This mountain, called The Rock Pile, was chosen by the US army as an outlook post over the area of Highway #9 which runs East and West. It was accessed by helicopter to a landing pad built on the very top.
Another view in the same location, morning light and rain adding to the beuaty.
Next we toured an Ethnic Minority village. They are a community living along both sides of the highway in very poor conditions. Their language is different but our guide could converse with them.
This woman came out to meet us first, putting on her basket to demonstrate.
This woman peered out at us next and there was also a child. Three generations living in the tiny house.
Here they are sitting in the doorway as we are leaving.
The house next door. The area is very picturesque and the land looks fertile.
Yet another house.
A view of the river under the bridge.
A more populated town still in the minority area.
Next we went to the Khe Sanh combat base, 130 km from Hue and the site of the "America" Wars most famous siege.
There wasn't much left of it actually. In the gallery was a collection of photos. 
This bomb shelter is a reconstruction. All you can see of the rest is an outline of stones where the foundations were.
These poinsettia are just beginning to bloom but they are growing like weeds in the flowerbeds.
In Dong Ha town, across the street from where we had lunch, in a ratty old vaccant field was this beautiful old temple which doesn't appear to be used anymore.
The restaurant has a map of the area. The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is the area between the North and South battles during the war.
There was little to see except the different areas because the bases have been destroyed or converted to other use and the equipment was long since taken away and sold. 
Across the road are some women planting rice. They all have boots on but it still looks cold.
A view of their farmland.
Some men with an ox and plough in the muddy rice field.
This new Dakrong bridge replaces what used to be a river crossing on the Ho Chi Minh trail.
A view of the river under the bridge.
A more populated town still in the minority area.
These are some coffee plants we saw along the way.
Next we went to the Khe Sanh combat base, 130 km from Hue and the site of the "America" Wars most famous siege.
There wasn't much left of it actually. In the gallery was a collection of photos.
Here are some bombs.
This bomb shelter is a reconstruction. All you can see of the rest is an outline of stones where the foundations were.
These poinsettia are just beginning to bloom but they are growing like weeds in the flowerbeds.
In Dong Ha town, across the street from where we had lunch, in a ratty old vaccant field was this beautiful old temple which doesn't appear to be used anymore.
The restaurant has a map of the area. The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is the area between the North and South battles during the war.
There was little to see except the different areas because the bases have been destroyed or converted to other use and the equipment was long since taken away and sold.
Flower of the day.
We passed by several monuments without getting out. I am impressed at the amount of credit and honour they are giving to their women.
The Hien Luong Bridge which joins the North and South over the Ben Hai River has been rebuilt but you can see the one remaining arch of the old bridge.
Apparently, after the treaty was signed, the bridge was built and the north painted it some color. Then the south came and painted their half a different color signifying their aversion to amalgamation. The north returned and painted their half of the bridge the same color as the south and soon the south repainted with yet another color. This continued for a few more coats but today the bridge is green, the color of peace.
Finally, we arrived at the Vinh Moc Tunnels and the Nha Bao Tang Museum. 
This is part of it but it has a roof partially sticking out of the ground.
One of the entrances.
This is the entrance the tours go in and they exit on the beach nearby.
Here is a photo of the first bit. I had thought about going through anyway and flashing my camera every few steps but I wasn't sure that the battery would make it the whole way.
When we got back to Dong Ha we stopped to drop off about eight people who weren't coming back to Hue with us.
Graves can be pretty ornate, including temples and fences, and with room for the whole family.
We passed by several monuments without getting out. I am impressed at the amount of credit and honour they are giving to their women.
This one for example has a woman messenger in the center. On her right side is the infantry solider assigned to protect her and on her left is the boat captain who paddled her over water with her cargo of mail.
The Hien Luong Bridge which joins the North and South over the Ben Hai River has been rebuilt but you can see the one remaining arch of the old bridge.
Apparently, after the treaty was signed, the bridge was built and the north painted it some color. Then the south came and painted their half a different color signifying their aversion to amalgamation. The north returned and painted their half of the bridge the same color as the south and soon the south repainted with yet another color. This continued for a few more coats but today the bridge is green, the color of peace.
Finally, we arrived at the Vinh Moc Tunnels and the Nha Bao Tang Museum.
These tunnels are similar to the Cu Chi tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City, but these were used mainly for hiding not fighting. The people went underground because they were living in one of the most heavily bombed areas and lived in the tunnels up to six or more years.
A map of the tunnels showing entrances and levels.
This is part of it but it has a roof partially sticking out of the ground.
One of the entrances.
This is the entrance the tours go in and they exit on the beach nearby.
I took a miss on the tour walk because there were no lights provided for us. Just the tour guide with one weak light. By the time I got in it was total darkness.
Here is a photo of the first bit. I had thought about going through anyway and flashing my camera every few steps but I wasn't sure that the battery would make it the whole way.
This is a cutaway model of the site. Each dwelling room was very small but they had a common meeting room which could hold 150 people as well as kitchen and laundry areas that were separate.
Any opening would have been camouflaged with vegetation.
Any opening would have been camouflaged with vegetation.
When we got back to Dong Ha we stopped to drop off about eight people who weren't coming back to Hue with us.
The driver told them to get their stuff together so they would be ready to get off quickly. He had no sooner closed the bus doors than a couple of motorcycle police women wearing garden-worm-green uniforms pulled in right in front of the bus.
Apparently it is not legal for the bus to stop on the street to let people out.
He had the choice of an 800,000.00 fine with a written ticket and a record on his licence or pay 400,000,00 dong under the table to the police. He went with the second option but now he is out of pocket because he has no paperwork to claim back to his company. One of the tourists who was Vietnamese but spoke English passed a hat and the tourists chipped in to help pay the ticket.
400,000.00 is about $25.00 in US currency.
It is fascinating to me because of all the things we saw this guy do today, parking to let people off the bus was the least dangerous.
400,000.00 is about $25.00 in US currency.
It is fascinating to me because of all the things we saw this guy do today, parking to let people off the bus was the least dangerous.
We didn't get back until after 7:00PM.
It was a long day today but tomorrow I plan to sleep late and go to the spa in the afternoon.
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