We stopped in Hue only for 1 day, as it was a transit point for us on our way to Dalat. While we were trying to decide which places to visit, a friendly owner of the restaurant we were eating at gave us a few suggestions. The interesting fact about this conversation was that the owner was mute, so he kept drawing on the map smily and sad faces next to different tourist sites, suggesting what's good and what's not. Rather that trying to see the citadel, a famous tourist destination, we rode out of town to a low key beautiful pagoda. The pagoda was made famous by a monk Thich Quang Duc, who incarcerated himself in Ho Chih Ming city as a statement against discrimination of monks coming from the government of the time.
The temple greeted us with serene silence and a young monk walking about. After a while, the young monk started ringing a bell while another one was rhythmically reciting a prayer. We sat there for a while absorbed in this calm aura and reflecting on our journey and whatever else lay ahead of us.
Behind the teple was a beautiful garden. We took our time walking around and exploring the diverse vegetation: everything from palm to pine trees. While the most interesting part was a set of different bonsi trees.
While right in front of the temple was a large bowl filled with sand, where people could place burning incense sticks (in Buddhist temples these take the role of candles).
Colorful warrior figures at the gate into the temple lit up by the setting sun.
The 7 levels of the pagoda symbolize the 7 reincarnations of Buddha. This makes the temple also the tallest religious building in Vietnam.
Crossing the bridge on the way to the train station from the center of town.
These are the spring rolls special to central vietnam. You roll these yourself in rice paper and dip them in their local special sauce.
Overnight train ride to Nha Trang, Anna played the nanny for a lady riding in the same car with us. Anna was very trustworthy as the mom left the little girl on the upper bunk bed with Anna, as she went out to the bathroom.
Another quick stop (half day) on what seemed to be the most popular Russian tourist destination in Vietnam - Nha Trang.
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