Does my tum look big in this?

Up at 06:00, ready for bus @ 07:30 -No bus, but a taxi @ 08:15, to bus station. Bus arrived @8:45 and lo & behold, a new experience awaited. It was the HCMC to Hanoi, Open Tour Bus, which has 2 up x 3 across bunk seats, for sleeping. Some weary souls fell off at Hoi An, and we piled on and settled in semi-reclined pose, on the top tier. Not the cleanest or most relaxed travelling mode, but OK for this 4 hour journey. Left @ 09:30, 2 hours late

Sliding windows gave great ventilation and good photo access although the scenery was not of any great note. Arrived Hue 13:30 and transferred to hotel via Cyclo, a form of push-bike rickshaw. The drivers / riders offered a city tour for the afternoon and as we are only here for one night, we accepted.

The tour took in the Imperial Citadel, easily the most significant site in Hue, an American War museum, which we declined to enter having done the Saigon version, a Chinese Garden which doubled as a craft & jewellery outlet (no surprise), a temple c/w saffron clad monks, the central market, and, finally, Uncle Ho's house, which was just closing. ( see photo )

The Imperial Citadel was by far the most interesting and has a long and chequered history. The fabric of the buildings was severely compromised, first by the French / Viet Minh conflict in 1947, and again in 1968, first shelled by the Viet Cong, then bombed by the Americans during the devastating Tet Offensive of that year. Some was untouched, much has been restored, and a huge amount remains to be sorted. Some beautiful & impressive stuff here! The last Emperor vacated in 1925.

Remainder of the day scruffing about, eating & drinking in true tourist fashion.

Slight change of plans tomorrow. Getting the train to Dong Ho'i as the bus doesn't get there until 2 AM and we leave again at 05:30 hrs.
Seems strange getting a train to a town to catch a later train heading in the same direction to the same destination, but there is a reason. The route to Hanoi cuts inland at Dong Ho'i and we want to travel through the mountains in daylight. Scenery supposedly spectacular.
Good night.
G&S