Hue, Imperial City, Emperor History

We had a chill morning visiting a grocery store for some fruit and chili salt. A Vietnamese delicacy, underripe fruit is dipped into chili salt. We had green mango, guava, grapes, and my favourite- rose apple, a watery milder Apple resembling fruit.

Next we went to the imperial city. This historic landmark dictates the monarchy which once encapsulated Vietnam. They had dynasties and emperors each building and relishing Vietnamese architecture. The imperial city is from the 1800-1945 period of two dynasties. It was created when the emperor decided to move the royal capital to Hue.

All the writing and scripture was in mandarin. This is because the Vietnamese believed that mandarin was the political and royal language. They saw it as advanced and prestigious and only acceptable way to create royal proclamations.

We walked through old throne rooms, meeting halls, royal residences. Unlike the UK’s smorgasbord of national trust houses, the building in the imperial city has been striped with no reenactment of the interiors. This was disappointing but the outsides were striking.

Robin insisted we fed the catfish and koi fish so we purchased some fish food and enjoyed watching their mouths gape waiting for another bite.

After the imperial city we grabbed some lunch. We agreed to visit the tombs tomorrow to not do too much history viewing in one day. Plus we had museum legs already.

Then we visited the museum of royal antiquities which features dining wear, clothes, furniture; all things perfect for reconstructing the room furnishings in the imperial city cough cough.

For dinner we visited a really good sushi place and I’m trying to convince Robin to go back tomorrow night. I don’t think it will take much convincing.

-M