Tour of Vietnam 2023 | Day 14 | Song Tri – Huế | 270 kms

The hotel is called ‘Khach San Tuan Phat,’ which I forgot to mention yesterday. I felt more fatigued during the last hour of riding in the rain than I did the entire previous day. I woke up around 7 am after snoozing since 5 am, which is late by my standards. I quickly freshen up, have my coffee, and load my bike. I put on my rain gear right away since I’m not taking any chances, and my clothes are still damp from yesterday’s rain. The weather is cloudy but not drizzling at the moment. I leave the hotel at 8 am.

I quickly join the dry highway, aiming to cover as many kilometers as possible. Approaching the coast, I catch my first glimpse of the sea but can’t stop to admire it since I’m on the opposite side of the road. After about 70 kilometers, around 9:30 am, I take a break for breakfast, enjoying two Bahn Mi because the girl at the counter thinks I might need more. We struggle to communicate, even with Google Translate, but I eventually get what I want. I wash it down with two cans of ‘Horse’ energy drink, which I really need for the day’s ride. After a friend’s suggestion, I change my destination from Da Nang to Hue, as Hue is only 250 kilometers away.

I have decided to explore Hue city upon arrival and leave for Da Nang the next morning. As I travel further, I soon encounter rain. Initially, my visor only gets wet and needs cleaning after about 2-3 kilometers, but as I continue, droplets start hitting my visor. I have to keep it half open to prevent fogging while keeping the rain out. Pools are forming on the roads, and large clouds of mist rise from the truck wheels ahead as they roll by. I make sure to stay clear of them.

The landscape is shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see far ahead. To my left lies the invisible coastline, while to my right, distant mountains fade into the haze. Large open lands are flooded; some remain empty while others are actively cultivated with the help of machinery. Traffic on the highway is sparse, aside from commercial vehicles. Riders on electric scooters don large ponchos for protection. I pass a row of giant windmills with slowly rotating blades, likely near the coast. I stop at a petrol station to refuel before arriving in Hue around 1:45 pm. I quickly book a hostel on Booking.com, choosing one close to the Imperial City citadel.

I’ll explore this place today. After quickly checking in, I move my belongings to the second floor of the dorm and prepare to venture out in the rain. I decide to forgo my bike and take a taxi to avoid the hassle of my helmet. While booking the taxi, I enjoy an afternoon coffee. He arrives shortly, and I finish my coffee before we head out. I stay dry under a large poncho until we reach my destination. After a quick drop-off, I walk about 500 meters in the light drizzle to buy my entrance ticket, which is 200,000 VND. Adding an audio guide brings my total to 300,000 VND. I receive a leaflet outlining the ‘legend’ of the citadel complex.

The citadel entrance buzzes with activity during the ‘Tet’ holidays, featuring a dragon play performed by local student groups who follow live commentary. I buy an audio guide and enter through the main south-facing door. The audio guide leaflet marks key points of interest with numbers. At each location, I simply enter the corresponding number to listen to a 2-3 minute narration that brings the place to life, allowing me to picture the past.

The information is presented in detail and can be experienced both visually and through touch, accompanied by the audio guide. There are nearly 60 points of interest in the citadel, requiring significant walking. Despite the ongoing rain, the surrounding greenery is refreshing and soothing. The entry gates stand out to me as striking architectural features, and I photograph nearly all of them for their perfect symmetry. I continue exploring the notable points until it becomes dark and misty within the citadel. As I leave the compound, only the four entry gates to the East, West, North, and South remain illuminated, while the rest of the buildings fade into darkness, making further exploration difficult.

I exit via the East gate and after depositing the audio-guide and thereby taking a bike taxi to return to the hostel. I change from my wet to dry clothes and head out for evening stroll. It’s still drizzling as I have my 2nd round of Bahn Mi for the day. This time the lady makes it spicy, just as per my taste. After that, I find a good coffee shop where I could sit peacefully and work on my diary.

I skip going to the Backpacker street owing to the rain and take a bike taxi back to hostel once I complete my diary. At the hostel, I freshen up and make my bed for a goodnight’s sleep. The time is 11:30 pm. Tomorrow, I plan to reach Da Nang & explore around.