Buzz
The imperial city of Hue is renowned for its solemn beauty and the traditional way of life of its locals. Preserve your love for this cultural charm and explore Hue with the spirit of youth.
Traveling to Hue with a youthful soul
Hue is a poetic city located on the sunny and windy land of the Central region. This land brings peculiar emotions and distinctive impressions for its people like nowhere else.
If Hanoi is a land of a thousand years of civilization, exuding elegance and sophistication, and Saigon attracts visitors from all directions with its hospitality and vibrant pace of life, then Hue offers a myriad of emotions.
On one hand, there are romantic musings and poetic emotions when visiting the city of poems, folk songs, and literature imbued with poetic marks. On the other hand, there is the cultural beauty of Hue – with people who speak sweetly, live slowly, and possess warm souls.
The ancient city of Hue embraces layers of culture, from its picturesque scenery to the depths of the locals' hearts. Yet, this city is also undergoing a rejuvenation, bringing forth a new image of vibrancy and youthfulness, adding a fresh charm to its historic allure. Hue is transforming into a dynamic and rejuvenated city amidst the poetic beauty of an ancient urban landscape.
Hold onto the love for the nostalgic and serene cultural essence that has permeated the streets of Hue for thousands of years, and wander through this land with the spirit of youthful love for our homeland.
Discovering the beauty of the ancient capital
Hue boasts a comprehensive infrastructure system. Getting here is not difficult, on the contrary, travelers have plenty of options such as road and rail. However, for a deeper exploration of Hue, catching a Vietjet flight from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to save time, especially during the early morning or late afternoon hours, is advisable. Vietjet operates 2 routes: Hanoi – Hue with a frequency of 10 flights/week and Ho Chi Minh City – Hue with 4-6 flights/day. The airport is conveniently located near the city center, so transportation is not a major concern.
Those seeking to truly understand Hue cannot overlook a leisurely stroll along the Perfume River. This river is an integral part of the city, even shaping the character and lifestyle of its inhabitants. Its slow, tranquil flow mirrors the gentle and refined way of life of the people of Hue. The Perfume River is where inspiration thrives, where the verses of Hue's songs ring true. Nowhere else can one hear the melodies of Nam Ai, Nam Binh as authentically as on this river.
The Perfume River is exclusively reserved for Hue, a 'slow romance' that can be felt through the visual spectacle of thousands of floating lanterns on the nights of the seventh lunar month, drifting from Hon Chen Palace, through Hue, pausing as if hesitant, gently swaying on the water's surface like the lingering longing of a heartfelt sentiment. Such is the essence of Hue portrayed in the poetic prose of Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong.
Embark on a journey to explore Huế, where the Imperial City awaits to immerse you in history. The Imperial City comprises two main areas: the Royal Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, collectively known as the Inner City. Inside the Royal Citadel lies the Thai Hoa Palace – the throne hall, and the area of ancestral shrines. The Forbidden Purple City, nestled deep within the Royal Citadel, served as the living quarters of the kings and the royal family.
Spanning vast grounds, the Inner City retains the majestic ambiance of the royal court and nobility. Here, visitors are transported into the enchanting world of the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam – the Nguyen dynasty. Exploring the Inner City, you can opt for electric vehicle tours and other services like elephant rides or dress up as historical figures to add extra layers of excitement to your journey.
Exploring the timeless folk culture of the people of Huế is an essential experience for any traveler visiting Huế. Renting a cyclo to leisurely ride along the Perfume River at dusk, the cyclo drivers will regale you with fascinating stories about Huế and reveal hidden culinary gems along the way.
Cyclos are a distinctive cultural feature unique to Huế. More widespread than in Hanoi, they still exude a classic charm compared to cyclos in the coastal city of Nha Trang. These cyclos have been preserved since the French colonial era, according to the stories of the drivers, meticulously maintained and cherished. Your cyclo journey may stop at Đông Ba Market for an afternoon food tour.
At Đông Ba Market, you can find a plethora of Hue delicacies ranging from savory dishes to various types of desserts. Huế's traditional culinary scene is incredibly rich, with each dish reflecting the intricate nature inherent to the character of the people of Huế. Dedicate a day to this majestic city to delve deeper into Huế through its culinary love affair.
Explore Huế with a youthful spirit
Amidst the storm of integration and development, Huế city maintains its own classical, dignified, and noble cultural essence. The lifestyle here is graceful, traditional, and carries the scent of ancient feudal family values with numerous rules and standards.
However, Huế is also embracing its youthfulness and vitality. This is reflected through the adventures of the young people in Huế and many young travelers when visiting Huế.
Within the inner city of Huế, the ancient capital remains lively every night along both banks of the river with various entertainment activities. The streets of Huế stretch along three main axes: Chu Văn An – Phạm Ngũ Lão – Võ Thị Sáu, along with the night market area under Tràng Tiền Bridge, erasing the notion of 'early sleeping city' from Huế.
Many cafes with fresh, youthful styles have become destinations for many young people and tourists. Huế also showcases its youthful innovation through each festival season.
Beyond just enlivening the inner city with playful check-in photos, infused with youthful spirit, young people go further, exploring new destinations around Huế, breathing new life into this land.
Cảnh Dương Beach, located 60 km from the city center, has become a popular camping destination in recent years for many young people visiting Huế. Here, you can rent tents for overnight stays and enjoy beach games. This is an unmissable spot for groups of friends in the summer, a place to capture 'youthful' memories.
If you're fascinated by mountain landscapes and trekking activities, you can opt to explore Bach Ma National Park. Along the mountain pass, the majestic tropical forests thrive year-round, revealing themselves to travelers' footsteps. Some notable stops you can visit along the journey through the Bach Ma Mountains include Hai Vong Dai, Do Quyen Villa, Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Five Lakes, or Do Quyen Waterfall.
Besides the mentioned destinations, Huế offers many more adventures for the young, such as visiting Thuan An Beach, Elephant Springs, or Thuy Tien Lake... with friends to 'live the virtual life', have fun, and preserve memories.
Journeys to Canh Duong Beach or enjoying the nature of Bach Ma Range, and even exploring the inner city with the youthful spirit are fresher journeys, where we discover another dimension of the imperial land of Huế – a serene and romantic Huế, yet equally vibrant, youthful, and full of life.
Source: Khánh Trinh/Zing news
***
Reference: Travel guide Mytour
TravelWise.comJuly 3, 2018
