In the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue was chosen to be the capital of Vietnam because of its natural beauty and perfect location. It was not only the political but also the religious and cultural center for 143 years ( 1802-1945).
Situated on the banks of Perfume River, Hue is home to a series of imperial tombs, ancient temple and the royal palace. Although many historic sites were destroyed in the Vietnam war, Hue still becomes one of the most attractive tourist attractions in Vietnam. Let follow us to explore 10 things to do in Hue.
Hue Imperial Citadel
Hue Imperial Citadel is officially designated as a UNESCO Heritage because of its historical and cultural values. It is said that this place took nearly 30 years for completion. With 10km in the perimeter, the citadel is a complex of more than 100 structures including defensive system, resting places for the royal family, space for worshiping the previous emperors, places for entertainment, and palaces for political work.
Imperial Citadel was built to protect the royal family. So, the walls were made from heavy stones which created the solid construction. The complex of Hue monuments includes the Imperial Residence, the Hoang Thanh (Imperial City), the Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City) and related royal palaces.
If you visit the Citadel from April 17 to May 2, you will have a great chance to join in the Royal Night. The artistic program focuses on performing Nha Nhac ( Vietnamese court music), folk games and Hue royal cuisine introductions.
In addition, the magnificent architecture of the Imperial tombs in Hue is also worth visiting. There are 7 Imperial tombs, each has its own impressive structure and glorious history. But we suggest you should visit Minh Mang and Khai Dinh tombs because the great kings who own these tombs invested a huge grand of money for resting place after death. So, their tombs are spectacular work of arts that will make you stay a while to admire the beauty of these places.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Along with royal architecture, Thien Mu pagoda showcases the unique features for Buddhist architectures in Vietnam at that time. The legend goes that Nguyen Hoang Lord takes a visit to Ha Khe hill. He heard about a magic story of local people about a strange woman. She often appears on the hills. She says that a lord will be built a pagoda on Ha Khe hill in order to strengthen the prosperity of this nation. After that, Nguyen Hoang Lord built a pagoda on this place and called it “Thien Mu pagoda”, which may be translated into “the holy women pagoda” in the Vietnamese language.
Stop by Phuoc Tich Ancient Village
Apart from the ancient village of Duong Lam ( Son Tay district, Hanoi), the ancient village in Phuoc Tich was also recognized as the second national relic in 2009. The first stop in the village is 700 year - old temple called Cay Thi. The temple represents the harmonious Vietnam and Cham architecture with linga and yoni relics. Furthermore, there are 37 out of 117 houses in the village are between 100 and 200 years old. But the thing really makes a strong impression on visitors is the pottery products which are solid, sleek and sophisticated. They are decorated with the simple details of beautiful scenery such as a winding river, huge old trees and a little town with a bright blue sky.
Relish Local Cuisine
Coming to Hue, you will have a great chance to try incredible cuisines which were exclusively served to emperors and royal families in the past. Today, Hue food is more popular, you can easily find many royal dishes in the local restaurants, roadside stores, and high-end resorts. Some of the best items of food that you should taste including Beef noodle soup, lemongrass skewers, Vietnamese crepe, and tapioca dumplings.
Take a Cyclo Tour
Take a cyclo tour in Hue is an authentic way to discover the hidden charms of the ancient capital. You can start your cyclo trip by crossing Trang Tien Bridge to admire the poetic beauty of the Perfume River. Then either ride around Dong Ba market to enjoy the vivid atmosphere or the Citadel surrounding areas to admire the impressive architecture. While sitting on the cyclo, you can see all of the activities on the street and observe the old houses where local people have lived for generations. Everything just happens around you and it makes you feel that you are a part of it.
Stroll Around Bach Ma National Park
Situated in the Annamite Range near Hue city, Bach Ma National Park is an old French Hill station which has 40,000 hectares over the districts of Phu Loc, Nam Dong. In the national park, you will see 132 kinds of mammals, more than 1400 species of plants including rare ferns and orchids, etc. In addition, you can camp, trek, hiking or simply walking through the jungle to discover the beauty of Bach Ma’s flora and fauna. And when you get to the top of the mountain, you can see the stunning scenery of Hue, Lang Co beach, and many other amazing things.
The wonderful time to stroll around Bach Ma National Park in February. It is the time when famous red Rhododendron blossom along small streams, especially in the Rhododendron waterfall area. At that time, the weather is cool with favorable temperatures.
Take a Cruise in Perfume River
An excursion to Hue wouldn’t be complete without a boat trip on the Perfume River. As its name suggests, many petals fall into it which bring the aroma to the river. Boating along the river, you will have a great time to pass by the impressive ancient places such as the Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu pagoda, and the Emperors’ Tombs.
Visit Hue Traditional Villages
Although there are many traditional villages in Hue, Sinh Folk Painting Village and Thanh Tien Paper Flower Village are highly appreciate with cultural products which had more than 400 years old. Originally, the cultural products of Sinh village used to worship ancient Vietnamese philosophies in the face of mysterious and holy nature. Now, they are more various and show aspects of normal life such as families, jobs, landscapes, etc.
Thanh Tien is a small village located near the Perfume River. It is famous for its traditional craft of making paper flowers which are prepared for Tet Holiday decorations. The most beautiful of paper flowers includes lotus, orchid, and chrysanthemums. Here, you can see how these delicate productions are made and find out their role in traditional Vietnamese culture.
Lang Co Beach
Lang Co beach is listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with the white sand strip, crystal water, and breathtaking view of a tropical forest. It can be seen that the beach is a suitable choice for your laidback after exhausting working days. This place is a harmonious combination of sublime nature, the simple scenery of local people, and their hospitability, which offer a taste of tranquility and warmth at the first visit. From Lang Co beach, it is easy for visitors to access other famous destinations in the central land in Vietnam such as Hoi An ancient town, Bach Ma National Park, and Son Tra Peninsula.
Ride a Bike Through Thuy Bieu Eco-village
Thuy Bieu Eco – Village is a harmonious combination of the Hue’s poetic scenery and peaceful tranquil atmosphere of a typical village in Vietnam. The village attracts tourist by the stunning green space pomelo garden. Each season, the garden has its own distinctive beauty. In spring, Thanh Tra pomelo gardens are filled with aromatic white flowers. In summer, the white color of pomelo flowers is replaced by the green color of young pomelo. When autumn comes, the ripe pomelos are ready for harvest by the locals. And the garden becomes more silent to accumulate nutrients for the next genes in winter.
If you are looking for an interesting way to explore the village, riding a bike is perhaps one of the best options for you. It will bring you a nice time to immerse in nature and make friends with hospitable people in the area.
When to visit Hue?
The ideal time to visit Hue is from October to March. During this time, the temperature is comfortable and there’s little rain. You should avoid visiting Hue in July and August because it’s very hot in these months.