Central Vietnam

Last week the UC students took a trip to central Vietnam. The whole time I was wishing I was still in Hanoi with my friends and familiar places. I feel like Hanoi is my Vietnamese home. However, the trip changed the way I feel about Vietnamese society. Many constants were revealed as illusions. It help me further understand the depth of Vietnamese society- not in a good or bad way, but rather objectively. It helped solidify my perception of Americans, First Worlders, tourists, bourgeois Vietnamese, etc. I ended up learning a great deal about exactly what I came to Vietnam to study. Though what that is exactly I cannot say, it is important to me.

One of my favorite “touristy” parts of the trip was when a small group of friends took a taxi to two tombs. The first was the tomb of Khai Dinh. It had very strange architecture that did not look very “Vietnamese”. Nevertheless, it was very nicely restored and consequently a tourist hotspot. My favorite tomb was the second one, the tomb of Thieu Tri. As we approached the ruins of the tomb grounds, I noticed an old stone bridge covered in moss over a stream. It reminded me of an old-world scene I’ve only imagined from books. The tomb grounds were surrounded by hilly forests that overlooked the tomb square and surrounding ponds. I could make out the shape of a lotus flower carved into the top of the ruins of an old tower next to the tomb. I was not the only one who thought the grounds were extremely romantic as there was a wedding ceremony going on the tomb grounds. I've always been a fan of tranquil places like this tomb. It was this experience that made Hue my favorite town on the trip. Quy Nhon would have taken first place if I had had more time there, but then again I liked it for a different reason.