Hue Day Tour - Tu Duc Tomb and the Citadel

The taxi tour is priced at 7 USD/pax and included 2 stops: Tu Duc Tomb, and the Citadel.

Goofing inside the Citadel 

Tu Duc Tomb

Shoe-ing scenes behind Tu Duc's Tomb

Tu Duc Tomb Theater Hall

Tu Duc Tomb was built for Emperor Tu Duc, the emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty to have reigned the longest. The tomb took three years before it was completed in 1867.

Tu Duc Tomb's Lake

It is divided into a temple area and a tomb area. Having many wives and concubines, Emperor Tu Duc was unable to father a son, and so he adopted a son, Kien Phuc, who took over him after his death in 1883.

Xung Khiem Pavilion

Inside the Hoa Khiem Temple

Since he was unable to father a son, he wrote his own epitaph which was then inscribed on the stele in the pavilion located East of his tomb. This is the largest stele of its type in Vietnam and had to be brought from a quarry over 500 km away --- taking it around 4 years before it was delivered at its present location. Tu Duc, however, was not buried here, and the exact location of his tomb is still kept a secret up to this day.

Stairs to the Stele House

Salutation Court

Entrance fee is priced at 80,000 VND. Recommended length of stay: 1-2 hours.

The Citadel

The Citadel's Map

Entrance to the Throne Palace

The pride of the former imperial Vietnamese capital, the Imperial City is a walled fortress which houses the Purple Forbidden City, the Emperor's home.

Ngan Gate - Citadel

In front of one of the Citadel's libraries

The construction of this fortress is very interesting such as the person who ordered its construction, Gia Long, consulted with geomancers, who decide which locations are suitable sites for building palaces. The city was built facing the Huong River to the east.

One of the Citadel's Gardens

A Lake inside the Citadel

Out of the original 160 buildings, only 10 major sites remain because of the battles that took place in Hue. The city became a UNESCO site in 1993.

What's left of the Purple Forbidden City

Entrance fee is priced at 105,000 VND for foreigners, and slightly cheaper for Vietnamese tourists. Recommended length of stay: 2-3 hours.

Hien Nhon Gate

From the Citadel, we had our taxi drop us off at the Dong Ba Market where we bought different dried sweets priced at around 30,000 to 50,000 VND/half kg, depending on the fruit/vegetable. It is pretty difficult to haggle with the vendors though, so be prepared to buy overpriced goods.

Lac Thien dinner

We then proceeded to a restaurant that is popular for both locals and foreigners, Lac Thien or Lac Thanh, located on Dinh Tien Hoang Street near Thuong Tu Gate. This place is famous for banh khoai (Hue Pancake).

We had a scrumptious dinner here for only 50,000 VND/pax. Be on the lookout because this restaurant is pretty easy to miss.

Truong Tien Bridge

After dinner, we went back to the hotel and hired a cab to take us to the train station for our night trip to Da Nang.

At Hue Railway Station

Havey for Hue - Perfume River Cruise

East end of the Perfume River

Our next city stop for the Vietnam trip is Hue. A city in central Vietnam, Huế was the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and served as the nation's capital from 1802-1945. It is home to the 19th century Citadel, which encompasses the Imperial City. Inside this vast compound is the Forbidden Purple City, which used to be the emperor’s home.

Hue's weather in January is considered as a short cool dry season with day temperatures ranging from 22-24 degrees Celsius, which can drop below 18 degrees Celsius in the evenings. So clothing should be cool and breezy for the day, and warm and comfy for the night.

Banana Mango lunch

Having flown from Ho Chi Minh City, we arrived at Hue around before lunch time. We took a rickshaw ride, just so we'd be able to experience it, for 25,000 VND/pax, and we were dropped off at Holiday Diamond Hotel. After having settled at our comfy room, we decided to have our lunch in Banana Mango, just a street away from the hotel. The lunch was priced at 330,000 VND. This was where we first sampled the famous Vietnamese coffee, and I have to say, I haven't tasted anything that bitterly satisfying.

Walking along Perfume River

Toa Khan Boat Station

Hue Perfume River Cruise

With a map as our guide, we walked towards the Toa Khan Boat Station to hire a private boat for the Perfume River Cruise. We paid 150,000 VND/pax. The trip includes cruising along the Perfume River starting from the boat station up to the Thien Mu Pagoda, and then back again.

Entrance to Thien Mu Pagoda

The cruise was relatively slow and you would be able to sight see landmarks of Hue on both sides of the river. The first stop was Thien Mu Pagoda.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda is considered as the tallest Pagoda in Vietnam. The Pagoda stands 7 stories high, and was considered as the unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital.

Inside Thien Mu Pagoda Compound

Thien Mu literally means "celestial lady." Named after a local legend in which a lady dressed in red and blue sat at the hill where the Pagoda now stands, and prophesied the coming of a lord that would erect a temple on the site for the country's prosperity. Entrance is free. Recommended length of stay: 30 minuted to 1 hour.

Thie Mu Pagoda temple entrance

Our Perfume River Boat Ride

After taking some shots at the temple, we headed to the other side of the river and walked a few streets to the Hue Railway Station. We bought night tickets for our next day's trip to Da Nang. Walking towards the Railway Station, you'll pass by Hue University.

Hue University

We then headed back to the boat for the cruise back to the boat station. But we had our boatman drop us off at the back of Dong Ba Market instead to save us the hassle of crossing the river by way of the Truong Tien bridge on foot.

Dong Ba Market goods

After canvassing goods around the market, we decided to taste their nem lui (Vina grilled kebabs) just outside the market. We had fun making the kebabs and had our tummies filled for only 27,500 VND.

Afternoon snacks at Dong Ba Market

Nem Lui (Vina Grilled Kebabs)

We then strolled back towards the hotel. We stopped to check the boutiques along the streets nearby and bought some midnight snacks from a bakery before we headed to the hotel to retire for the night.

Art works for sale

At the bakery

Our hotel's street

Things to do in Baler

Located a whopping 230 kilometers northeast from Manila, Baler is very famous as a surfer's haven. As part of the province of Aurora, Baler faces the east Philippine sea and is known as one of the top surf sites of the country which tourists flock to for a crazy surfing adventure between the months of September to February.

With the Baler Movie Back Drop

But it's towering waves are just one of Baler's tourist attractions. Here are 5 activities that can be done when in Baler for a short period of time.

1. Lounge at Costa Pacifica

Costa Pacifica swimming pool

Costa Pacifica is one of the newest accommodations in Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora. Having 106 rooms, it also boasts of an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, a kid's nook, and a souvenir shop. Even though you're not staying there, you can use the swimming pool provided that you order from their restaurant.

Inside Costa Pacifica

Or hop from one hostel/hotel to another as you walk along the 'barely present and constantly bombarded by waves' beach of Baler.

2. Baler Town Tour

Baler Church

Begin your tour with the Baler Church made famous because of a period romantic movie starred by Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales, entitled Baler. From there, trace the steps towards the ancestral home of Dona Aurora, situated just in front of the church.

Dona Aurora's Ancestral House

Manuel Quezon's Presidential Car

Then walk towards Museo de Baler and enjoy some art works and learn historical facts about Baler.

Museo de Baler

Museo de Baler Facade

Inside Museo de Baler

At a park in front of the museum, you can also snap some shots with Manuel L. Quezon's statue.

Manuel Quezon statue

You can then walk towards the BALER letters and have your wacky photos taken there.

BALER letters

And then just a walking distance from the letters (or you could ride a tricycle), there is a hanging bridge in Zabali, Baler, the Tibag-Sabang Hanging Bridge. Whilst crossing this bridge, you'll actually have a feeling that the bridge is moving along with the river's current. It's more of a fun than a frightening experience. However, there's nothing to see or do on the other side.

Hanging Bridge

The entrance to the church is free, but to enter the other sites, such as the ancestral home, you have to pay a very small fee. You'll be given a ticket which you can present at other sites, such as the Museo de Baler, to be able to enter.

3. Explore and enjoy the privacy of Dicasalarin Cove

Dicasalarin Cove is a private beach property.

Dicasalarin Cove view from the entrance

Read more about our experience there here: Dicalarin Cove.

Dicasalarin Beach

Dicasalarin Lighthouse

4. Be spooked by the Balete Tree

Balete Tree

With the Millennium Tree

5. Go on a food trip

Of course, no road trip would be complete without food trip! Check out Baler Surfer Grill which is very known in IG for its iconic car trunk grill. They serve barbecue and grilled dishes priced at around 200 pesos each. One catch though is that they are only open on weekends.

You could also try Gerry Shan's Place which is a buffet priced at only 185 pesos!

So if ever you're in Baler for one night only, try out these activities and you're good to go.