Hue - World of heritages

 

“Festival City”

Hue is one of the few cities in Vietnam considered a "Festival City", a wonderful space for festivals imbued with Vietnamese identity, the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures and discovery activities. Unlike many other tourist cities in Vietnam, over time and with many ups and downs in history, Hue still maintains its advantage as a natural green destination embracing hundreds of years of cultural treasures. This famous heritage tourist city of the Central region also has the strength of sea tourism with 127km of coastline and many beautiful beaches. There is also Lang Co Bay - one of the most beautiful bays in the world, Bach Ma National Park and Tam Giang Lagoon - the largest lagoon in Vietnam.

 

 

Lang Co Bay. Photo: Le The Thang

After the Hue Monuments Complex was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1993, Thua Thien - Hue province has made efforts to preserve and promote the value of the monument, attract visitors, and at the same time aim for sustainable development and green growth. In 2016, Thua Thien - Hue will continue to develop tourism services, heritage tourism, lagoon tourism and organize many cultural and artistic events. Hue tourism will be more convenient by mobilizing businesses to participate in opening new routes in addition to the Hue - Bangkok route, Hue - Da Lat domestic route, etc.

 

The 9th Hue Festival 2016 will take place from April 29 to May 4 with the theme “710 years of Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan - Thua Thien Hue; Cultural heritage with integration and development”. The opening ceremony will take place on the evening of April 29 at Ngo Mon Square - Hue Flag Tower. Within the framework of the Festival, there will be the participation of art troupes from 18 countries of 5 continents and dozens of domestic art troupes, promising to bring special performances.

 

TOURIST DESTINATIONS NOT TO BE MISSED WHEN COMING TO HUE

Royal architecture

Until now, Hue still contains many mysteries about its citadels, tombs, palaces, pagodas and temples.

Hue Imperial City

Built under the reign of King Gia Long and King Minh Mang, located on the north side of the Perfume River, facing south, the appearance of Hue Citadel is a unique combination of Western architecture and Eastern citadel architecture. After nearly 200 years, the citadel is now almost intact with nearly 140 large and small constructions.

To visit the relic, you will go through 3 citadels in order: Kinh Thanh, Hoang Thanh (Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh. The Citadel includes more than 100 beautiful architectural works divided into many areas, from Ngo Mon to Thai Hoa Palace - where the royal court held major ceremonies; Trieu Mieu, Thai Mieu, Hung Mieu, The Mieu and Phung Tien Palace - where the Nguyen Dynasty kings were worshiped; Phu Noi Vu Palace - a warehouse for storing precious objects, a workshop for manufacturing royal utensils. Meanwhile, Co Ha Garden and Kham Van Palace were where the princes studied and played. Tu Cam Thanh is a citadel located in the Imperial Citadel right behind Thai Hoa Palace, reserved for the king and his family, including nearly 50 large and small architectural works.

 

 

Hue Imperial City seen from above. Photo: Le The Thang

 

 

Photo: Nguyen Van Tuong

When visiting Hue Citadel, tourists cannot miss the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum. This place preserves and displays hundreds of rare antiques of the Nguyen Dynasty such as porcelain used in daily meals in the royal palace or at the king's banquets, antiques made of silver, bronze, enamel, wood... Decorative objects in the king's palace such as gold branches and jade leaves, reliefs or mirror paintings. More than just a museum, the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum helps visitors discover the vivid traces of life in the Nguyen Dynasty's royal court.

 

More information:

+ Directions: From Nguyen Hoang Tourist Bus Station, visitors can walk or take the Imperial City tram into the citadel, to Ngo Mon Gate, visit the Imperial City and the Forbidden City. Then visitors continue walking or take the Imperial City tram to Hien Nhon Gate and then walk about 50m to visit the Museum. From the Museum, visitors can walk or take the tram to Nguyen Hoang Bus Station 100m to return.

+ Entrance fee to Hue Citadel (Imperial Palace, Hue Royal Antiquities Museum): 150,000 VND/adult; 30,000 VND/child.

 

Tombs - ancient architectural masterpieces

The complex of tombs of the Nguyen kings is an important part of the complex of relics of the ancient capital of Hue. The Nguyen dynasty spanned 13 kings, but due to historical circumstances, only 7 kings built tombs, including: Gia Long Tomb (1814), Minh Mang Tomb (1840), Thieu Tri Tomb (1847), Tu Duc Tomb (1864), Dong Khanh Tomb (1888), Duc Duc Tomb (1889) and Khai Dinh Tomb (1920).

 

 

Khai Dinh Tomb. Photo: Mr Big

Among the mausoleums, Minh Mang Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb are the three mausoleums with the most elaborate architecture, of which Tu Duc Tomb has a royal garden style, giving visitors a feeling of gentleness and serenity. In the mausoleum, there is also Minh Khiem Duong, a theater serving the king, today considered the oldest theater in Vietnam. In the world, there is no mausoleum with a theater like Tu Duc Tomb. These characteristics have created a unique cultural value compared to the mausoleums of other Nguyen kings.

 

 

The main chamber of Khai Dinh Tomb. Photo: Amadeustx

 

Former UNESCO General Director Amadou - Mahtar M'Bow, when visiting Hue, once wrote: “Each royal tomb, with its own unique character, is a masterpiece of landscape architecture; and each tomb evokes a special resonance in the emotions of visitors. Gia Long Tomb, in the middle of a vast natural garden, evokes a majestic and serene impression; Minh Mang Tomb is full of solemnity and Tu Duc Tomb brings visitors a peaceful and poetic soul.”

 

More information:

+ Directions: The tombs are located in the southwest of Hue city. The best starting point to visit all the tombs is the Nam Giao Altar at the end of Dien Bien Phu street.

+ Time: It takes about 2 days to visit all 7 Nguyen kings' tombs, including 1 day to visit the distant tombs: Gia Long, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh; 1 day to visit the remaining tombs. If time is limited, you can choose to visit the 3 large tombs: Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. The tombs close at 5:00 p.m. every day.

+ Tour fee by route: Route 03 points (Hue Imperial Palace - Minh Mang Tomb - Khai Dinh Tomb: 280,000 VND/adult; 55,000 VND/child), Route 04 points (Hue Imperial Palace - Minh Mang Tomb - Tu Duc Tomb - Khai Dinh Tomb: 360,000 VND/adult; 70,000 VND/child)

+ Note: When visiting the mausoleum, you should bring a hat, umbrella and mineral water. Choose suitable shoes and sandals because you will have to walk a lot.

 

Cultural Destination

Visit Thien Mu Pagoda, enjoy the scenery of Huong River

Overlooking the Perfume River, Thien Mu Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Hue. Through the ups and downs of history, the pagoda was restored and rebuilt many times under the reign of the Nguyen kings. In addition to architectural works such as Phuoc Duyen tower, Dai Hung temple, Dia Tang temple, Quan Am temple, stone steles, bronze bells, Thien Mu Pagoda also gathers many precious antiques. Buddha statues, horizontal lacquered boards, and parallel sentences all mark the golden historical periods of the pagoda. Every time they come to Hue, many tourists often spend time at the pagoda to meditate, worship, and admire the tranquil Perfume River.

 

 

More information:

+ Location: The pagoda is located on Ha Khe hill, about 5km west of Hue city center. From Hue Imperial Citadel, pass Le Duan - Kim Long intersection, go straight on Kim Long - Nguyen Phuc Nguyen street to get there.

+ Free admission.

 

Experience Hue garden house

It is not by chance that Hue is called the garden city because there are hundreds of famous garden houses. These are ancient houses located in gardens with architectural styles with elaborately carved rafters, embossed roofs and eaves, and beautiful dragon and cloud decorations. You should spend a day experiencing Hue garden houses and listening to the owners introduce the history and culture.

 

 

More information:

You should visit the famous garden houses in Hue: Ngoc Son Princess Garden House (31 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street), An Hien Garden House (58 Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, 200m from Thien Mu Pagoda), Y Thao Garden House, Tinh Gia Vien...

 

Thanh Toan rustic countryside

In addition to the ancient palaces, a unique tourist attraction in Hue that is not known to many tourists is the farm tool display house next to Thanh Toan covered bridge in Thanh Toan village. 8km from Hue city, coming here, tourists have the opportunity to learn about the history of the covered bridge, the farm tool display house, visit artifacts reflecting the daily life of ancient Hue people such as: water bicycles, buckets, sieves, jars, rice pounding wheels, winnowing baskets, winnowing baskets... and experience interesting activities such as water pedaling, rice milling, and hat weaving.

 

 

Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridge. Photo: Internet

More information:

+ Activities: Cycling and experiencing, exploring the life of the people. You can register for a cycling tour to visit Thanh Toan village at Hue Land Tour, 02 Hung Vuong, Hue - Tel: 054.6292811. Price: 550,000 VND/person or visit the website: www.huelandtour.com

+ During the 2016 Festival, Thanh Toan village will recreate the typical Hue countryside market space and organize activities, folk games, and sell traditional Hue dishes.

 

Explore pristine, peaceful nature

Hai Van Pass – Lang Co Beach – Bach Ma National Park

Lang Co Bay has a lagoon and mountains on one side and a sea stretching for more than ten kilometers on the other. The sea water is clear blue and the sandy beach is very suitable for tourists to swim or picnic. From Lang Co, tourists can experience riding a motorbike over Hai Van Pass and explore the famous "most majestic view in the world".

An interesting suggestion is that you should visit Bach Ma National Forest, famous for its rich flora and fauna ecosystem of 2,147 species, including rare species such as false huang dan, agarwood... If you go by motorbike, you can go straight into the heart of the forest, then walk to the attractions such as: Ngu Ho, Do Quyen waterfall, conquer Bach Ma peak, Vong Hai Dai...

 

 

Hai Van Pass. Photo: Nguyen Minh Son

More information:

+ Location: Lang Co Bay is located at the foot of Hai Van Pass, about 70km from Hue city. Bach Ma National Park is about 30km from Lang Co.

+ Directions: You can take the bus from Hue to Da Nang, which stops at Lang Co. If you go by motorbike from Hue, you should follow Highway 1A or Road 49B along Thuan An beach, Tam Giang lagoon, then cross Phu Gia pass to get there.

+ Overnight stay, you can choose Banyan Tree Lang Co Resort - website: www.banyantree.com, Angsana Hotel - website: www.angsana.com)

 

“I am very impressed with the customs and practices of the people of Hue, which are very different from those of other regions. In Hue, there is also a great spiritual connection between the palaces, mausoleums and daily life. In particular, you will see that the lives of a large part of the population are always closely linked to rivers, lagoons and estuaries.” (Photographer Le The Thang)

 

Tam Giang Lagoon

Located in the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon system, Tam Giang lagoon has a wild and quiet beauty that makes any visitor feel strangely relaxed. When coming here, do not miss the two most beautiful times: early dawn and quiet sunset. You can visit Dam Chuon (Cau Hai lagoon), the largest part of the Tam Giang lagoon system, with vast rivers, dotted with small boats, nets, or typical fishermen's houses. Taking a boat trip around the lagoon, visiting one or two stilt houses, sipping some grilled seafood and immersing yourself in the simple life of Hue people are memorable experiences for you.

 

 

Touring Tam Giang lagoon. Photo: Ha Thanh

 

More information:

+ Location: Dam Chuon is about 10 km south of Hue city center, in Phu Vang district. From Hue, follow Highway 49 towards An Truyen, cross Tu Hien bridge to get there.

+ Cuisine: You should try banh khoai, banh tet, banh canh, banh nam, banh bot loc, banh beo, bun bo Hue… at local eateries. The seafood here is delicious and half the price compared to other places.

 

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Listening to Hue songs and releasing flower lanterns on the Perfume River

If you visit Hue without enjoying Hue folk songs, it is as if you have not been to Hue. The orchestra performing Hue folk songs usually has musicians in traditional costumes with turbans, playing the two-stringed fiddle, the moon-shaped lute, the flute, and the monochord. The singers wear traditional ao dai and play the song loan and senh tien instruments.

When the city begins to light up, the ideal place is to lean on the side of a boat, sip a small glass of wine and let your soul follow the rhythm and release flower lanterns on the Perfume River, sailing from Thien Mu Pagoda wharf through the Citadel to Vy Da.

 

 

More information:

+ Currently in Hue there are nearly 500 actors and musicians licensed to perform Hue folk songs.

+Single ticket price to watch Hue folk songs on the Perfume River is from 100,000 VND. There are 2 shows each night: from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM and from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

+ Visitors can also listen to Hue folk songs at Hue Museum on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7:30 pm.

 

Challenge with Zipline & Highwire

Zipline

 

 

With a total length of 560m, Zipline is a rope swing game that holds the record for "The longest continuous free-roaming adventure game in Vietnam". To participate in the game, you will be suspended on a cable and then slide from the top of Ma Yen mountain, cross the green forest and land on the shore of a poetic lake. The game helps you overcome your fear of heights, feel suspended in the air, slide down fast, enjoy the moments of crossing the forest, crossing the mountain and feast your eyes on the beautiful scenery from above.

Highwire

 

 

Highwire is a game of balancing on a cable that requires players to be skillful, have the ability to maintain balance and not be afraid of heights. Each player is equipped with protective gear and safety cables that meet international standards. At the start, you will have to step over small wooden planks attached to the cable above. The difficulty will gradually increase with many other obstacles such as climbing net ladders, crossing wooden bridges, hanging ladders in the air... Children can also play Highwire at a height of 1.1m or more.

 

More information:

+ Safety: Players must strictly comply with safety regulations and wear all body protective equipment including belts, safety hooks, pulleys, ropes, and helmets.

+ Zipline and Highwire are available at Alba Thanh Tan Hot Spring Resort, Phong Son, Phong Dien, Hue City. Phone: 054. 3553225. See www.albavietnam.com.

+ Zipline ticket price: 96,000 VND/person/trip; Highwire discovery: 120,000 VND/person/trip; Highwire adventure: 210,000 VND/person/trip.

 

Hue delicacies

Hue is not only famous for its luxurious and sophisticated royal cuisine that has long become a "brand", but also attracts tourists with its rich and flavorful folk street food.

Royal cuisine

It is not an exaggeration to say that Hue royal cuisine has been elevated to an art form. Dishes served to kings often require strict rules and rituals, from food supply, preparation to serving style. Each dish is scooped into bowls and plates by the chef, placed in gilded wooden boxes, and then presented to the king.

 

 

Nem cong cha phuong Tinh Gia Vien

According to culinary expert Ho Thi Hoang Anh - descendant of Mr. Ho Van Ta, the last royal chef of the Nguyen Dynasty: "To have a royal meal, there must be at least 50 people working in the kitchen. The Thuong Thien team must comply with many taboos to ensure the safety of the king's meal, and at the same time coordinate with the Royal Physician to choose nutritious and non-incompatible foods."

 

More information:

You can enjoy Hue royal dishes at Y Thao Garden Restaurant (03 Thach Han, Thuan Hoa); Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant (7/28 Le Thanh Ton, Hue).

 

Simple street food

On any street or alley in Hue, it is easy for tourists to stop by the roadside and enjoy simple gifts imbued with love. Below, Travellive suggests some dishes you should try.

Rice with mussels

Com hen is like a mixed dish with simple ingredients. The rice is cooked from good rice so it is still soft and sticky when cooled. The cook will mix the mussels with rice, lettuce, basil, banana flower, star fruit, chopped Vietnamese coriander, add roasted peanuts with shells, a few slices of fried pork skin, fried onions and finally Hue shrimp paste. Everything is cooled, only the mussel broth is always kept hot so that after mixing the ingredients, pouring the broth, adding a little chili, you will have a spicy rice dish with the right taste.

 

 

More information:

You can enjoy mussel rice at restaurants on Truong Dinh Street or Cung An Dinh. Price: from 10,000 VND/bowl.

 

Hue Sweet Soup

Hue royal sweet soup used to have 36 types, each with its own flavor, becoming an indispensable dessert in the royal meals of the Nguyen Dynasty kings. Nowadays, sweet soup has become a simple gift and is available on every street and alley. Popular sweet soup has its origin from royal sweet soup but is simplified in the processing stage while still ensuring delicious taste. Tourists can easily find and enjoy a variety of attractive sweet soups such as corn sweet soup, floating rice balls sweet soup, mung bean sweet soup, red bean sweet soup, mixed sweet soup, taro sweet soup, basil seed sweet soup...

 

 

Longan and lotus seed tea

 

More information:

You can enjoy it at shops on Tran Phu, Phan Boi Chau, Truong Dinh streets or Che Hem on Hung Vuong street (near the intersection of Hung Vuong - Nguyen Tri Phuong), prices from 7,000 VND/cup.

 

Hue Cakes

After hours of walking around Hue Citadel, visitors can rest and enjoy Hue cakes at any eatery or luxury restaurant. A full menu of cakes made from rice flour including banh beo, banh uot, banh khoai to sticky rice flour (banh it), tapioca flour (banh bot loc, banh phu the) combined with vegetarian fillings such as mung bean, grated coconut, or salty fillings such as shrimp, meat... will make you remember forever.

 

 

Wet rice cake with shrimp filling

More information:

Reference address: Ba Do Restaurant (7 - 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Phu Cat Ward, Hue), price of banh beo: 50,000 VND; banh nam: 40,000 VND; banh loc: 40,000 VND; banh khoai: 25,000 VND...

 

“I have been in Vietnam for 4 years and spent a few months in Hue. Not only was I impressed by the tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty kings, I also enjoyed the experience of cycling on the roads and spontaneously stopping at a familiar restaurant to enjoy the famous delicious Hue beef noodle soup.” (Joshua Zukas, freelance writer)

TOURS & FUN ACTIVITIES

Discover traditional identity in craft villages

Tourists coming to Hue not only explore the heritage and architecture but also want to immerse themselves in the lives of the people, learn about the culture and traditional identity through craft villages. Coming to the conical hat craft village, you will witness with your own eyes the process of artisans sewing conical hats, pressing, and inserting images of the Perfume River, Ngu Mountain, Trang Tien Bridge, Thien Mu Pagoda... creating the unique features of Hue conical hats. If you come to the ancient pottery village of Phuoc Tich, you can directly visit the artisans' workshops, see the pottery kilns, and buy souvenirs. At Thanh Tien paper flower village, you will discover the interesting hobby of playing with paper flowers of Hue people.

 

 

Artisan teaches tourists how to make paper flowers

More information:

+ Location: Phuoc Tich village is located on the bank of O Lau, about 1km from National Highway 1A, in Phong Hoa commune, Huong Dien district. Tay Ho conical hat village is located on the bank of Nhu Y river, Phu Ho commune, Phu Vang district, about 12km from Hue city. Thanh Tien paper flower village is located in Phu Mau commune, Phu Vang district, 7km from Hue city.

+ Means of transport: You should visit the craft villages by motorbike to be proactive in moving. Rent a motorbike in Hue from 120,000 VND/day.

 

Explore night cuisine by cyclo

After a day of visiting the mausoleums and the Hue citadel, the evening is the time for you to rest, relax and enjoy Hue cuisine with a cyclo tour. You will be taken for a walk to see Hue city at night, visit the Hue Imperial City, Truong Tien Bridge, and enjoy famous cakes and sweet soups.

More information:

+ Note: You can negotiate with the cyclo drivers for a full tour package to visit and enjoy the cuisine or book through the hotel where you stay. Reference price for Thang Long City Tour service: 420,000 VND/person. More information at the website: www.thanglongcitytour.com

 

Hue cooking tour

If enjoying Hue dishes satisfies the stomach and curiosity of every diner, then joining a cooking class is the opportunity for you to become a chef and directly cook these delicious dishes. You will visit Dong Ba market, buy food yourself, then be guided to prepare dishes such as: Hue spring rolls, banh beo, banh khoai, bun bo gio heo... Finally, enjoy your first works!

 

 

More information:

Visitors can book a cooking tour at Hue Land Tour, 31 Vo Thi Sau, Hue. Website: www.huelandtour.com. Price from 400,000 VND/person. Hue Inn Side Out: No. 16, Alley 572 Bui Thi Xuan, Thuy Bieu, Hue. Website: www.hueinnsideout.com. Price: 550,000 VND/person.

 

Shopping at Dong Ba market

Coming to Hue, tourists cannot miss Dong Ba market to shop for traditional items such as conical hats, exquisite items, and famous Hue fish sauces such as tuna fish sauce, mackerel fish sauce, herring fish sauce, anchovy fish sauce, mackerel fish sauce, clam fish sauce, etc. Or simply enjoy Hue specialties.

More information:

+ Address: Chuong Duong, Phu Hoa, Hue City.

+ Note: When shopping at the market, visitors should bargain for 1/2 to 1/3 of the original price offered by the seller.

 

More information:

+ Weather:The rainy season in Hue is from September to December and lasts for a long time with heavy rains. Summer in June, July, and August brings harsh and very hot sun. Therefore, April is the best time to visit Hue with dry weather and mild sunshine. Visitors should bring suitable clothes, sunscreen and enough drinking water.

+ Travel from Hanoi/HCMC:

- Aviation:

Hanoi - Hue route is being operated by Vietnam Airlines

Ho Chi Minh City - Hue route is currently operated by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jestar Pacific.

- Train: The Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route has many trains stopping at Hue station. You should choose the fast trains: SE1, SE3, SE7; choose the train departing in the late afternoon or evening to arrive in Hue the next morning. The Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi route has many trains stopping at Hue station. From Ho Chi Minh City, take the unified train SE2, SE4, SE8.

- Tourist cars: From Hanoi, there are Camel, ThesinhTourist, Thanh Hung… From Ho Chi Minh City, contact Phi Long, Thuan Thao, departing from Mien Dong bus station.

+ Means of transportation in Hue: taxi, motorbike, cyclo. Motorbike rental from 120,000 VND/day.

+ Hotel/resort:

-In the city:

La Residence Hotel & Spa (5 Le Loi, Hue), Century Riverside Hotel (49 Le Loi, Hue), Saigon Morin Hotel (30 Le Loi, Hue), Imperial Hotel Hue (8 Hung Vuong, Hue), Indochine Palace Hotel (105 Hung Vuong, Phu Hoi, Hue), Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort & Spa (130 Minh Mang, Hue).

-Near the sea, lagoon:

Ana Mandara Hue Resort & Spa, Thuan An beach (Thuan An town, Phu Vang); Vedana Lagoon Resort and Spa, Tam Giang lagoon (Area 1, Phu Loc town, Phu Loc district); Banyan Tree Lang Co Resort, Lang Co beach (Loc Vinh, Phu Loc district)...

+ Cuisine:

You should try delicious dishes such as: beef noodle soup with pig's feet, grilled pork noodle soup, grilled pork rice paper rolls, grilled spring rolls. In the evening, after walking around the city, you can stop by a cafe or tea shop to relax and chat with friends. Some places to refer to: Vy Da Xua (131 Nguyen Sinh Cung), one of the beautiful cafes in Hue, especially has delicious royal tea; "Summer Cafe" (27 Le Ngo Cat, Hue) is like a miniature war museum, with many items, military uniforms, weapons collected and uniquely arranged.

+Gifts to take home: pickled shrimp, sesame candy, handicrafts, lacquerware, silk, embroidery.

 

 

Que Lan - Tuong Van