Hue served as Vietnam's capital under the emperors
of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945 and the city’s regal past can
still be seen inside the walls of the Citadel and the Imperial City.
Both were heavily damaged during the Tet Offensive of 1968 when the
Communists took the city from the South and held it for 3 weeks. Now
thanks to UNESCO funding, much of the City is being faithfully restored
to its former glory. The Imperial City, created in the 19th century and
modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing, has many palaces and temples
inside. As Vietnam’s last feudal capital, the small and quiet city of
Hue is widely known for magnificent architectures, pagodas and royal
tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills.
We
spend this day to visit Hue with the massive citadel, which contains
the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence
was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is
still fascinating to walk among the ruins. After an impressive boat
trip, we return to the town and enjoy a walk to the bustling Dong Ba
Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along
the way we pass by many fantastic eating spots, ideal places for
visitors to sample some local delicacies. The beautiful riverside
pagoda of Thien Mu which now becomes the symbol of Hue, and the
elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc are not to be missed.
What to take: We
suggest a small, lightweight daypack for cameras, spare film, drinking
water, respectable clothes for temple visiting and comfortable
walking shoes.