Week 2 Day 1: Cultural trip to Hue (Imperial Palace, Tomb of Emperor, Thien Mu Pagoda)

Our tour bus and views along the way.



At a pit stop.



To get to Hue, we went through a 6.3km long tunnel! Really, how human can work when they put their minds to it!

Along the way, Louis, our guide, told us that working people have to give 10% of their salaries as taxes, but that farmers are exempted from such taxes. Farmers need only pay the taxes for irrigation.

Also, he told us that farmers too poor to afford their own lands are given 'land loans'; where they are loaned a plot of land for a period of 20 years. After which, each plot of land are reviewed, updated and leash renewed.

So we reached the Imperial Palace. It's similar to the one in China, but the forbidden city's almost completely destroyed by all the wars Vietnam's been through.

Imperial Palace views.



During lunch.



Tomb of the Emperor.



This (I think) 4th emperor's life was plagued with misfortunes. At 14 years old, he suffered from smallpox. He recovered, but he became infertile. When he grew up, he was under pressure from both family (No heir) and country (French invasion).

It was no wonder that he had his 12 hectare tomb made early! While the tomb was in the making, misfortune struck again. The prisoners sent there as workers were pushed beyond limits, and they plotted to assassinate the emperor. However, this rebellion was quelled soon enough, and the emperor decided to rename the tomb "Modest Tomb".

In all, 3000 odd prisoners, officials and architects completed the building in just 4 years. Due to all the pressure, the emperor started using the tomb as his summer palace, and ended up staying there for 17 years.

When he was dying, he met with yet another misfortune. An area within the tomb that was supposed to have water was dug up, but there was no water! This mean that the emperor couldn't purify his soul because he have failed his ancestors (no heir). So he was very upset, but at the eleventh hour, a little water trickled out, and he was purified.

After he died, there were still more problems. Internal conflict lead to the death of the new emperor (an adopted son of the emperor) just 3 days after he was crowned. Yet another death, due to internal conflict lead to the death of another emperor 3 months after he was crowned. Because of all this, Vietnam was greatly weakened. So moral of story? Don't fight so much :(

Thien Mu Pagoda