Hue

Hue is considered as a romantic city of Vietnam. As the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty. Considered the cradle of the pure Vietnamese. That's reason why Hue attracts huge number of domestic tourist yearly.

Located north of Hai Van Pass and lay back to the majestic Truong Son mountain range. But Hue is smoother because the river flows through the city. Each meter of land here has great historical value, each wall will tell you the story of an ancient feudal. 

Hue was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage in 1993, including the material heritage such as the Forbidden City, tombs, temples and neck. In addition there are special cultural values ​​such as music, food, festivities will make visitors curious about this land

                              

What to see in Hue? Imperial citadel

The construction of the moated citadel, which has a 9,950m-long perimeter, was begun in 1805 on the northern bank of the Perfume River by King Gia Long. The Citadel was originally made of earth, but between 1818 and 1832 it was paved with a 2m-thick layer of bricks in the style of the French architect Vauban. The King’s official functions were carried out in the Imperial Enclosure, a citadel-within-a-citadel with a perimeter of 2,450m. The Imperial Enclosure has 4 gates, the most famous of which is Ngo Mon Gate (or Southern Gate) used as the main entrance. Within the Imperial Enclosure is the Forbidden Purple City, which used to be the living quarters of the King. With more than 100 buildings such palaces, temples, fortresses, etc., the Citadel is the most interesting place to visit in Hue.

Museum of Royal Relics

The beautiful hall that houses the Museum of Royal Relics was built in 1845 and restored when the museum was founded in 1923. This is a precious wooden construction of Hue’s unique palace architectonics. The house was built after “trung thiem diep oc” model (sloping successive roofs) with 128 pillars. The first sight catching visitors’ eyes is the walls inscribed with 1,000 poems written in chu nom – Vietnamese script. Most of the exhibits displayed here bear characteristics left by the last Vietnamese feudal dynasty. Here visitors can find the everyday utensils (such as clothing, sedans, gongs, etc.) of the King and the royal family and other aesthetics decorative works in the palaces of Hue. The museum is located at 3 Le Truc St. and open daily from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Royal tombs

There are eight royal tombs in Hue that are the final resting places of the Nguyen kings. Among them, Tu Duc Tomb, Khai Dinh Tomb and Minh Mang Tomb are often visited. The construction of each tomb was very meticulous and usually started while the reigning king was still alive. Most of the tombs face the south-west, the direction of the Imperial City. Although all are unique in structure and design, most of them consist of two compounds. The first is reserved for funeral services and the second is the tomb proper. Generally, each tomb is enclosed by a surrounding rampart. However, the internal configuration of each tomb is different, since these particular arrangements reflected the tastes and personality of the monarch. The tombs are open from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily (from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter).

King Tu Duc's Tomb

7km far from Hue city, King Tu Duc’s Tomb is surrounded by a brick wall. Tu Duc was the fourth king of Nguyen Dynasty. He had his tomb constructed in 1848 when he was still on the throne. The tomb was built according to the plan based on two axes: one for the mausoleum and another for the palace. The tomb comprises of an important number of buildings, man-made ponds full of nenuphars and lotuses, crossed by various bridges and covered by frangipanniers. This is one of the most romantic and splendid masterpieces.

King Khai Dinh's Tomb

Khai Dinh is the twelfth king of Nguyen Dynasty and he is also the father of King Bao Dai, the last king of Vietnam. The construction of the tomb started from 1920 to 1931. The conception of its architecture and decoration got the European influence. The multi-colored ceramic inlaid style makes his mausoleum gracious and magnificent.

King Minh Mang's Tomb

12km far from Hue city, King Ming Mang’s Tomb is located on the left branch of the Perfume river. The tomb was built as the plan drawn out by the king himself and the middle of the pine forest. The construction started in 1841 after the king's death. The palace, the pavilions and the entrances are harmoniously built around two big lakes that make these more luxurious and peaceful.

Dong Ba Market

Located on the southeastern corner of Hue Citadel, Dong Ba market has been one of the most famous commercial centers in Vietnam for more than 100 years. Built in 1899 and then destroyed in 1968, the market was rebuilt on an area of 5 ha in 1986. Up to now, all the typical features of a traditional Vietnamese market are still there such as the sampan landing, the bus station and the bazaars. Dong Ba market is a paradise for snapshots of daily activities as well as for shopping with everything from souvenir items to bronze goods, Hue sesame sweetmeat, conical poem hats, etc.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda, also known as Linh Mu Pagoda, was originally founded in 1601 by Lord Nguyen Hoang. This pagoda, built on a hillock overlooking the Perfume River, is one of the most famous architectural structures in Vietnam. The most striking feature of the pagoda is the 21m-high octagonal tower, the seven-storey Phuoc Duyen Tower. The tower was built by King Thieu Tri in 1844 and has become the unofficial symbol of Hue. Lying on Ha Khe Hill, 7km from Hue, the pagoda can be reached either by car or by boat. Visitors often come here late in the afternoon in order to enjoy sunset on the Perfume River and to attend the daily prayer service at 5 p.m.

Garden houses

Hue owes its beauty not only to the Perfume River, Mount Ngu Binh and royal mausoleums but also to garden houses. This kind of house is a prominent feature of Hue. Each garden house has an area of about 2,000m2. In front of the house, there is always a tile-covered gate. Around the house is a garden with all kinds of fruit and flowers. The highlight in a garden house is a small rock-garden which is an artificial wood and mountain made of rock, water and plants. The house and the garden, the people and the landscape, etc. all blend harmoniously in a colorful atmosphere. All shows the love for nature of the owners, which is one of Hue people’s characteristics. Visitors can visit some garden houses such as Lac Tinh Vien (65 Phan Dinh Phung St.), Princess Ngoc Son (29 Nguyen Chi Thanh St.), Y Thao (3 Thach Han), etc.

Perfume River

A visit to Hue would not be complete without a boat excursion on the Perfume River (Song Huong). This 100km-long river owes its name to the fact that it flows through many forests of aromatic plants before reaching Hue, bringing with it fragrances of tropical flora. A boat cruise will offer visitors a general view of the daily life of Hue people. When night falls, the surface of the river glistens under the moonlight and the folk melodies of Hue make the lovely river even more poetic and musical. It is said that Hue is peaceful and tranquil mostly thanks to the Perfume River.

Hai Van Pass

In Vietnamese, Hai Van Pass means the pass of ocean clouds. It is located on Highway 1 between Danang and Hue. One can see a spectacular stretch of scenery here where mountains seem to fall into the sea. In the past, Hai Van Pass has been the site of a historic seesaw struggle between several nations in the region (Kingdoms of Champa, Vietnam, Laos, etc.).

Bach Ma National Park

Just 45km south of Hue, Bach Ma National Park is home to old French hill station. Established in mid 1998, the park covers a rolling mountainous area of 22,030 ha. The forest, in addition to its indigenous flora, also has various species of plant originating in both the north and the south. Visitors can find exciting trekking routes and romantic hotels in this area.

How to get to Hue?

There are 02 flights from Hanoi and Saigon depart and arrive in Hue daily. Number of trains stop in Hue on the way to Saigon or Hanoi. Getting to Hue from Hoi An you can take local bus or book a private transfer from us at very compatitive price and comfort ride. Our train ticketting service is also available. 

Where to eat?

Hue's cuisine is a big part of Hue's culture, known for its royal cuisine, a stunning presentation and picky food. Besides the luxury, there are many other rustic cuisine, like its cake, rice flour, or Hue's deserts. Hue cuisine is very little, light, you won't feel heavy stomach. Walk around town or along the river, you will see a lot of the restaurants that full of traditional dishes of Hue. Here are some to recommend to you:

Truong Dinh Mussel Rice (Com Hen) - 01 Truong Dinh - Hue City

Royal Cuisine (Com Vua) - 20/3 Le Thanh Ton - Hue City

Hue Pancake (Banh Khoai) - 06 Dinh Tien Hoang - Hue City

Hue Desert (Che Hue) - 29 Hung Vuong - Hue City