The Citadel

We took cyclos ( rickshaws ) to the old Imperial Compound this morning before it got too hot. We hired a female guide to show us around the huge complex, she's the beautiful woman in the long black dress with a parasol . In 1968 during the Tet New Years celebrations, the North Vietnamese launched a nationwide attack on the south hoping the population would rise up against American occupiers. Hue was the only city they completely took over. They proceeded to round up all government officials, politicians, teachers, police etc and executed all of them in mass graves . American Marines were sent in to route out the North Vietnamese and local Vietcong . It was the only urban fighting of the war, a house to house battle in the streets of Hue. The North Vietnamese's last strong hold was the Citadel. The bloody battle lasted almost a month. 100's of US Marines and untold Vietnamese died in in the Citadel. We destroyed 80% of ancient complex. Battle damage and bullet holes are still evident everywhere. They are slowly rebuilding this beautiful site. I sensed the ghosts of the dead young soldiers there. It was very sobering .