Hue is one of Vietnam’s only ancient medieval cities. The oldest ruins date back to the 4th century, while other temples and buildings are still standing from the 1300s and 1500s. Much of the site is from the 1700s when it served as the capital of Dang Trong from 1738 to 1775. Located along the Perfume River, this stunningly beautiful and picturesque site is well worth a day or two of your trip to Vietnam. And, as a former capital of Vietnam it offers an unparalleled amount of history.
While in Hue, the first thing you should do is check out the Imperial Citadel. Also known as the Imperial City, this incredible complex is where Vietnam’s emperors used to live. Designed with thick stone wall defenses and a moat surrounding it, the Citadel offered the royals state of the art defense against the invaders of the time. Inside these fortified walls you will find an endless array of temples, courts, gardens and monuments that provide a captivating place to spend an afternoon. Construction began in 1804 and despite many of the structures showing their age or being outright damaged by the Vietnam War, the complex as a whole still makes for one of the most impressive sights of Vietnamese history.
The next stop on any Hue tour should be the many tombs of emperors past that speckle the landscape. Make sure to stop by Khai Dinh Tomb, where you’ll be greeted by dozens of stone body guards, before entering a building extravagantly decorated with dragons covering the ceiling. Stop at Minh Mang’s Tomb for some dazzling photographs, Dong Khanh’s Tomb for incredibly detailed stone statues and stunning architecture and the Tomb of Tu Duc where you’ll find a lilly-pad covered pond surrounding the grounds.
Make sure to stop at a Pagoda or two as well. The two most famous being Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Dam Pagoda. Both are well worth a few minutes of your time while in Hue.
Once you’re ready for a bite to eat stop by Dong Ba Market, the center of commerce in Hue, for its ample selection of food courts.
All of these sites are fairly close together, but they are not by any means within walking distance. So if traveling via taxi or walking super long distances isn’t something you are comfortable with, Viator offers some really nice full day tours that are super reasonable (around $42) that will take you to most of these sites via small group tour with a guide. Click here to find out more.
