Hue

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 2,200 mm 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.

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 2,200 mm 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.

Hue can easily be visited as a day trip from Da Nang, or as an overnight stop on the way to Hanoi or before returning to HCM City. The best time to visit Hue is from May to August, when it tends to be the driest. Bring a raincoat anyway, as it's still likely to rain.

Not far away from Hue is Bach Ma National Park which covers an area of 22,031 ha and was created in 1991 to protect the centre of the last corridor of forest stretching from the East Sea to the border with Lao PDR.

With steep mountains and dense forests this area is home to a wide variety of animals and plants. At the base of the mountains there is tropical monsoon forest, above 900 m the forest is sub-tropical. There are species from both the northern and southern areas of the country and Bach Ma is recognized as one of the biodiversity centers of Indochina.

The highest point in the park, Bach Ma Mountain, is 1450 m above sea level and only 18 km away from the coast. Visitors have been coming to Bach Ma since the 1930s, when the French Colonials built a hill resort here to escape the hot and humid plains during the summer months. The National Park has restored some of the villas built at that time and is upgrading the services they offer.

The rich flora and fauna also attract many tourists. Bach Ma National Park is home to 233 species of birds and 55 species of mammals, as well as extensive vegetation of more than 500 species. Thus, the park does not only offer beautiful landscapes, but it also allows for scientific research.