Hue: A Guide to Visiting the Ancient Capital of Vietnam

Welcome to the ancient capital of Hue, the Land of Heritage. Located centrally in the country, Hue was the capital of Vietnam's last feudal dynasty. With its numerous heritage sites, scenic landscapes and exquisite cuisine, Hue shines brightly on Vietnam's tourism map. In this video, we will provide an overview of tourism information, introduce an intriguing experience of Hue royal court music, a traditional music genre from the feudal era. Hue has a quite distinctive climate compared to other regions in Vietnam. Its climate is influenced by the transitional zone between the north and the south. Unlike many other parts of Vietnam, Hue does not have a distinct dry season. Instead, it experiences rainy and less rainy seasons. The less rainy season typically extends from March to August, characterized by scorching hot and sultry weather. The rainy season typically lasts from September to January, bringing cooler temperatures. The average annual temperature in Hue is around 25 degrees Celsius. The tourist season in Hue begins from November to April, with the most beautiful periods being the first three months of the year when the weather is cool. Being part of one of the most attractive tourist clusters in Vietnam along with Da Nang and Hoi An, traveling to Hue from Da Nang is one of the popular choices for tourists. However, as the central city in the region, Hue has a well-developed infrastructure system, making it easily accessible from anywhere in Vietnam. Phu Bai International Airport is the major airport in the central Vietnam region, located about 15 kilometers from the city center of Hue, connecting most domestic flights and several international cities. If you have ample time, taking the train is an interesting option from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh cities, and especially from Da Nang. The railway route from Da Nang to Hue via the Hai Van Pass is considered the most scenic railway route in Vietnam. Notably, the Hue station is right in the city center, making it easily accessible. Buses are a popular choice for traveling to Hue from Da Nang, covering a distance of nearly 100 kilometers. From Da Nang, you can opt for a private bus departing from the Da Nang Central Bus Station to Hue, costing around $7 and taking approximately two and a half hours. Alternatively, you can take the public bus route LK01 for around $3. Being a compact city with close proximity to tourist attractions, getting around within Hue is easy by bicycle, bus, or double-decker bus. An interesting option to explore the romantic charm of Hue is by cyclo, costing around $5 for a trip to famous destinations like the Imperial City, Dong Ba Market, and Thien Mu Pagoda. Accommodation options in Hue are diverse and reasonably priced compared to other tourist cities. Hotels mainly concentrate in the city center, especially around the pedestrian streets Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An, and Vo Thi Sau, where prices start from $10 per night. Resorts are often relocated near Lang Co Beach or Toan An Beach, offering modern amenities to meet high-end accommodation and relaxation needs. Hue is a beautiful city with a collection of grand palaces, majestic tomb, and stunning landscape that captivate the hearts of all who set foot in this region. If you only have a few days in the cities, here are the top destinations you should visit. Hue served as the capital of the Nguyen dynasty for 143 years from 1802 under Emperor Zha Long until 1945 under Emperor Bao Dai. Emperor Zha Long initiated the construction of the capital cities in 1805 and it was completed in 1832 under the reign of Emperor Minh Manh, spending approximately 520 hectares. The most important areas of the capital cities were where the most significant offices of the royal courts were located, along with the living and working quarters of the royal families, known as the imperial cities or Hoan Phang. The imperial city features an almost square layout with each sides about 600 meters long, constructed with brick 4 meters high and 1 meter thick. It comprises 4 gates, the main gate called Ngoc Mon, the east gate known as Hiet Nhon, the west gate named Trung Duc, and the north gate called Hoai Binh. While the imperial city originally comprises 147 structures, many have been damaged or collapsed due to times and wars. Currently, the process of preservation of these structures is ongoing. Here's a brief overview of the remarkable buildings within the imperial cities of Hue. Ngoc Mon Gate is the main entrance to the imperial cities with the five phoenix pavilion on top. Tay Hoa Palace is the most important architectural structure within the imperial cities where important ceremonies of the royal courts took place. Dinh Trung Palace, originally built in 1921, served as the living, resting and working quarters of the king. This structure was completely destroyed during subsequent wars and was reconstructed with restoration work completed in early 2024. Dinh Thot Residence was the residence of the Queen Mother of the Nguyen Dynasty. The Mieu Temple is located in the southwest corner of the imperial city dedicated to worshipping the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. Thai Mieu Temple is located in the southeast corner of the imperial city dedicated to worshipping the Nguyen Lords. Hue not only features palaces, but what truly sets this destination apart are an expansive royal tomb of the Nguyen Emperors, architectural masterpieces that epitomize artistry and harmony with nature. There are a total of seven tombs of the Nguyen Emperors, among which the tombs of Zha Long, Ming Man, Tu Duc and Ka Dinh stand out as the most prominent. The tomb of Zha Long, the father of the Nguyen Dynasty, is located approximately 20 km from the imperial city. It stands as a masterpiece of harmonious integration between nature and architecture, with nature being the predominant feature. The tomb of Ming Man, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, is the resting place located about 12 km from the imperial city. It is a large-scale architectural complex consisting of 40 structures arranged along a longitudinal axis. The tomb of Tu Duc, the fourth emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, is one of the typical architectural works of the Nguyen Dynasty called architecture. It was harmoniously built with nature, comprising over 50 structures covering an area of more than 12 hectares. The tomb of Ka Dinh, the 12 emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty, is comparatively small in size but delicate and unique compared to other tombs. The tomb features a combination of eastern and western architectural style and took a total of 11 years to complete. About a 15-minute walk from the imperial city is Dong Ba Market, a market with a history of over a hundred years. It is the largest market in Hue, covering an area of over 47,000 square meters, stretching from Xiahui Bridge to Chan Tien Bridge. In addition to offering a variety of goods, the market is right now for a distinctive cuisine of Hue, all available at reasonable prices. Thien Buc Pagoda is an ancient pagoda built in 1601 on Ha Ke Hill by the Phuong River, about 5 km from the imperial city. The pagoda is not only known for its picturesque landscape and architecture but also holds significance in the historical formation process of Hue. Its two main architectural structures are Phuoc Duyen Tower, standing at seven floors and reaching a height of 21 meters, and Dai Hung Palace, the pagoda's main hall, reflecting the Hue court architecture. Toan An Beach is located next to Toan An Estuary, about 17 km from the imperial city. Along with Lang Co Beach, Toan An Beach is also one of the most beautiful beaches in Hue. Unlike the bustling beaches often seen in central Vietnam, Toan An Beach has not been extensively exploited so it has remained quite pristine. Hue is renowned for having the most diverse and distinctive culinary scenes in Vietnam. Its cuisine is often intricate, influenced by royal culture, and emphasises enjoyment rather than simply filling the stomach. Bun Bo Hue is the epitome of Hue cuisine. True to its name, this dish consists of two main ingredients, Bun, Vietnamese rice vermicelli, and Bo, beef. What sets Bun Bo Hue apart from other soups in Vietnam is its spicy broth simmered from beef bone, pork bone, lemongrass, chili, and shrimp paste, a characteristic fermented shrimp paste of Hue. The Bun is thick, white, and chewy rice vermicelli made from rice flours. In addition to beef, a bowl of Bun Bo Hue typically includes crab sausage, beef sausage, and pork. Bun Bo Hue is usually served with thinly sliced banana flowers, water spinach, mints, and bean sprouts. Com Hen is another characteristic dish of Hue. Essentially, Com Hen consists of Com, rice, and Hen, baby clams. It is presented as cold rice mixed with sautéed baby clams, shrimp paste, banana flowers, herbs, bean sprouts, pork crackling, and peanut. At first glance, this dish may seem simple, but it involves a meticulous process of preparing and combining the ingredients. Chè is a popular dessert in Vietnam, rich in its pinnacle in Hue. In Hue, there are dozens of types of Chè, including luxurious varieties from ancient royal palaces such as lotus seeds, mung bean wrapped in lotus seeds, and butter beans. There are also common varieties like corn, green beans, and taro. Each type of Chè has its own unique delicious flavors and is very enticing. In the final part of the video, we will introduce an experience that you should not miss when visiting the ancient capital of Hue, enjoying Hue Royal Court Music or Nhã Nhạc Cung Điện Huế. Nhã Nhạc, meaning elegant music, is the traditional music genre of the future court, performed on major ceremonial occasions throughout the year. Hue Royal Court Music was recognized by UNESCO as the masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity in 2003. You can enjoy this genre of music at Duyệt Thị Đường within the imperial cities for approximately $9 or on a boat cruise along the Perfume River for about $5. Hue is one of the top destinations in Vietnam with its magnificent palaces, beautiful natural landscapes, and exquisite cuisine. Come to Hue and share your thoughts on these ancient capital cities. See you in Hue! you