After a whole week of rain day in day out, this morning it stopped pouring. I jumped on my Blue Phoenix bike heading to Xuân Viên Tiểu Cung, the residence of Phạm Hữu Điển, a Minister of Rite under Nguyễn Dynasty. It’s just 5 minute bicycle ride from my home but this was the first […]
Author: lanhue
Training For Huế Half Marathon On September 2nd
I am a fish. I am a swimmer of Hương River. Running has never been my favorite sport, let alone taking part in a marathon. Surprisingly, when one of the organizers of Huế Half Marathon told me how this sport event would encourage the locals to lead a more healthy life and how it would […]
Wandering Spirit Anniversary in Trúc Lâm Village
Many of us believe that after death we will still be here but in other form called spirit. We are in awe of the spirits, especially the wandering ones, for some mysterious reasons. With the hope to live in harmony with them, we often give them our thoughts and respects by burning incense sticks and […]
I’m A Traveler In My Own Hometown
Who do you think you are to your city? Sometimes I feel like I am a traveler in my own hometown. I just wander around the city as if I am new to it. My feet start to get used the bricks and the dust of the streets and roads of this little heaven of […]
A “Blind Walk” With Mai In Huế City
When I suggested my friend, Mai, having a walk with me a few days ago, she asked how far I could walk. “Around 10 km,” I proudly replied. After arranging our time, we met up at Papaya shop where she is working as a saleswoman, and started our walk this morning. Unlike many other walks […]
24 Hours in Huế City, Việt Nam
Huế is (again) my home and paradise so I never recommend you to come and stay only one day or two. I’d suggest that you stay longer as I believe there are so many things to see and experience in my hometown. Unfortunately, many of you often have a short holiday but long travel list. […]
A Leisure Walk Around Huế City With My Best Friend
It was Monday afternoon when an expected storm missed our city and while many employees were almost defeating their Monday Blues, my best friend Dũng and I walked the alleys and streets of Huế City. Dũng went home from New York City for a break before starting his new job in a few weeks while […]
Ooh La La, I Love Wearing My Nón Lá (Vietnamese Conical Hat)!
If I am asked to picture an impressive image of my country, this should be it: a young woman wearing white áo dài and nón lá (Vietnamese conical hat) while riding her bicycle under leaf canopies in a sunny and breezy day. A women in áo dài and nón lá always looks charming and gentle […]
Dì Nhơn Of The Rice Paper Village
Lựu Bảo is a peaceful village located to the Northwest of Huế City’s center. The village lies along Bạch Yến Stream, a branch of Hương River. I love the ride along their main road which is lined with garden houses and temples on one side and the slim Bạch Yến River and vegetable farms on […]
The Eternal Homes of Nguyễn Dynasty’s Phoenixes
Like their emperor, Nguyễn Dynasty’s empresses also have their “eternal homes” built grand and solemn for them by their emperor or descendants after they left this world. Most of the empresses’ graves are decorated with images of a phoenix because this legendary bird symbolizes their prestige as the dragon does to an emperor’s power. Empresses’ […]