Vietnam North to South – Day 7: Huế
In contrast to the hectic itinerary of yesterday, we spent the whole day today in one city. After eating a leisurely breakfast, we boarded a “dragon boat” on Perfume River and sailed for about forty minutes to the Thiên Mụ Temple, founded in 1601 by the Nguyens. Its most impressive sight is its seven-story pagoda, which directly overlooks the river and serves as an entry point to a much larger complex. Besides the usual temples, this complex also contains a functioning monastery and a few historical exhibits. Perhaps the most interesting artefact is the car driven to Saigon by the Monk Thích Quảng Đức, who immolated himself in protest against the anti-Buddhist persecutions of the staunchly Catholic president Ngô Đình Diệm.