Breakfast at Thanh Noi Hotel

We are now staying at the Program hotel, Thanh Noi, just outside the walls of the 19th century royal palace. Hue is every bit the idyllic and charming, tree-lined town I remember from a few years back. Our hotel is a state-run place, a little shabby in the interior decor, but the staff are very nice, especially Mr. Tuan the head of reception. The hotel is very popular with French tourists and families as it has a pool and this delightful pavillion in the garden where a breakfast buffet of fresh fruit and omelettes is served from 6-930am. We enjoyed our dinner last night at a table under an old bodhi tree, the kind of tree typically planted at the gate of a village or around a pagoda. There is also a very nice little pool, instrumental for cooling off.

Air conditioning saga - last installment - we're getting a new one installed in the room so we can be absolutely frigid in the mid-day.