A Week Wandering in Huế
It all started on a trip from Da Nang to Huế, stopping at the solitary tree on Hai Van Pass. I happened to see a train cutting through the mountains, with the sea on one side and the forest on the other. Adding to the colorful scene was a bridge standing amidst the cliffs, like a painting.
I remember thinking, "There's no way there's a bridge like that in Vietnam, right?" Years later, whenever I remembered it, I'd get curious and want to know a little more about this place. Of course, I never really imagined I'd get to see it.
Then, one fine day in Huế, a city tourists often associate with tombs and palaces, I crossed the Hai Van Pass once more to finally reach the bridge I had longed to see.
Cầu Vòm Cả: Discovering a Hidden Gem
Cầu Vòm Cả (Ca Arch Bridge), follows a small, overgrown path. You gradually wander into a place that feels like a secret world, separate from the noise of the city. It's so untouched that all I could hear was the sound of my footsteps crunching on small pebbles on the tracks. There was a bit of anxiety, too, worrying a train might pass by unnoticed. But in the end, reaching the bridge was incredibly rewarding.
Our Huế Itinerary: 7 Days of Exploration
- Cầu Vòm Cả
- Hòn Vượn
- Minh Mang Tomb
- Tu Duc Tomb
- Mắt Biếc Coffee
- Rú Chá Mangrove Forest
- Hai Duong Stone Embankment
- Abandoned Water Park Ho Thuy Tien
- Quốc Học High School
- Turtle Rock (on Hai Van Pass)
- Lăng Cô Beach
Must-Try Food in Huế
- Bánh Bèo Nậm Lọc Mệ Cai
- Hột Vịt Lộn Um Bầu (Balut with Gourd)
- Bánh cuốn tôm chua mệ Hạnh at the foot of Kho Ren Bridge (from 4 PM)
- Bánh ép chị Huệ (Pressed Cake)
- Bánh mỳ Thuận Hưng (Banh Mi)
- Quán cơm Chất (Rice Restaurant)
- Bún bò mệ Kéo at 20 Bach Dang (7-8 AM; very delicious)
- Cơm Hến Hoa Đông (Clam Rice)
- Bún mắm nêm o Bê (Vermicelli with Fermented Fish Sauce)
- Chè bột lọc heo quay mợ Tôn Đích (Che with Roasted Pork)
- Chè Cầm (Sweet Dessert Soup)
- Bún xương bò at 186 Ly Nam De (Beef Bone Vermicelli, highly recommended)
- Bánh canh Nam Phổ at 16 Pham Hong Thai (thick noodle soup, closes around 7 PM)
Important Notes for Your Trip
- Hue is very hot, you might not recognize yourself after a week!
- For Hon Vượn peak, don't follow Google Maps; it may lead you to the other side of the hill. Just park at Huyền Không Sơn Thượng Pagoda and hike up from there. Bring water.
- Saying Huế is cheap isn't entirely accurate. They just serve smaller portions, which gives visitors the impression of lower prices. Most restaurants close early, so be sure to eat your fill before dark!
For me, Huế is a vibrant blue, a blue found in the streets and sometimes within the grounds of the tombs, palaces, and schools. If you ever visit Huế, don't miss the chance to bike around in the early morning, joining the locals doing their exercises, watching the blue sky as sunlight filters through the leaves. You'll see just how beautiful Huế truly is.
Goodbye for now, and see you on my next trip!
You can find my latest travel updates on Instagram: @phung_uit
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