Danang/Hue/HoiAn 2025 - Hue Day Tour Hue Citadel and Imperial City (1/8)

 

Back to the city, our bus was there waiting for us, and soon we were back joining the busy traffic of the city Hue. Compared to Ho Chi Minh, it was nothing :D

Interestingly, no heavy vehicle was allowed inside the imperial city area, so we had to walk in. It was a short walk in, and our guide went ahead to get us our admission tickets into the city. We followed slower behind, busy taking photographs of the sceneries and view. It gates leading in kinda reminded me of Cambodia.

The Hue Imperial City was built similar to the Forbidden City of China. That meant they have many rings of area around it, going further and further into the center were the palace would be located. So the first view we got was the gates leading into the city.  It was also surrounded by a moat. 

Even here, you could see ladies dressed up in costume taking photograph. But instead of the Vietnamese costume, here they were dressed in imperial costume, and looked rather Chinese actually. It felt very similar to Beijing's Forbidden City vibe, but with less crowd, and at a smaller, less grander scale. 

Outside the palace gate, there was a sign that says "Get Down from Horse". I guess this is where ancient people used to get down from their horse before making their way into the palace. I remember we saw a similar place in the castle of Kumamoto too. But here in Hue, it was just a sign, and I wasn't sure do you park your horses here? Or can you bring them in? In Kumamoto, there was like a stable where you could leave your horses and walked up to the castle. 

After our guide got us our tickets, we walked towards the main entrance gate. It looked like it was made of wood and surrounded by greens. It was a few storey in height, the upper level probably a security guard post to view all that is approaching the gate.

Here is a closer look of the entrance. I bet they put a drum up there too as a form of a signalling tool.

After entering the wooden looking gate, we were greeted with a bridge across a large pond. I guess this is where we officially enter the palace ground! It looked really pretty!

Here is a selfie of me of the entrance gate behind me as I crosses the bridge. 

Danang/Hue/HoiAn 2025 - Hue Day Tour Perfume River Dragon Boat Ride

 

I usually would not pay for river cruise or boat rides on my holiday, not even a gondola in Venice cause I don't really know how to appreciate a boat ride. But in our one day tour package, a dragon boat ride down the Perfume River was included, so that was a bonus for me! Side note, I always thought what a lovely name Perfume River was, imagining that it would be filled with fragrance of flowers by the river side or something. In real life, it's just a yellow water looking river. No perfume scent at all. The dragon boat, however, was pretty neat!

Our boat coming into the jetty just across the pier at the pagoda entrance. Would you be worried about safety looking at this boat? Can I swim? Are there life jackets on board? Many a times when I am travelling, I often wondered about the risk I put myself in, from the money I purchase a flight ticket, to the hotels I stayed in, and the tours I take and every transit..... All the worst scenarios ran through my head. But I still always take the trip, because if we live in fear, we will never leave our home, would we?

It was such a pretty rustic sight to see the simple boat floating on the yellow river. Simple, and quite calming. A simple way of life.

Our guide waved us to the pier where she was waiting for us. And slowly, one by one we went abroad the wooden boat. We were going to take the boat back up to where the Imperial City was, perhaps around a 30minute boat ride. 

Here is what the interior looked like. As you can see, no life jacket was required. The plastic chairs we sat on were probably placed there for our convenience. The locals would probably just sat on the floor of the boat. There was no air con, but the breeze blowing in was cool enough.

As the boat pulls out from the pier, we could see the wider view of the pagoda, which I thought, looked a lot prettier from this angle. It was as if built specifically for people to visit it by boat instead of by road. 

If we zoomed in, we could see many people taking photographs outside the pagoda. Some where standing on the stairs from the pier area.

Vietnamese ladies love dressing up and taking photographs. And they are proud to wear their traditional clothes out too. Here was a striking bright red lady sitting by the river having her photos taken. If you go to Vietnam city on a weekend, or other instagram-able location, it would be filled with ladies all dressed up, some even with flowers in their hand, all ready to pose and take photos. Usually a boyfriend with a handphone, or a professional photographers would be following them around. 

As the boat left the pagoda area, we soon see villages along the river, some with fisherman's boat, or netting hung around the area. We could also see some of the people just hanging out by the river. It was a very relaxing scene, and the warm air adds to the sleepy atmosphere. 

Here is a photo of fishing boats or nets? I can't really tell as they looked so small a far. 

Local people just relaxing by the river as our boat passes by. What a simple life. I wonder if I was ever like that when I was younger and living in a small town in Malaysia?

But all too soon, a massive concrete bridge came into sight, and we more or less knew we were back at the city area. 

The boat actually went under the bridge! No wonder all the boats were built so short in height. I guess no big ships can come near the imperial city then, unless the bridge can be open up!

The sight of the yellow bridge once we went pass it. It was massive! And wide. 

Danang/Hue/HoiAn 2025 - Hue Day Tour Tien Mu Pagoda (3/3)

Leading us into the last section of the Tian Mu Pagoda ground was our tour guide with the red flag, along with some of our tour group people. The last section was so green! 

Going through the last door way....

It opens up to a wide green space. The breeze was really strong here and it felt like you were at the beach. Actually just behind the field was the river side, so it was very cooling here. And it was kinda darker and cooler than the other section too. And quieter. Maybe that's why I like this section the best.

The gardens here were also simple and minimal.

There are so many tress here. I love such places. It's just so peaceful here. And guess what. This section is actually the grave area of the monk who build this place :)

And here stood a smaller pagodo that was dedicated to him, for he was quite well loved by the people. A very fitting resting place for a monk. All these nature surrounding it. 

Lovely lotus flowers bloom here in the garden pond :) 

I can't help but take a selfie here. Sometimes it's the feeling you get when you visit a place that stays with you the most, and not the aesthetic of the area. Even a simple area like this, can let me feel so peaceful and welcomed :)

Danang/Hue/HoiAn 2025 - Hue Day Tour Tien Mu Pagoda (2/3)

 

Walking into the grounds of the temple, the middle part seems to be a community area with large halls and gardens. There were also more activities going on here, with prayers or lessons being held in one of the hall. 

Walking though the gates that divide the section of the temple. 

One of the building have a small deity seated at the top overlooking all that goes on below.

Prayer halls. Just like any Chinese prayer hall. We didn't really went in to take a look as it looked like a very local and private session.

In another hall, lessons being lead by monks in yellow orange robe. The image of this is so story book like, from those ancient stories where scholars are attending class in the old academy. I love the design of the hall with the tall and wide wooden door that is all kept open. It gave a very spacious look to the place.

At one area, you will find the famous, or in famous car which a monk Thich Quang Duc drove to Saigon and set himself on fire to protest against the government then in 1963. You can read more about that incident here.  

The last section of the area opened up to the lovely spacious garden, and what looked like a stage, or maybe it was just a big hall? The last section was my favourite part of the temple ground. Will show you more in the next post why.

Photo of my friend talking to our tour guide as we walked in to the gardens at the last section.

Danang/Hue/HoiAn 2025 - Hue Day Tour Tien Mu Pagoda (1/3)

The reason I booked a tour for Hue was because I didn't really know how to get around, or how to get tickets to visit some of the places that I was interested in. And since this tour covered everything I wanted to see, and it even includes lunch, I thought I might as well delegate out my headache to someone else for a small fee. Tien Mu Pagoda and the Perfume River was one of the places I wanted to visit as my friends have told me about it. 

The Pagoda site was just along the Perfume River, so it provides a very breezy and nice view while visiting the place. We can't really go up the pagoda, so it was more of just a visit and admiring the surrounding area. Luckily there were more to see than just a pagoda.

We were free to explore section by section, as long as we wait up for the group and the guide to catch up with us. It wasn't very crowded, and the surrounding was very natural in nature. Nothing very touristy about it. Very quiet and peaceful. I still can't believe this is Vietnam! Lol.

There are a few section divided by these gates. So we can just proceed further and further into the temple ground. The first pagoda out front was dedicated to the heavens, but there is also a smaller pagoda at the last section that is dedicated to the monk here. 

Some of the tower along the way....

Smaller pagodas? Stupas?

The local tourist tends to dress up more for photo taking than us foreigners :P