"Hue - The Former Imperial Capital" a Hue Travel Page by ECYM

Huế is the capital city of Thừa Thiên - Huế province, Vietnam. Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyễn Dynasty. As such, it is well known for its monuments and architecture. Its population stands at about 340,000 people.
Huế is perhaps best known for its historic monuments, which have earned it a place in the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The seat of the Nguyen emperors was in the Citadel, which occupies a large, walled area on the north side of the river. Inside the citadel was a forbidden city where only the concubines, emperors, and those close enough to them were granted access, the punishment for trespassing being death. Today, little of the forbidden city remains, though reconstruction efforts are in progress to maintain it as a tourist attraction as a view of the history of Huế.

Roughly along the Perfume River from Huế lie myriad other monuments, including the tombs of several emperors such as Minh Manh, Khai Dinh, Tu Duc, and others. Also notable is the Thien Mu pagoda, located not far from the city centre along the river, the largest pagoda in Huế and chosen as the official symbol of the city.