Hue is most famous for it’s 200 year old Imperial City & outlying Royal tombs, so a visit is obviously on top of our agenda whilst we’re here.

Opting to visit the city under our own steam rather than on a guided tour, with Lonely Planet in hand we’re in business.

Without going into history book mode, this is our take on this impressive attraction.

We were advised that it would be busy, & as we approach the imposing entrance it’s clear that this is the case. However, tickets purchased, which also includes the 3 tombs we’re to visit later, we’re ushered through the Foreigners entrance of the Ngo Mon Gateway to the citadel beyond. It’s clear to see that tour groups will not be a problem, this place is huge and they clearly have a schedule to keep!

The complex covers approx 6 sq km, enclosed by walls 6m high & 2m thick. Built between 1804 to 1833 it was occupied until 1945 when the last emperor denounced sovereignty. The complex housed the Nguyen emperors, their many wives & vast armies of mandarins. Thankfully the previously mentioned Lonely Planet has provided us with a handy plan of the must see areas, as well as some of the more interesting buildings off the beaten track.

Many of the buildings were badly damaged during the wars but you still get a feel for the grandeur of the place, restoration has been completed in some areas & is clearly still underway in others.

So we spend the next 4 hours exploring it’s palace, halls, reading room & residences, some more impressive than others.

Tranquil gardens & lakes offer a place to rest & take in the surroundings. Obviously the tour groups don’t stretch to these parts as we’re almost alone!

With weary legs our tour is complete, the highlight was the To Mieu Temple Complex. Expecting this area to be crowded, we must have hit a lull as it’s virtually deserted. We’re free to take pictures at leisure, the Dynastic Urns particularly impress.

The only negative was having to buy water at twice the price we’ve been paying for beer! The joys of tourist traps.

As the tombs we’re going to see are some distance from town we’re going on an organised tour. We’re picked up the following morning by mopeds, if the strong coffee hadn’t woken us up a quick whizz through the city traffic certainly does the trick!

We join up with the rest of the bus & it becomes clear that all of them are to visit the Imperial City as part of this excursion, they get an hour to do what took us four yesterday!

We’re led away by our young trainee guide Thang for a tour of the local Dong Ba Market instead. His inexperience & lack of confidence is evident, but he’s very keen to do a good job. Google Translate comes in handy on more than one occasion. The market itself is much like any other, over two floors selling everything you need!

After a quick coffee, where our young guide relaxed and was full of chat we rejoin the group, we then board a Dragon Boat for the first part of the journey. A pleasant experience taking in the views from the river.

Off the boat & first stop is the Tu Hieu Pagoda, ok as Pagodas go but having seen so many over the last few weeks we’re not wowed.

Then it’s a short drive to a Martial Arts display, not usually our cup of tea but we’re suitably impressed by the agility & skill.

After a lunch of local food we eventually get to the main attractions. First is the Tomb of Khai Dinh the penultimate emperor of Vietnam. The elaborate exterior of concrete created a cauldron of heat in the afternoon sun. We melted while Mandarin statues stood solemnly on guard. This courtyard gave way to an explosion of colour as you enter the tomb itself. We’re impressed so far.

Next on the list is the Tomb of Minh Mang, set in a forested area it’s similarly impressive but less ostentatious. More memorable than the tomb was that he coped with 500 wives!

Probably the least impressive was the last one of the day, the Tomb of Tu Duc. Or maybe we were just hot and tired be this point! Again set in beautiful surroundings. Tu Duc was the playboy of his day (competition was stiff!), with numerous wives & mistresses, which included his sister-in-law! He actually designed & partially built his own tomb, even writing his own eulogy.

So ends our couple of days of emperors & tombs, it’s been an education. On the whole very impressed, but it’s been a test of stamina at times with soaring temperatures & countless steps. A welcome rest tomorrow!