I Haven’t Been Everywhere, But It’s On My List: Hue [Hway]

Hello all! I'm living out the rest of my one-month Vietnam visa visiting the capital of Hanoi and the impressive Ha Long Bay. As mentioned in my last post, I was anxiously awaiting a train to our next destination, Danang. Lucian was good and ready to ride his motorcycle the long distance until the endless rain began and ruined the grand journey. Thus, a somewhat stressful hour ensued at the Tuy Hoa train station as Lucian rushed to obtain a last-minute ticket to Danang. The problem was the motorcycle, which couldn't very well be left behind but we knew that the trains in Vietnam possessed a cargo car which accepted motorcycles. We were confident in our assumptions and were excited to get moving.

I had purchased my seat on the northbound train the day before so I was set. I attempted to help Lucian with his plight by asking the woman at the desk if it was okay for Lucian to board his bike on our train. The woman timidly said "no" and I was convinced she was wrong, immediately thinking we were both lost in translation. I started to ask various Vietnamese people at the station if anyone spoke English. My questions were answered with confused glances, lots of staring, and laughing. Being the only westerners in the station, we were officially known as the crazies.

We finally found someone that was kind enough to actually call a friend that spoke some broken English and he met us at the station. He explained that there was only one type of train that allowed motorcycles on its route. We could leave it in Tuy Hoa and it would be sent to Danang on the next cargo train out. We agreed, filled in the paperwork, and purchased a last-minute ticket. The next 8 1/2 hours were spent trying to pass the time as we wove through the countryside and might I add, numerous cemeteries.

Danang was less than thrilling but a nice place to relax and find some great food after Tuy Hoa's lack-thereof. We tracked down a bakery / full restaurant that made amazing cheeseburgers with homemade buns (don't judge...I wanted a good burger). The restaurant was run by an American couple who started the venture to support the deaf youth of Danang. The food was served and prepared by the deaf and the profits from the restaurant go to support the education of the deaf Vietnamese youth. We even met a volunteer at this place that was from Washington state. On top of the great restaurant, we also found a great brewpub with delicious beer for a great price.

Hanging out in downtown Danang

Danang skyline with a beautiful moon

Inside the brewpub in Danang

We spent 3 days in Danang and decided to move up north to Hue, the center of history in Vietnam. We've spent our time walking around the town, eating delicious local food, visiting the Citadel, and taking a leisurely boat ride down the Perfume River. We also connected with a local Vietnamese college student via CouchSurfing that took us to a great local restaurant. We met one of his friends there and proceeded to drink copious amounts of Huda beer. It's not great beer, but as we sat down, we were greeted with a large, plastic crate with bottles of the stuff and a cooler of ice. "Peter", our local guide, taught us the proper way to drink beer in Vietnam, clinking our glasses together in a toast-like fashion and then agreeing where in Vietnam we wanted to drink to (i.e. Saigon was a sip, Hue was the middle of the glass, and Sapa meant to drain the glass empty). Hungover was not a feeling I wanted especially because it makes it hard to venture outdoors in this heat but we recovered and had a great second day in Hue.