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 About Hue
The capital of Vietnam during the
decadent 19th-century Nguyen
Dynasty, Hue is still an important
literary and cultural center. The
city was dramatically affected
during both wars with the French in
the 1940s and later with the
Americans in the 1960s and '70s:
Most of the structures in the
centuries-old citadel were severely
damaged. Some of those royal
buildings have been repaired and
rebuilt, including the Forbidden
Purple City, the emperor's private
residence.
The city is bisected by the Song
Huong, or Perfume River (named after
a scented shrub that grows there),
and along its banks south of Hue lie
the many tombs of the Nguyen
emperors. You can visit them by
bicycle or boat. We recommend having
your hotel arrange a longboat for
you. The driver will take you to the
riverbank nearest a tomb or
interesting pagoda, show you around
or wait while you explore, and then
take you to the next one. Be sure to
arrange stops at Tu Duc (an
extensive site with lots of
character), Minh Mang (a large and
very well-preserved site), Khai Dinh
(modest in scale but quite
ostentatious) and the Thien Mu
Pagoda (a lovely seven-tiered
structure surrounded by gardens).
It is not possible to walk all of
Hue, but much can be seen on foot.
Always carry an umbrella, as the
city has a reputation for bad
weather. Hue makes a good base for
exploring the Demilitarized Zone.
It's best to see the area's
historical sites (including the U.S.
base at Khe Sanh, the Vinh Moc
tunnels, the Ho Chi Minh trails and
the Truong Son National Cemetery)
with a guide. Various travel
agencies in Hue can set you up with
one. Hue is 340 mi/545 km southeast
of Hanoi.
Hue
Telephone Code: 054
660 km from Hanoi and 1080 km from
Saigon, lies the city of Hue. The
former capital of the emperors of
Vietnam, yet despite a tumultuous
history it retains much of its
cultural identity and is currently
undergoing restoration efforts.
 When
to go
March and August will be the best
time to travel to Hue, when the
weather is comfortable.
Where to stay
Hotels in Hue
Over 30 Hotels in Hue selected with
hotel details, images, maps and
reviews from fellow travelers.
www.VietnamTripAdvisor.com
Getting there
Flights: Vietnam airlines operates
daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi
Minh City to Hue arrive at Phu Bai
Airport and it takes about 30
minutes to get to downtown by taxi.
Train: Thong Nhat Express runs
several journeys a day from Hanoi,
Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City to Hue.
See the Vietnam Railway Corporation
website at http://www.vr.com.vn/ for
more details.
Bus or Car: Tourists can get to Hue
(Ben Xe Hue – Hue bus station) by
public bus or open tour bus from
most major cities in Vietnam. And of
course, it is possible to reach Hue
by private cars from Danang or Hoi
an.
Must do:
Take a boat down the Perfume River
to visit tombs, pagodas and temples,
and a number of relics of former
Imperial Capital.
Discover the former Citadel, home to
successions of imperial dynasties.
Enjoy Nha nhac cung dinh Hue , one
of the few intangible values
recognized by UNESSCO.
Buy a cone hat.
Highlights
Forbidden Purple City
DMZ - Demilitarized Zone
Thien Mu Pagoda, 4 km from Hue
Tomb of Tu Duc, 7 km from Hue.
Tomb of Khai Dinh, 10 km from Hue.
Tomb of Gia Long, 40 km from Hue.
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