After an early Breakfast this morning at Apricot Hotel in Hanoi, we departed on Vietnam Airlines for hour and fifteen minute flight to Hue, arriving at 10:15 AM. The airport in Hue is a new and modern facility, similar to the International and In Country Airports in Hanoi. Our bus took a side trip, on the way to the Huong Giang Hotel Resort & Spa in the Southern section of Hue, to pass the wartime site of Camp Eagle. This Camp was the basecamp for the 101st Airmobile Division for its tenure in Vietnam. The area is now the site of a major industrial park and a large training area for the Vietnamese Army. Very little evidence of the American presence remains. Much of what was once Camp Eagle is largely overgrown with nearly 50 years of undergrowth and smaller trees. One of the guys on our trip, who spent most of 1969 based there, did recognize some of the contours of his former Unit Area. We then proceeded along Highway 1 to our Hotel on the southern side of the Perfume River. Unlike when I was in Vietnam, Highway 1 is now a paved and modern road that passes the ever present shops and other retail spaces. As in Hanoi, Motor Scooters are everywhere and more prevalent than automobiles. Our rooms all face the river and have outdoor patios. We crossed the river and entered the Citadel, where we had Lunch at Y Thao Garden Restaurant. The Lunch Menu was as follows: Spring Rolls decorated on a formed peacock, Vegetable Soup, Hue Specialty Stuffed Pancake, Mixed Fig Salad, Fried Fish with lemon grass, Mixed Steamed Lotus Rice, and Dessert of Fresh Fruit and a Mung Bean cake formed fruit. As usual, all courses are served family style. We toured around more of the Citadel in our bus, except for the Forbidden City section which is off limits. Once we returned to the Hotel, we were free for the rest of the afternoon to explore the area around the Hotel. We had Dinner at the Hotel which was more of a multicourse and more Western Style menu. We have an extensive sightseeing day tomorrow, beginning at 7:00 AM, after an early Breakfast here at the Hotel. I find myself more comfortable, now that we have entered into the former South Vietnam. It is difficult for me to break the mindset that the Northerners were our mortal enemies! Our guide is originally from this area, and as a Southerner, it is interesting to learn of the persecution that he and all Southerners faced for at least 10 years after the war ended in 1975. It was even worse for those who were Members of the ARVN (Army of South Vietnam). More on that in subsequent posts.

View from Hotel Room Patio of one of the Perfume River bridges, with the flag at the Citadel showing above the trees in the background.

View from the Patio of a boat sailing down the Perfume River in front of the Hotel.

 
Additional view of the Perfume River with part of Northern Section of Hue City on the opposite shore.