20 MARCH 2005
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Subject: Central Vietnam. Date: 20 Mar 2005 From: James Clark Hoi An Hoi An is an old Vietnamese trading port on the Thu Bon River, and the old town has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. Hoi An has a beautiful old town with well preserved Chinese, Japanese and French colonial architecture. The narrow, tree lined streets make it a delight to walk around after being in the bigger motorbike clogged cities of Vietnam. Hoi An is also, it seems, the suit capital of the world. The streets are wall to wall with tailors who will make up a suit, jacket or any item upon request. 
Hue North of Hoi An is Hue, another UNESCO world heritage city, set on the Perfume river, Hue was Vietnams capital from 1802 to 1945. In the centre of Hue is the citadel, enclosed in a 10km perimeter wall. Within the citadel is another citadel, the Imperial Enclosure, which is surrounded by a 2.5km wall. Within the Imperial enclosure is the forbidden purple city. These days it is neither forbidden or purple, but it is still worth wandering around to see the remaining structures. 
DMZ North of Hue is the Ben Hai River, which served as the demarcation line for North and South Vietnam. A 3 mile (5km) strip of land on either side the river which was napalmed, defoliated and generally bombed into oblivion during the American war. The empty grassy landscape it is today is noticably different to the surrounding jungle which it once was. The hills are still littered with landmines and assorted UXO (unexploded ordinance), which still claim hundreds of lives each year. There is not much war era stuff to see, but some things remain. The Vinh Moc Tunnels are still intact - a network of tunnels where up to 300 people could live. In the mountains near the Laos border is Khe Sanh. More than just an Australian drunken karaoke anthem, the Khe sanh combat base was the sight of one of the most famous sieges during the war. 
James |
