Everything is around +20°C: temperature of the sea and rivers, day and night air; and water is everywhere: under the sea and above the sea in the form of precipitation.
The Cua Khau sluice (aka Cống Phú Cam)
This:
Weather forecast from December 18, 2024, for Hue, Vietnam on Google
Though no tropical downpours like in October/November, when they caused flood, mostly drizzling without an end. There were several partly dry days (though cloudy) and that's when I went out for pics.
One of many unusual fig trees along the An Cuu River
Although it was annoying to have this without a single sunny day for more than a month, I feel a bit sad saying goodbye to this season. Nope, it will be even colder in January but no endless damp gloominess anymore.
They often post political information or propaganda at the junctions of alleys and major streets
Classical vibes of Southeast Asia: the blue sky, bright sun, heat, and occasional downpours, are too common all over the region while the gloomy season isn't long and can be seen in Central and North Vietnam only.
In fact, 20 degrees is very comfortable weather for walking - you don't sweat and it's not hot in jeans and sneakers.
If it weren't for one thing: getting wet (sneakers and jeans which you can't even dry when it's +20 and humidity up to 100%). Many travelers end up coughing and wearing stinky clothes.
Happily, the sun has returned to Hue City at the very beginning of January: it has already been 3 days without precipitation. Pleasant 23 degrees in the afternoon. But I stay indoors, recovering from a cold, editing and sharing images from the precious season.
- More images of December 2024: Strange Winter of Central Vietnam. A Walk in Hue Old Town and An Cuu River Neighborhood
Indochine Palace, a 5-star hotel with a Caodaist temple of Hue
Bare branches here and there and gloomy sky like in autumn in the North.
Although most trees keep greenery, faded though:
The An Cuu River where you can shoot landscape images and street photography at the same time:
Street vendor of ban gio (steamed dumplings) and an old lady selling lottery
Melody Riverside Homestay is on this river, my home for 4 months already.
The Perfume River, a view from under the bridge.
Life of night streets.
One of many Hue royal palaces full of stories of the past.
My favorite yellow house near the hairdresser's, with an evening street cleaner. He has seen me many times, we often go out at the same time last 4 months.
The king of December, the drizzle, is back.
Not the most comfortable but peaceful and solitary period of my life. I'll miss it one day.
More Southeast Asian stories to come, stay tuned! Check out my previous posts on my personal Worldmappin map.
I took these images with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G on a full-frame DSLR Nikon D750 in December 2024/January 2025, in Hue, Vietnam.