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"Romantic Hue" a Hue Travel Page by dinhyen

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"Romantic Hue" a Hue Travel Page by dinhyen

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Real Name: Yen
Lives In: Cambridge, US
Member Since: May 27, 2002
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Page Views: 15,875            Last Visit to Hue: June, 2002      

Romantic Hue

by dinhyen - last update: Apr 15, 2003

Girl in ao dai, at the Mausoleum of Tu Duc
Hue, along with Saigon and Hanoi, are Vietnam's principal cities. Traditionally, Saigon is known for its laid-back, anything-goes atmosphere, Hanoi for its sophistication, and Hue for its beauty and romanticism.

Hue's attraction has much to do with the Perfume River. The river's gentle undulations take it from the rugged mountain range along the Laos border through rolling hills and lush farmlands and finally through Hue itself. The slow moving current is ideal for the graceful, slender boats which ply its waters.

Hue was the bastion of the Nguyen dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam. It was the first Nguyen King, Gia Long, who relocated the capital from Hanoi in the early 19th century. Here the monarchs built the citadels, palaces, mansions, gardens, temples, and mausoleums. So it is here that visitors may find the most abundant traces of Vietnam's royal heritage.

Despite its tranquility, Hue is not without its violent history. The city saw some of the most bloody battles of the 1968 Tet Offensive, with the sad result that much of the Citadel was destroyed. Today its largest buildings still remain, but the empty lot and the shattered foundations are grim reminders of the past.

Surprisingly Hue is not very large. The city lies on both sides of the Perfume River, both halves being joined at intervals by iron bridges. One of the bridges, Trang Tien, is most commonly associated with Hue in Vietnamese literature. There are many small, tree-lined boulevards that are ideal for an excursion on foot. The moped "revolution" that had claimed Saigon and partly Hanoi has not reached Hue. So for a least a little while longer, visitors can enjoy the tranquility that befits its beauty.

Inside the city, the most well-known attraction is the Citadel. Many other buildings with royal connection are located throughout the city proper. There are several temples and churches as well. Dong Ba Market is well-known throughout Vietnam. At night, you can take a mini-cruise on the Perfurme River and perhaps enjoy a traditional Hue musical performance.

For a day trip, we took a boat from Hue to visit many attractions located on the river banks. We first visited Thien Mu Pagoda, then stopped at an island shrine, spent several hours at Minh Mang's Tomb (the 2nd Nguyen king), dashed in for a quick tour of Tu Duc's Tomb (the 4th king), then finally hopped on the van for the drive back.

By the time we left, I missed it already.

TIP: Hue is pronounced as "hweh", not "hugh".
View of the Citadel from the inside. It is a massive building with halls and ramparts at the top where the king may review parades and processions.
A mansion within the Minh Mang's mausoleum complex. The hall is located high above ground so that the occupants would be able to enjoy the breezes.

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

Pros:"Historical, architectural, religious, and cultural relics; charming city; friendly locals; temperate weather"
Cons:"Small airport"
In A Nutshell:"My favorite city in Vietnam"
dinhyen's Hue Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 12 - Photos: 12
 
RestaurantsHotels & Accommodations
 
NightlifeOff The Beaten Path
Tips: 5 - Photos: 5
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
 
Transportation
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
Local Customs
 
Packing ListsShopping
 
Sports TravelGeneral Tips

dinhyen's Hue Travelogues
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
The CitadelJune, 2002 7
Sights of HueJune, 2002 8
Minh Mang's TombJune, 2002 8

Comments for dinhyen about Hue
sailor_p Mon Jan 15, 2007 04:40 UTC
 Great tips and beautiful photographs! I look forward to visiting Hue next week!
musicman1764 Mon Oct 16, 2006 00:14 UTC
 looking for a cd or dvd of this tour. went in july 2006. do you have a copy? musicman41764@comcast.net david
flightmedicine Mon Apr 25, 2005 00:17 UTC
 Hue Airport is an old US Air Force Base. I flew out of there July 2004 and it has been greatly remodeled. Very nice.
richiecdisc Thu Mar 3, 2005 16:06 UTC
 Great to see what Hue looks like when it's sunny. It rained our whole time there so I used B & W to hide the gray skies. You didn't need to but your B & W's are stunning just the same!
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