Hue, the imperial, is proud of its history and princely origin. The Citadel, the Imperial City, Tombs and the Perfume River make it a quiet, poetic and romantic city. It has 340,000 inhabitants and was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, during the reign of the Nguyen dynasty with 13 emperors. The city is traditionally a great cultural, religious and educational center. The Perfume River meanders through the city center, adding the beauty of nature to this poetic city. 

A brief history

Before the beginning of the 14th century, Hue was Cham territory. On 1306, to strengthen the Vietnamese border and to help fight off the Mongolian troops, the Vietnamese King married a Viet princess to the Cham King. The Hue region belongs to Vietnam since that day. 250 years later, in 1558, to avoid deadly conflicts with his brother-in-law, Nguyen Hoang left Thang Long, Hanoi, for Hue, accompanied by his family, his troops and some of the poor people. For 400 years, the Nguyen built citadels, military monuments, pagodas and the imperial city. Hue became the capital of Vietnam after the reunification of the country by Nguyen Anh in 1802. Under French colonization, Hue was the capital of Annam, a subdivision of French Indochina. The monarchy was maintained by passed under guardianship. The French kept encouraging the architectural development of the city, preserving Hue’s imperial city status until 1945, year of abdication of the last emperor Bao Dai.
Hue – Vietnam’s cultural jewel 
-    A testimonial for history, art, architecture and gastronomy enthusiasts
-    The unique site in Vietnam with monarchical regime monuments
-    Ancient pagodas and countryside excursions
-    Fine gastronomy 

The essentials

1. Hue citadel

The citadel is surrounded by large moats over a 10km perimeter. Emperor Gia Long ordered the construction in 1804 on a site chosen by geomancers.

2. Thien Mu Pagoda

Overlooking the Perfume River from a hill, the pagoda is an octogonal tower of 7 floors and is 21m high. Each floor is dedicated to a human form Buddha. It was built in 1844 by Emperor Thieu Tri. This tower is to the Vietnamese what Notre Dame de Paris is to the French. 



3. Tu Duc Royal Tomb

Although quite touristy, it should not be missed. Tu Duc was the longest reigning monarch of the Nguyen Dynasty and he designed his own tomb. It is magnificent with its main hall, a lake, an island and lush greenery.


4. Minh Mang Royal Tomb

This beautiful monument, built by his son and successor Thieu Tri, has several buildings and pagodas as well as a lake. Climb the steep stairs to enter the compound through its imposing doorway and reach the main courtyard. From here you can see the temple, visit the tomb of Minh Mang and take a walk on the vast grounds.

5. Khai Dinh Royal Tomb

Although Emperor Khai Dinh was very unpopular among the Vietnamese, his tomb is one of the most visited sites in Hue. The decorations are very elaborate with rich ceramic and porcelain ornaments. It is famous for its impressive European-Vietnamese architectural style, inspired by Khai Dinh’s travels to Europe.

6. Perfume River

It is as much a landmark as Hue city is itself. Named after the sweet scents of its tropical flora, it quickly gained prominence as a trade route linking Hue to nearby towns and villages. As the river gently meanders through the city and the surrounding countryside, it offers peace and quiet contrasting to the hustle and bustle of the city. Take a walk along the shoreline and spot several historic sites on the way.

7. Tam Giang Lagoon

Located 15km from Hue, Tam Giang Lagoon offers beautiful scenery and magical colors. We advise you to go there around 16h to admire the sunset. The entire park area of 52km2 is of a bright yellow color. Do not miss out on visiting the Thai Duong Ha fishing village. It is a small oasis on the lagoon. The Rucha mangrove forest is also a must-see. If you can, take the time to go on a boat trip with a local fisherman to gillnet.

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