|
Hue
Imperial City Information
 Hue is
one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Vietnam. Straddling the
Perfume River, this mysterious, somber city is a historian's dream come true,
with numerous 19th century ruins, royal tombs and an excellent museum.
The Imperial City of
Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the reign of the Nguyen dynasty, the last
dynasty in Vietnam. Even today, the Vietnamese regard Hue with awe and respect.
Hue also has the distinction of being one of the rainiest cities in Vietnam,
receiving more than 120 inches each year.
Hue is dominated by The Citadel,
a moated, walled fort, constructed during the early 19th century. Within these
walls lies the forbidden Purple City, former home of the royal family. The
Citadel was also the scene of brutal fighting and staggering casualties during
the 1968 Tet Offensive, when the North Vietnamese held the fort for 26 days
before being driven out by American forces. The damage inflicted to the
architecture is still being repaired and the Citadel may never be fully
restored. In somewhat better shape are the various royal tombs of the Nguyen
emperors, which can easily be reached by boat, car or motorbike. The historical
museum is one of the best in the country.
The Vietnamese regard Hue as the pinnacle of Vietnamese fashion, language and
cuisine. The women of Hue, wearing the traditional ao dai and non bai tho, are
reputed to be the most beautiful in all of Vietnam. The Hue accent is regarded
as the most distinct and pleasing to the ear. The food, including local dishes
such as banh khoai, is said to be the tastiest. Some of this is surely legend
rather than fact, but who are we to argue?
You won't be alone
when you visit Hue. At any time of the year this small city is bustling with
tourists. Hue is on almost every tour itinerary and it is the northern terminus
of the infamous "open tour" bus route. Lots of tourists also means lots of
hawkers, cyclo drivers and children selling chewing gum. It sometimes seems
impossible to walk more than 10 feet without being accosted by someone wanting
to sell you something. Smile a lot, say thank you (preferably in Vietnamese) and
go about your business and you will be left alone.
Hue can easily be
visited as a day trip from Danang, or as an overnight stop on the way to Hanoi
or
before returning to Saigon. The best time to visit Hue is from May to August,
when it tends to be driest. Bring a raincoat anyway, as it's still likely to
rain.
NutShell can tailor a customised incentive tour, for any size group, to suit your exact requirements, or choose an itinerary from our selection of corporate budget to luxury incentive packages.
All your requirements in a
NutShell
|
