10.03 Day 55 Hue

Sunday 10th March - Hue (Day 55)

We had been toying with a next stop of Dong Ha to then visit some sites in the De Militarised Zone (DMZ), but decide natural beauty is (hopefully) a more appealing, family friendly prospect for all. Which means we decide to give ourselves another full day in Hue before an early morning 5 hour bus trip to Phong Nha. 

Jean treats Kate and I to one of the local noodle dishes with beef, crab ball and ducks blood, whilst the kids are treated to chocolate cornflakes cereal - to go with the fruits, breads and yoghurts. An excellent start to the day. 

There’s time for more badminton, more general play for our kids with the other children, a walk to the nearby market where again the kids are famed over. It’s a shame to leave this excellent, generous set up but onwards we must go. 

A taxi brings us to My House Homestay, just to the west of the citadel walls. Our pastel green room in the eaves of the house contains 2 queen beds made of bamboo, but more importantly for the kids, a swimming pool. 

We first walk in the grey conditions to a bakery for lunch before looping through some back streets containing large villas by which time the room is ready and before you know it, the kids are in the pool. Kate naps whilst Sienna reads to Seb whilst I sit by the window with light drizzle outside. 

After more card games in the room - trying hard not to look at Seb’s cards; games like Phase 10 and President require you to hold 10 or 13 cards which he’s just unable to do so he often lays them face up on the table - the misty rain has upped a notch to drizzle making a walk to the citadel unappealing. 

Instead we walk just a few minutes to Huyen Anh, a bustling joint with only 4 dishes on the menu, of which we get three including Nem Lui a local speciality of pork skewers to soft wrap with salads and sauce. The speed of food readiness would put McDonalds to shame. A few rounds of Chase the Ace back in the room then bed.