I have a strong love of Vietnam, and it’s people. They are friendly and will do absolutely anything for you. I had been talking up Vietnam for years to my husband so finally we ventured to Vietnam with our 3 year old Kidsetter in tow. Heading north to Hue, I was very excited to be showing my family some of Vietnam’s incredible sites.
First stop on our Hue itinerary was the Nguyen Emperor Tomb of Khai Dinh. What a breathtaking site. All 127 steps of stairs to reach the Khai Dinh were covered in pots of flowers representing the arrival of Spring. Our 3-year-old did exceptionally well climbing all those stairs. He’s reward? Finding the biggest dragon statue in the country! In the courtyard of the tomb, there is a set of ornate bodyguard statues carved from stone, which our youngster enjoyed viewing whilst tickling the elephant statue’s tusks.
Next, we went on to explore the famed Hue Imperial City (known as The Citadel) and wander through Hue’s Royal Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is enclosed by 2 huge lily-filled moats. Enter the inner walls of the Imperial city, you are greeted with delicate relics of what was once a majestic royal residence for the Nguyễn Imperial family. At one time there were over 100 buildings, including temples, a library and various palaces that were modelled after Beijing’s Forbidden City. As the grounds are extensive make sure you have a stroller for your Kidsetter. They will tire out fast here! We enjoyed a ride on a Horse and carriage which enabled us to leisurely view Vietnam’s former capitol.
We took a boat trip along the Perfume river, past the Gia Vien island fishing village, to the Thien Mu Pagoda, about 45 minutes away. This is one of Vietnam’s most iconic buildings as it is the tallest pagoda, stretching seven stories into the sky and is visible on the river’s northern bank. Built in 1601, it’s a beautiful complex, set in lovely peaceful gardens, surrounded by pine trees, with rockeries and a lily pond. The serenity was broken when our Kidsetter fell over on a tree root and screamed so loudly Monks were disturbed from their meditation. A monk approached our Kidsetter and put his hand on his head, channelled his energy through himself into our Kidsetter and he incredibly stopped crying ! I want a monk in my pocket to carry around just for those moments !
To end our superb day, we enjoyed a traditional lunch at Ythao Garden restaurant which is centrally located in Hue. The restaurants gardens are beautifully landscaped, and our Kidsetter loved exploring the ornate garden and it’s miniature garden bridges. The food was meticulously presented and tasted delicious.
