Hue tourist guide

Hue imperial citadel

The ancient Vietnamese imperial capital of Hue is steeped in history. Visitors come mainly to explore the majestic citadel, but just to wander the streets of the old quarter is a treat in itself. The city suffered a great deal during the Vietnam War, with communist troops seizing control for 24 days and slaughtering hundreds of suspected American sympathisers.

However, as Hue was no longer considered the foremost city in Vietnam it has not been subject to the kind of unfettered expansion that has clogged the arteries of Saigon. And so now it is a much more pleasant place to wander around and get a feel for the Nguyễn Dynasty that once ruled here.

The imposing citadel was damaged badly during French fighting of 1947 and the Tet offensive of 1968. There are areas, though, which are virtually untouched and remain in pristine condition. It quite possible to loose yourself for several hours amongst the ruins, so remember your camera and bring some water to drink. (admission: 55,000 dong, 06:30-17:00)

The Tombs of the Emperors is the other main reason why visitors flock to Hue. This figureheads date from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and by now have started to crumble away. The finest are the Tombs of Tu Duc, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh – exceptional examples of Buddhist architecture from the region.

The sprawling maze of pavilions, temples, walls, moats, gates, museums, shops and galleries that was once the seat of Vietnam’s imperial government is a fabulous place to loose yourself for a few hours. There are costumes and works of art from across the nation’s history, well worth dropping by.