When in Hue

So we left our comfortable little place in Ha Noi and set off for Hue, and we actually went to the right airport terminal this time too. Hue is Vietnam's Imperial City, where the Emperors ruled before French colonization. There are some amazing ancient ruin in and around the city, centered around the Emperor's palace, the Citadel, which is within walking distance of our hotel.
Yesterday after touring the Citadel we rented bikes to explore the city. While riding on bikes with our badminton equipment, Andrew made friends with a Vietnamese couple, one of who was a high school English teacher. He wanted to practice his English so he invited us for a beer, then dinner, and then karaoke. It was a great night, hanging out with "real" Vietnamese people at places only the locals go. They also took us to the best tailor in town so we could get measured for a suit, which we picked up today (at a fraction of the cost of a U.S. tailored suit).
We've also got a swimming pool at our hotel, which, paired with a bottle of whiskey or a case of beer, makes for a great nightcap from our long, hot days in the sun.
Today we took a boat tour up the Perfume River to see the burial grounds of some former emperors. We eventually got up into the jungle where the heat was pretty unbearable, but the buildings were absolutely amazing.
Tomorrow we are going to come back to the 20th Century and check out the DMZ, where North Vietnamese troops built elaborate tunnel systems to avoid American bombing in the war.
I also think we are going back to hang out with our new Vietnamese friends tomorrow night. There is a slight language barrier, so we're not exactly sure what we are doing, maybe going to the beach, maybe going to their home for dinner... We're not sure, but whatever it is, we're going to take our latest motto for the trip and embrace whatever comes out way... "When in Hue..."