HUE
As Cusco is to the Incan Empire; Angkor is to the Khmer Kingdom; and, Beijing is to the Middle Kingdom, the heart of the Annam (or Vietnamese) people beats in the imperial capital city of Hue. While the city of Hue impressed me the most with its architecture and traditions, I never felt I truly uncovered the rich history that lay hidden in Hue.
[Purple City] The Forbidden Purple City located west of the Perfume River was modeled after Beijing's Forbidden City and was for the exclusive use of the emperor. Beautiful lotus flowers (the symbol of purity) filled every inch of the moats that still protect the Purple City. While most of the buildings within its walls were destroyed during the Tet Offensive of 1968, you still sensed the grandeur as you walked within the imperial walls.
[Tombs] A boat river down the Perfume River is the best way to visit the some of the different emperors' tombs. While the general consensus of most other tourists was that the Tomb of Ming Manh was the most beautiful, I particularly enjoyed the Tomb of Khai Dinh which provided gorgeous scenic views as it rested on a hill called Cam Ke. The only building we visited that wasn't a tomb was Tien My Pagoda. Thien Mu Pagoda's infamy lies in one of its monks, Thich Quang Duc who in June 1963 set himself on fire in the streets of Saigon to protest against Ngo Dinh Diem's repressive South Vietnamese government.
[DMZ] The Ben Hai River, the river that officially separated North and South Vietnam at the 17th Parallel, was a surprisingly narrow river. At the mouth, it was no more than 200 yards wide, a 15 minute swim if I actually knew how to swim well. The Vinh Moc Tunnels that we visited near the DMZ is one of only two underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong that has been subsequently opened to the public (the other one is the Cu Chi Tunnels near Saigon). It was completely inconspicuous from above ground, and was an intricate labyrinth under ground. It amazed me that such a structure could be built so efficiently during the war.