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Other entries in Huế

17th Parallel (DMZ)

Hue was a nice town with great beer and some things to do. we saw a few tombs, met a local who was kind enough to invite us into his home, and saw the royal palace which once stood as the home for many Vietnamese Emperors.

the palace was grand both in design and size. we walked for a good 3 hours around the grounds. most of it was decaying but some had been restored to previous glory. they even had elephants rides for those tourists. we saw some cool stuff.

 the third day we were there, we left on a tour to see the 17th parallel otherwise known as the De-militarized zone during the Vietnam War. it was a long bus drive out there and overpriced for what you got but it was worth the trip to see some evidence of the war plus hear a Vietnamese perspective on subject.

we saw the dividing river, the flagpoles and loud speakers used to communicate, and then went to some tunnels used by the local villagers to hide from the near constant bombardment. the tunnels were small for someone my size and even fatty had to duck the whole way. these tunnels were utilized for 5 straight years during the war and took over 18 months to complete. 17 babies were born underground and these particular tunnels were instrumental in helping the Northern Vietnamese Army transport materials and supplies to the Viet Cong in the South. it was pretty creepy and a very cramped. i dont think i could live down there for 5 years but i believe the Vietnameses' determination and willingness to put up with a lot was a key factor in their victory, so i can understand their sacrifice.

we hurried back to Hue to catch a bus further south to Hoi An. we will be spending some time there.

and here are some pictures.

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