See

The imperial city

Thien Mu pagoda

Royal tombs

Shop

Dong Ba market     

Eat

Mussel rice

Banh bot loc, banh beo

Hue is a city of Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam. As an imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, it has now become the tourist attraction well known nationwide for its historic monuments and architecture. 

Hue is packed with temples, pagodas, tombs and palaces with impressive architectural features. One of the most famous places that visitors should set foot on is the Imperial City which is the walled fortress and royal palace. It was served as a place for official receptions, important court ceremonies, ancestor worship as well as for the royal family's residence. As having great value in history, culture and architecture, this complex of monuments has been recognized as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracted a large number of tourists every year. Besides, along the banks of the Perfume River between 2km and 16km south of Hue lie many tombs of the rulers of the Nguyen Dynasty. Since these mausoleums are designed not only for the Emperors' burial but for sightseeing, they have stunning architectural features that make particular impression on lots of tourists. Among seven royal tombs, frequently-visited ones are Minh Mang, Tu Duc, Khai Dinh tombs. Another destination that is highly recommended to travelers is Thien Mu pagoda which is the oldest and the most beautiful religious building in Hue city. The 21m-high octagonal Phuoc Duyen Tower along with other magnificent temples and precious antiques have made Thien Mu pagoda an ideal place for visiting. 

Hue is also famous for its special cuisine which has indeed enriched the culinary art of Vietnam. There are two kinds of cuisine: one for aristocrat and the other for common people. Dishes here are often very spicy and served with relatively small quantity with refined presentation. Some specialties are mussel rice, steamed clear tapioca cake in banana leaf, Hue beef noodle soup, etc, which is worth giving a try. 

The central city of Hue is granted as a festival city. Since being first held in 2000, festivals in Hue have become significant cultural events for locals here. Celebrated in even-numbered years, festive activities with the participation of local and international performers at locations throughout the city have brought back cultural value of the former royal capital of Vietnam and made much contribution to the socio-economic development of the whole Thua Thien-Hue Province.