Huế is a city located in the geographical centre of Vietnam, exactly halfway between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Although Huế does not appear as a must-see destination in most Vietnam travel guides (which place greater emphasis on other places such as Sapa, Ha Long Bay, and routes through the Mekong Delta), the city of Huế is historically and architecturally significant and well worth visiting. If you are going to spend several weeks in Vietnam or travel extensively across the country, we recommend making a stop in Huế. In this article, we explain what makes this Vietnamese city special and what to do in and around it.
Vietnam’s imperial capital: Huế
Huế has been a key place in the course of Vietnam’s history. The earliest ruins in this area of what is now Vietnam date back almost 1,600 years.
Feudal Huế in the Middle Ages
The first human settlements in the area where Huế stands today date back to the 4th century AD: a city about 3 kilometres west of the current city, known as Kandapurpura. For much of the Middle Ages and until the 19th century, Huế was the capital of several feudal dynasties that ruled much of what is now southern Vietnam, most notably the Nguyễn dynasty.
Huế during French colonisation and the Vietnam War
During the French colonisation of Vietnam, which began in 1887, Huế was part of the protectorate of Annam, the name the French gave to Vietnam and the neighbouring areas they controlled. After independence from France, Huế was the country’s capital until 1945, when Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated and the city lost its capital status. The communist government of North Vietnam at the time (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam) established its capital in Hà Nội in 1945, in the north.
Destruction and death during the Vietnam War
Located on the border between South and North Vietnam, Huế suffered extensive material damage and heavy loss of life during the Vietnam War. The United States carried out numerous indiscriminate bombings that destroyed a large part of its historic buildings, and during the Tet Offensive the communists carried out the so-called Huế Massacre—mass executions that went down in history as one of the darkest episodes of the Vietnam War.
How to get to Huế
Huế Airport has no direct connections to Europe, so to get there you will first need to go via Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and from there take a connecting flight to Huế. You can also travel by train on the well-known Reunification Express that links Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, or (less recommended due to discomfort) take a bus from either of those two cities.
What to see in Huế
Huế is one of Vietnam’s main tourist destinations for travellers who want to experience the historical and cultural side of the countries they visit. Huế is considered Vietnam’s foremost historic city and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as far back as 1993. Its imperial past has left a deep imprint on traditional Vietnamese culture, and Huế is regarded as one of Asia’s gastronomic capitals.
Huế Citadel
The great fortress built in the 17th century by the aforementioned Nguyễn dynasty served as a defensive stronghold for the Nguyễn for more than 100 years. Its design is reminiscent of Beijing’s Forbidden City, combining palaces, temples, imperial tombs, and walls within the same space. The walls had 10 gates providing access to the citadel. Within the citadel itself there are three enclosures: the imperial city, the civic city or capital, and the Purple City or Forbidden City.
The places included in each and every visit to Huế are:
- The tombs of Emperors Khải Định, Minh Mạng, and Tự Đức
- Thien Mu Pagoda (another must-see icon).
In addition, other interesting spots within the citadel include the following:
- Hưng Miếu Temple, built in honour of Emperor Minh Mạng’s parents
- Diên Thọ Residence, or the Queen Mother’s palace
- The Thế Miếu Temple, dedicated to generations of the Nguyễn dynasty
- Hiển Lâm Pavilion and its nine dynastic urns
- Thái Hòa Palace, where the Nguyễn emperors’ throne is located
- The Royal Theatre, the emperor and royal court’s entertainment venue
- The Royal Library, or Thái Bình Lâu, the emperor’s private reading room
- The Forbidden City, or Purple City, so called because only the emperor himself was allowed to enter
The Huế Citadel is so large that it is impossible to visit it all on foot in a single day. The best option is to book a guided tour or rent a bicycle to get around inside efficiently and in an environmentally friendly way.
Dong Ba Market
Dong Ba Market is a good place to take the city’s pulse. Dong Ba is located at the southeastern end of the Imperial Citadel and is one of the busiest and most hectic markets in Asia. You can find almost anything at Dong Ba Market. The vendors are expert hagglers and very persistent, so we can assure you that in addition to enjoying the bustle, you will leave the market with something under your arm.
The Perfume River
The Perfume River divides the city of Huế in two, and a very appealing way to explore it is by cruising its waters aboard its dragon-shaped boats. If you would like an even more special experience, take a trip along the river at sunset. The Perfume River also serves as a link between the different palaces of the Huế Citadel, and as a way to reach it from other parts of the city.
