Hue the charming city

My Hue experience

I always love Hue as songs and poem written when I was student. To me, Hue is the most charming city in Vietnam apart from being the center of the central region in many aspects such as culture, politics, health, education, tourism, science, etc.

One day, my friend told me there are a lot of gangsters in Hue that made me surprised.

Thanks to life, I got selected to go to Hue as a speaker for Erasmus Joint Employability and Entrepreneurship.

And now here what I think about Hue.

I just arrived at the airport, I got welcomed by a charming girl who is currently working from Hue. She then took us back the hotel and recommended us to go to a great restaurant where we could eat “pho hue” (Vietnamese noodle).

A great hotel in Hue

Hotel’s history

Built in 1901 by the French businessmen, Mr Bogarde, the hotel was the first one in Central Vietnam. In 1946, the hotel became the shelter for the French army and civilians during the Anti-French colonialist movement rising. After French forces and civilians returned to France after the Geneva agreement was signed in 1954, the Morin’s transferred the hotel to Mr.Yen (Vietnamese businessman). In 1957, the South Vietnam Government confiscated the hotel and used as the House of Hue university.

Reopening after massive renovation, the hotel reopened in 1997 and renamed to “Sai Gon Morin”.

Welcoming of the hotel

When we just arrived at the hotel “Sai Gon Morin”, we were really impressed by the warm welcome of the receptionist. They gave us watermelon juice which was so fresh, most importantly a big grin.

Facilities of the hotel

Moreover, the hotel also gave us welcoming fruit and 2 bottles of water every day. Most interesting thing is that they provide 2 umbrellas in each room because of the hot and raining weather in Hue.

I was also in love with the way they package the toilet paper.

Sauna, massage, gym and swimming pool are available in the hotel with super cool services provided by nice staffs.

The food

Oh, and the food is amazing. Breakfast was served in a beautiful garden with variety of western and Vietnamese food, especially great dessert.

We also had a chance to have lunch in the hotel and again we were amazed by the food and the way they put the food. Everything was made to connect with the culture of the city. Let’s take a look at this fried rice inside a beautiful lotus.

Restaurant in Hue

We went to a restaurant nearby the perfume river. The hotel is designed as a lotus flower; even it was lighted up by the pink colour of the lotus flower.

I was amazed to see the way the restaurant put the spring roll – on a water melon with the sticks.

Most importantly the staffs there were super cool. They were also helpful to help us conduct the karaoke session.

And yes, there is a special food that you only can eat in Hue “va”.

The perfume river

It is a key thing to make Hue become so charming. Walking along the river is a wonderful feeling.

You will get welcomed by each person on the way.

The beach

I rent a bike to cycle 15km from my hotel to the beach and yes, it was worthy doing it even by running.

The people in Hue

It is the most important thing that made my experience in Hue wonderful. People in Hue are more than nice, amazing. Each person will make you feel warm and welcomed as coming back home. 

We went to a coffee shop and the owner just came to us and offer the most special ice cream there - steaming ice cream - it is getting smoky as long as you put it in your mouth. And yes, a very cute cake was offered for us. 

The uncle in Hue

I was walking to the conference and an uncle on the motorbike – you may know in Vietnam we call them “xe om” (motorbike taxi) – asked me where I was going. Since I had my flight in 5 hours later so I asked him about how much to go to the airport. After bargaining, he agreed to take me to the airport with 80.000 VND from my hotel (distance around 15km). He was so enthusiastic so that I took his number to call him later on.

As we made an appointment, he came to the meeting place and told me that he was busy so he introduced me to another uncle. The uncle was in the age of 60 gave me a big grin and helped me to wear my helmet.

He was careful to ask me about what time would I fly so that he could adjust the speed to get to the airport in time. On the way to the airport, the uncle embraced a warm conversation to get to know whether I enjoyed Hue or not.

He gave me his number and told me to share with my friends and gave me a big grin “Since you gave me the opportunity to do my job so I won’t make you feel shame. I will take car of your friends if they have needs to go by motorbike when they come here. And if you come back, I will take you around. Go to the internet and you can find a writing to express the gratitude of a girl about me”.

The sincere sharing of the uncle made me feel at home.

The uncle was known by his kindness and people felt thankful to him for the rest of their life.

I would like to share one of the cases – the uncle and a poet.

The poet had to take the flight back to Hanoi and she had really big luggage. She wanted to leave to the airport at 5.20am so she expected the guy to come at 5.20am sharp. Our uncle went to the meeting point at 5am and didn’t want to rush her so he just waited in front of the hotel. She found really happy to have a thoughtful man took her to the airport.

The kindness of the uncle didn’t stop yet when he was willing to bring her to the airport then went back the hotel to bring her luggage but just took the money of 1 round.  During the time of waiting for the flight, he embraced a warm conversation with the lady. She felt really happy and touched by our uncle so he has invited him to her family 5 times. 

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