CENTRAL VIETNAM

In central Vietnam, the land is only 50 to 80 kilometers wide, the flexible supporting bar, as it were, if the north and south are viewed graphically as bamboo baskets. Plagued by the climate, it sometimes rains too little, often too much, when typhoons approach from the sea in the east. Unfortunately, this affects the sights, which are often underestimated, because central Vietnam was the cultural center of the Champa Empire, which had adopted Hinduism from India. Following these models, they built a temple for each of their kings from the 7th to the 17th century. The Vietnamese like to call many of these Champa towers, which are made of thin red bricks, their "Angkor Wat". Today they stand around a bit lost in the landscape. Worthwhile, however, is a visit to the royal tombs in the valley of My Son, located about 50 kilometers southwest of Hoian, where Italians are rebuilding the towers, some with contrasting yellow bricks, as part of a European project, after the Americans declared the valley a "free fire zone" in 1968 because Viet Minh fighters were suspected of fighting there. More than 70 percent of the towers were destroyed at that time.

When the large Cham ethnic group, which today can be greeted practically with a handshake, was displaced by the Viet, the Nguyen family dynasty ruled the center and south of Vietnam. They moved the capital from Hanoi to Hue about 200 years ago. During this time, the citadel was built, the royal court, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit is worthwhile, but certainly not for a whole day, because Hue has to offer, for example, the beautiful Catholic monastery Thien An, which is usually disregarded by tourism, for political reasons. Here still live contemporary witnesses, who not only divinely sing, but also know how to tell of the sorrowful conflicts between North and South.

Hoian, on the other hand, the small, idyllic but important port city, is on every program. Large crowds of tourists pass through here. If you detest hustle and bustle, you can lie down on the beach, which is about 7 kilometers away and can also be reached wonderfully by bicycle. Here you can be served by locals at a small table, near the waves, a freshly grilled fish or a cold beer...