January 11, 2006 - page 2

After dropping off our luggage, we visited the Citadel, or the Imperial City. It was modeled after the Imperial City in Beijing and was the site of severe fighting during the 1968 Tet Offensive. This was the first physical evidence of the war we had seen and the Citadel itself, along with Quang's commentary and personal stories, was sobering. Efforts are being taken to restore the Imperial City - hopefully one day it will again resemble its past.

Our last scheduled stop of the day was at the mausoleum of Nguyen Emperor Tu Duc. To Duc is somewhat of a tragic figure in Vietnamese history. He reigned longer than any other Nguyen emperor, but also had to watch his country slip into French control. The tomb complex was very peaceful and serene with lush greenery and calm lakes. Despite the fact that it was a tomb, it was a nice balance after the war-torn Citadel and relaxing end to the day.