The historic city of Hue is located in central Vietnam and once served as the capital for the 19th-century Nguyen dynasty. The city proudly displays its rich heritage and remarkable Vietnamese architecture through its numerous monuments including the impressive Hue Citadel, its most iconic landmark. The Perfume River (Song Huong) flows through Hue, adding a charm of its own to the already aesthetic setting.
Hue is one of the best places in Vietnam to explore on a cycle. Its vast open countryside will take you through rice paddies, small farms, and beautiful bridges like the Thanh Toan Bridge. The bustling Dong Ba Market with vendors selling a wide range of products and mouth-watering food is the best place to experience the local culture. Make sure to take a dragon boat ride through the Perfume River, visit the beautiful sandy beach of Thuan An and enjoy a dip in the Alba Thanh Tan hot springs, along with a strong dose of Vietnam’s history.
The Hue Citadel is a massive complex located north of the Perfume River that was the seat of the ancient capital of southern Vietnam. The imposing walls of the citadel surround hundreds of structures including monuments, palaces, official buildings, pagodas and towers, that date back to the early 19th-century. There is a library and museum as well, where you can learn more about the history of the citadel.
Once you reach the Hue Citadel, you will first stop at the massive Ngo Mon Gate which also acts as the ticket counter, beyond which lies the Imperial City. Within the Imperial City lies another citadel, which encloses the Purple Forbidden City. This was the most important enclosure and only the royal family and high ranking officials were allowed to enter to discuss matters of the state.
Most of the complex lies in ruins due to bombings and attacks during the French and US-Vietnam Wars, and what you see today is just a pale reflection of its original grandeur. Nevertheless, the crumbling walls that proudly display authentic Vietnamese architecture, elaborate carvings and sculptures, beautiful gardens and the rich history they narrate, will take you back in time to the ancient days.
Along the Perfume River, there are several elaborate tombs of the imperial emperors, which date back to the 19th and 20th centuries. These tombs display impressive and colourful architecture with intricate carvings and sculptures. Among the many tombs, the Tomb of Tu Duc, built by the emperor himself before his death, the Tomb of Minh Mang, with its notable stone bridges and the Tomb of Khai Dinh, featuring European architectural styles, are the most popular.
This seven-storeyed pagoda is one of the most iconic landmarks of Hue and is located on the banks of the Perfume River, around 5 km away from the Imperial Citadel. Each of the seven floors house a different human form of the Buddha. The bell tower in the premises contains a huge bronze bell from the 1700s, whose bong can be heard even 10 km away! The pagoda is surrounded by beautiful gardens and also offers great views of the city.
It was constructed in the early 17th-century by Nguyen Hoang, the first of the Nguyen lords, who ruled over southern Vietnam. Thien Mu Pagoda means ‘Pagoda of the celestial lady’ and it was named after an old woman who prophesied that a lord would build a pagoda here and ensure the country’s prosperity. When this news reached Hoang’s ears, he immediately ordered that a pagoda be erected here.
The temple spans over a large area housing beautiful lakes filled with lotuses. The main shrine with the 2.3 metre tall statue of the princess Huyen Tan, the huge white statue of the laughing Buddha in the gardens, the bell tower and the monastery of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong are the popular attractions in the complex.
Around 3 km away from Hue city, you will find Ho Quyen in the village of Truong Da. This complex once hosted epic fights between elephants and tigers, a popular entertainment for the royal family. As the elephant was considered a symbol of the emperor, the claws and teeth of the tigers were removed, to ensure that the elephants would win each time. Though the complex today is mostly blanketed by layers of grass, you can imagine the roar of the animals and the crowd as heated battles went on.
A visit to Hue and its grand citadel will leave you highly appreciative of traditional Vietnamese architecture, artistry and culture. Hue resonates the echoes of Vietnam’s glorious feudal past and shows a glimpse of the land it was before the French rule.
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