Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Hue

Hue Imperial City is one of the most fascinating destinations in Hue, located about 4km from the city center. It is situated on the north bank of the poetic and romantic Perfume River. The Imperial City includes the Forbidden Purple City and the Royal Palace. This was the administrative and political center of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Hue Royal Palace - The Hue Royal Palace consists of several areas such as the defense area, the ceremonial area, the temple area, etc., set amidst a harmonious natural space of lakes, gardens, stone bridges, islands, and lush trees. The Royal Palace has 4 gates, with the largest and most beautiful gate being the Noon Gate.

Noon Gate Hue - Noon Gate faces south towards the imperial city and overlooks the romantic Perfume River. Noon Gate has 5 entrances, with the central entrance being for the king, the two side entrances for civil and military officials, and the two outer entrances for soldiers and horses.

Thai Hoa Palace - Thai Hoa Palace is a symbol of the power of the Nguyen Dynasty. Located within the Imperial City, Thai Hoa Palace, along with the Great Audience Hall, was where important court ceremonies of the dynasty took place.

Dien Tho Palace - Dien Tho Palace is the largest remaining palace architecture in Hue to this day. This was the residence of the Empress Dowager and the Queen Mothers.

If you want to know how the royal life of the ancient kings was, then visit Hue Imperial City, where you will get the most authentic view of a dynasty that seems to exist only in ancient Chinese dramas.

If the Thiên Mụ Pagoda is considered the inspiration for literary works, then the Perfume River is also included in Vietnamese poetry. It is a poetic and sentimental river, a familiar symbol that cannot be separated when mentioning Hue.

The Perfume River is not long; the entire river is only 100 km. The main section of the river, called the Perfume River, is only about 30 km long. From the Bằng Lãng junction, the Perfume River gently flows through the prosperous villages of the outskirts of Hue, into the heart of the city, and then continues to meander through the countryside downstream before flowing into the sea.

The scenery on both sides of the river, with the citadel, streets, gardens, pagodas, and temples reflected in the shimmering water, makes the already beautiful river even more poetic. Many people believe that the reason why Hue has such a peaceful and gentle atmosphere is largely due to the Perfume River, the green river that has brought the city a poetic and tranquil charm, the purity and harmony of a land with a deep culture.

The green river sparkles like jade under the sun, the Hue boats cruising up and down, sideways, with melancholic, contemplative songs echoing in the quiet night, are images that no traveler can forget when coming to Hue. Taking a boat trip to admire the poetic Perfume River, listening to the Hue folk songs and tunes, is an experience that every visitor should try. If you come to Hue without admiring the Perfume River, without listening to a few Hue songs, then it is truly a regret.

When talking about Hue, one immediately thinks of Thiên Mụ Pagoda because it is one of the most beautiful destinations in Hue. With green mountains, blue waters, and the peaceful nature, this place will make our souls become more peaceful.

This pagoda was officially built in the reign of Lord Tiên – Nguyễn Hoàng in 1601. In the reign of Lord Quốc (Nguyễn Phúc Chu), Thiên Mụ Pagoda was rebuilt on a larger, more beautiful, and more splendid scale. With its natural beauty and grand scale from that time, Thiên Mụ Pagoda became the most beautiful pagoda in Đàng Trong.

Here, you can admire the unique beauty of the Phước Duyên Tower, a famous symbol associated with Thiên Mụ Pagoda. The tower is 21 meters high, consisting of seven floors, built in front of the pagoda. Each floor of the tower has a Buddha statue. Inside, there is a spiral staircase leading to the top floor, where there used to be a golden Buddha statue.

Speaking of this golden Buddha statue, we must mention the legend of the stolen statue. Although the thief was found and the king decided to punish him, a wandering monk passing by the pagoda heard about the stolen statue and found it, feeling uneasy. After a moment of contemplation, the monk seemed to realize something and decided to transform the golden statue to prevent the theft from happening again. And the Perfume River is the place where the flow of this golden statue is preserved. If you come to Hue, visit here and learn more about this legend, it will be very interesting.

Thiên Mụ Pagoda is considered one of the most sacred pagodas in Hue. The pagoda is located on the left bank of the Perfume River, on Hà Khê Hill about 5 km west of the center of Hue city. It has also been an inspiration for many authors to create poems and literature.

Moreover, standing in Thiên Mụ Pagoda, you can admire the panoramic view of the poetic Perfume River, a symbol of the ancient and solemn land of Hue. The gentle scenery of the river with peaceful boats drifting on the water will make your soul become more peaceful, a feeling that is unique to Hue. The beauty of Thiên Mụ Pagoda has enchanted many visitors. If you come to Hue and do not visit this famous pagoda, it will be a regret!

If Khải Định Tomb stands out with its unique architecture and exquisite carvings, Minh Mạng Tomb fully reveals the personality of a wise king, bearing a deep historical art and philosophy of life.

History records that Minh Mạng was the second emperor in the Nguyễn dynasty - the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam. King Minh Mạng ruled the country for 21 years and passed away at the age of 50.

Minh Mạng Tomb is a large architectural complex consisting of about 40 large and small buildings including Palaces, Castles, Đình Tạ,.. arranged in balance on a vertical axis from Đại Hồng Môn to the foot of La Thành behind the king's tomb. Specifically:

• Đại Hồng Môn - Is the main gate to enter the tomb, with 3 entrances and 24 different heights of roofs beautifully decorated.
• Bi Đình - Is a spacious yard behind Đại Hồng Môn with 2 rows of statues of mandarins, court officials, and elephants.
• Worship area (for worshiping the king) - The worship area starts with Hiếu Đức Môn, Sùng Ân Palace located at the center of the king's and Queen Tá Thiên Nhân Hoàng Hậu's altars.
• Minh Lâu Pavilion - Proceeding through three bridges Trung Đạo, Tả Phụ, Hữu Bật north across Trường Minh Lake leads to Minh Lâu Pavilion built on the hill named Tam Đài Sơn. The building is square, two floors, eight roofs. Behind Minh Lâu are two symmetrical flower gardens shaped like the character 'Longevity' across the Thần Đạo street.
• Bửu Thành (the wall around the tomb) - Tân Nguyệt Lake in the shape of a crescent moon embraces the circular Bửu Thành located in the middle. Crossing the Thông Minh Chính Trực bridge north across Tân Nguyệt Lake with 33 blue stone steps leads to the king's resting place located in the center on the hill named Khai Trạch Sơn.

Visiting Minh Mạng Tomb, you will not feel the atmosphere of gloom, mourning, but rather purification, revival between life and death. If you have come to Hue, you must visit here, not only to admire its harmonious beauty but also to experience the tradition and culture of a nation.

Khải Định Tomb was built over 11 years (1920 – 1931), spanning the reigns of two Nguyễn emperors, Khải Định and his son Bảo Đại. Although the smallest in size, it was the most labor-intensive and costly of all the royal tombs in the Nguyễn Dynasty.

King Khải Định, the twelfth emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty, ruled the country for 9 years before his passing. He is often remembered as a king who indulged in luxury. During his reign, he built many structures, notably his tomb – Khải Định Tomb - Ứng Lăng. From a certain perspective, this construction might be seen as a significant expenditure of resources from the people, but it cannot deny the unique artistic value that this tomb has brought.

Visiting Khải Định Tomb, you must not miss the Thien Dinh Palace, where the remains of King Khải Định are interred. It has the most unique and artistically valuable design to this day. On the three floors of the palace, the 'Cửu Long Ẩn Vân' (Nine Dragons Hidden in the Clouds) is a masterpiece created by talented artists using porcelain and rare stones imported from China and Japan.

Furthermore, another special feature that leaves every visitor to Khải Định Tomb in awe is that all details are decorated with the art of glass and porcelain mosaic. Its beauty will captivate you, and this majestic, ancient beauty is truly unique.

Located just 10 km from the center of Huế city, Khải Định Tomb is the final architectural work of the Nguyễn dynasty and the most prominent among all the other tombs. If you visit Huế, spare some time to visit here to admire this unique and unparalleled architectural beauty.

Bạch Mã National Park has a peak at 1,444 m. At the majestic mountain peak, it's green all year round with waterfalls, streams, forests, and more. Bạch Mã is also home to many rare animals and plants in the tropical region. Located only 18 km from the sea, Bạch Mã blends the mountain forest air with a hint of the sea.

Bạch Mã National Park is one of the 30 richest conservation areas in terms of flora and fauna in the country and has been ranked at the national level. If you are a nature lover, enjoying the tranquil beauty of clouds, mountains, and forests, a trip to Bạch Mã National Park will be an unforgettable experience. There are times when Huế experiences continuous rain, which can be inconvenient for your trip. Therefore, it's best to plan your visit during sunny weather. The summer season here lasts from December to April, with a dry period around June and July.

Thiên An Hill is a rolling hill located to the south of Huế city, on the way to visit Khải Định Tomb, passing Cầu Lim intersection about 2 km. Thiên An reveals itself as a green color of pine forest with undulating hills, thatched roofs, and winding roads.

At the top of the hill, there is Thiên An Monastery, and around the hill area is Thủy Tiên Lake and the ancient Ba Vành tomb area, which still bears the marks of an ancient mystery. The peaceful scenery, fresh air, Thiên An and Thủy Tiên are interesting weekend retreats. Currently, this area is the entertainment center of Thừa Thiên Huế.

With its romantic and picturesque natural scenery, Thiên An Hill is an ideal destination for tourists visiting Huế. Here, tourists can enjoy the fresh, cool air, immerse themselves in the romantic and picturesque natural surroundings, and discover many other interesting things. If you have the opportunity to travel to Huế, be sure to visit Thiên An Hill!

Vọng Cảnh Hill is located about 7km from the center of Huế City. After traveling by plane, train, or bus to Huế, tourists can rent a motorbike to Vọng Cảnh Hill. The motorbike ride takes about 30 minutes. The route is as follows: Depart from the center of Huế City, follow Hoài Thanh Street to Lê Ngô Cát Street, then turn right onto Huyền Trân Công Chúa Street. Continue straight on this road for about 4km to reach Vọng Cảnh Hill, Huế. Tourists can park their motorbikes below and walk up the hill.

Vọng Cảnh Hill was once a resting and sightseeing spot chosen by the Nguyen emperors. Surrounding the hill is a system of tombs of the Nguyen emperors such as Đồng Khánh Tomb, Tự Đức Tomb, Thiệu Trị Tomb, Xương Thọ Tomb, and bà Thánh Cung Tomb. Despite many historical changes, it remains an impressive destination for many tourists to explore the famous history of Vọng Cảnh Hill.

Huế Night Market stretches from Trường Tiền Bridge to Phú Xuân Bridge, where culinary activities and bustling souvenir stalls take place at night in Huế. Not only can you buy a variety of exquisite handicrafts, but you can also immerse yourself in the romantic space of the Perfume River and the ancient capital when night falls.

Starting around 5 p.m., this market becomes crowded. The majority of customers are mainly students or low-income people, coming here hoping to buy beautiful items that are affordable. The items sold in the market are quite diverse in type and design. You can buy shoes, clothes, bags, jewelry... and have plenty of choices. The attractive point that this market attracts a large number of customers is because of its prices, with an average price range of 40,000-200,000 VND. Anyone can find a satisfying item here.

Among the relics of the ancient capital of Huế, Hòn Chén Palace is perhaps the most legendary. It is said that the palace was once called Hoàn Chén, meaning 'returning the jade cup', because King Minh Mạng once dropped a jade cup into the Perfume River while he was here, thinking it was irretrievable. Suddenly, a large turtle emerged from the river, holding the jade cup in its mouth and returning it to the king. However, in the official royal decrees of the Nguyễn kings, the palace still appears with the official name 'Ngọc Trản Sơn Từ' (temple on Ngọc Trản mountain). During the reign of Đồng Khánh (1886-1888), the palace was renamed Huệ Nam Điện (meaning bestowing grace to the king of the Southern country) and was also associated with many other legends. After years of being associated with many legends, people still refer to the palace as Điện Hòn Chén or Điện Hoàn Chén, both names are correct.

Hòn Chén Palace is not only a historical and religious relic but also a scenic spot, a unique cultural attraction that attracts thousands of visitors, especially during the festivals of March and July every year. If you are someone who loves beauty and has a bit of belief in spirituality, then try visiting Hòn Chén Palace during these festivals to explore and discover this mysterious temple!