of time, the driver stopped us at several tourist spot for a photo shot. We stopped at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral that has two bell towers established by the French Colonist (you might know it by its name) in the 18th century. We also passed through the Saigon Central Post office and the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace.

At around 4 pm, we arrived at the airport, and checked-in for the late evening VN 1326 flight to Da Nang!


A very nice and talkative guide during our stay in Saigon City
The next day, VietnameDrive has arranged a trip to Hue, around 95 km from our hotel, the Grand Mercure Da Nang. On its way, we stopped at the Hoi Van Pass, a winding road passing through Bach Ma National Park. With the overcast sky, and look up for the prettiest beach while we taking photo shoot at Lang Co bay, before proceed to the Imperial Citadel in the Hue city.

The Hoi Van Pass bay facing the South China Sea
Duong Cuu Nan So means the 'road to the death'


The Lang Co Bay is recently being a tourist spot for the beach lovers

The Imperial Citadel is also known as Purple Forbidden City, a palace of the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, Vietnam's former imperial capital and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

A photo shot at Cửa Thể Nhân


We took trishaw ride around the city wall
One of the several lakes in the Purple Forbidden City
The Rock Garden
Afterward, we visited the Museum of Royal Antiquities that has two exhibits. the main exhibit housing antiques/artifact from Nguyen dynasty, being pottery/metal wares used in day to day life. The second exhibit is a small room with an assortment of Cham sculptures from around the region. Very well explained through the description of pieces and Cham culture.

Bronze bell outside the museum

Impressed with dedicate antiquities

Bed frame of Nguyen King
Pennies existed during the Nguyen Dynasty

Urn bronze? I guessed...
About two minutes walked we reached Gate of Manifest Benevolence, other known Cửa Hiển Nhơn, to get into the imperial city from east.

Entrance from east side
The moat with waterlily
Among the part of the Imperial Citadel that were left intact after the Battle of Hue
Leaning against the Nghi môn Nhật Tinh
Thái Hòa Palace is located right on radial road of Imperial Citadel overlooking Ngo Mon Gate 
Sits on the bank of Perfume river, a seven-story Pagoda of Celestial Lady is regarded as the landmark of the Hue City, It's about 5 km from the city wall. We reached the pagoda, other known as Thien Mu Pagoda to the local, 20 minutes later. The bronze vessel cast in 1552

Let's hopped in!
The tall pagoda
There was a bronze bell on the ground level
We spent less that 20 minutes here
Scenic view of Perfume River
The last stopped for today is the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh located near the Chau Chu Mountain. It took 11 years to build this tomb which blended the eastern and western architecture.

The view from the gate
A steep of many staircases
Among the twelve stone statues representing bodyguards and their horses
Enter the dragon
The main entrance, but we entered on the side door
It used to be the palace for the Emperor
The tomb of the Emperor
The sculpture of the Emperor
Pictures of the Emperor's family
The aerial photo of the sites, courtesy of TripSavvy

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

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