Vietnam Trip Day 7

I'm finally back to blogging about our trip to Vietnam.

On Day 7 we first visited two mausoleums of the rulers of the Nguyen dynasty.  The Nguyen dynasty was from 1802 to 1945.  Crazy to think these guys ruled up until as recent as 1945.  These emperors would build these elaborate mausoleums and tombs for themselves decades before they died and then would go there to spend their leisure time, do a little work, reading, etc.

The first mausoleum we visited was built most recently and was for the emporer Tu duc who actually died before he got to spend time here.

The first photo is of the entrance to the mausoleum.  The stairs were very steep.

These guys represent the mandarins who guarded the tomb of Tu Duc.

Here is the entrance to the actual mausoleum.

Tu Duc is buried under this elaborate gold statue and ornate mosaic stand of himself.

Next, it was on to the mausoleum of Khal Dinh.  This one is much older and not in as good as condition.  They were built with the same basic components.  Here is the entrance but with steps not quite as steep.

 

Here are the mandarins guarding this tomb:

Here is the actual mausoleum.  We were not allowed to take any photos inside.

Khai Dinh supposedly had 104 wives (also heard to them referred to as concubines), but no children.  Hmmm.  Here are the ruins of the place where the wives would stay while he was hanging out at his mausoleum. 

After the mausoleum tour, we stopped at a little shop and watched this girl making incense.  There is incense burning everywhere in all of the temples.  I bought some cinnamon incense.

 Then it was on to the Thien Mu Pagoda, built in 1601. 

 Buddhist monks live and work here.  We saw this Buddhist ceremony:

Lunch was at this very typical and local Vietnamese restaurant.  Was very yummy!

Then after lunch it was time to freshen up in the restroom.  We ran into quite a few of these.  You get used to it:

 

After lunch it was off to visit the Imperial Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty.  This is the actual palace where they lived and ruled.

 Max had a thing for unicorns:

 Much of the Citadel was destroyed during the war but is being rebuilt:

After our Citadel visit we took a cyclo ride around Hue.  This picture looks like it could be a fast forward 20 years from now and we are both in wheelchairs:

Sights during the cyclo ride:

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we saw girls everywhere with their faces covered.

After our cyclo ride we went to the Dong Ba Market.  So interesting:

Our guide told us they do use and eat every part of the animal.  I have no idea what parts these are:

 

Here is where the girls can shop for a stylish face cover or mask. 

Dried seahorse anyone?  I asked what they were used for and was told that they put them in their tea.  Yum!

After the market, we returned to our hotel for a little rest and then it was off to town for dinner.  We had a great meal at a nice restaurant where we sat outside and people watched and fought off the street vendors who were constantly coming up to us.  It was a long but really great day.  Tomorrow we are off to Ho Chi Minh City.