Decorative elements

These are some of the decorative elements in temples and tombs that caught my eye. A leaf shaped plaque with lovely calligraphy [don't know what it says].

Mosaic work was used at many tomb sites, as well as glazed tiles. These seen at Tu Duc Tomb.

 Painted and mosaic decorations on this column. Note the wonderful dragon scales made from blue and white ceramic pieces. I assumed it was recycled crockery.

Cloud interpretations.

And the super ornate Khai Dinh Tomb where the walls were covered in mosaic work.

 

Gates

Very reminiscent of Chinese royal style architecture, this is the impressive entrance gate to the Imperial City of Hue, dated 1808-1945. It was largely destroyed in 2 wars, fought with the French and the Americans. However due to ongoing restoration, it is being returned to it's former glory and is a definite must see.

We found a number of smaller gates into various areas, some closed, some open to visitors.

An outside altar. Many of those inside the buildings were no photo areas.

The exit gate.

 

Hue

We are in Hue for a few days and got a cyclo round some of the streets of the area known as the Citadel, the old centre of Hue. The streets are tree lined and lovely with more scooters, pushbikes and walkers than cars. My peddler loved to take photos and would whip the I-Pad out of my hand!

The street signs all have the Imperial City, in yellow, as a backdrop. The flag tower in the background is the highest in Vietnam.

The moat is huge, full of pink and white lotus and surrounds the Imperial City section.

Streets are easier to cross as this garden seller moves his mobile shop across a busy intersection.

While this lady sets up her dried squid sales right on the street in Hue North Bank!

This mobile vegetable seller's photo was taken in the Old Quarter, Hanoi where there is a much greater density of people and vehicles. People watching is wonderful here in Vietnam.