Top 10 Reasons to Visit Hue City

Hue is home to over 1,700 dishes crafted in the distinct Hue style, out of the approximately 3,000 dishes found throughout Vietnam. The city’s everyday meals are simple yet crafted with expertise by local housewives, offering a rich variety of flavors and eye-catching colors that focus more on quality than quantity. If you visit Hue, you’ll be familiar with local favorites such as Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef noodle soup), Com Hen (rice with baby clams), Banh Beo (rice cakes), Banh Nam, Banh Loc, and Banh Canh Nam Pho. Despite using common ingredients, the dishes are prepared with such skill and care that they are visually appealing and incredibly flavorful. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that each meal in Hue embodies a perfect balance of the five elements—sound, flavor, color, and aroma—that come together in perfect harmony. Hue cuisine is unforgettable, with rich, deep flavors that stay with you long after the meal ends.

As we all know, Hue was once the capital of Vietnam. The city is home to numerous tombs, temples, and royal monuments built by past emperors. These tombs are especially significant, both a source of pride for the locals and a major attraction for both Vietnamese and international visitors. Some of the most notable tombs include those of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Hue's Imperial City, known as Dai Noi, is one of the major historical sites in the "Complex of Hue Monuments" that UNESCO designated as a World Heritage Site in 1993. Visitors come to Hue not only to admire its romantic landscapes but also to witness the lasting legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty, with its magnificent Imperial City. Dai Noi Hue is an architectural masterpiece that you simply must visit when exploring the former imperial capital. Spanning an area of immense scale, the construction of Dai Noi took over 30 years, involving tens of thousands of workers and an enormous amount of material, including millions of cubic meters of earth and stone, as well as tasks like filling rivers, digging moats, building walls, and moving graves. While exploring this monumental complex, you'll encounter hundreds of majestic palaces, temples, and shrines, each radiating grandeur and unique architectural beauty. The splendor of the Imperial City will undoubtedly captivate you during your visit.

If you're from Hue or a student from another province living and studying here, you'll quickly notice that no matter where you are in the city or its outskirts, everything is just a short trip away. Indeed, Hue is quite small. The distances are short, and it doesn’t take long to get from one place to another. A person can reach their school in 10 minutes, their workplace in 20 minutes, and the nearest supermarket in 15 minutes. Compared to larger cities, this is a great advantage that allows you to save time and get more done in your day. If you’re a visitor planning to explore, you’ll find that travel times to the city's attractions are just as convenient. It takes only 10 to 30 minutes to reach historic tombs, temples, the beach, and traditional villages from the city center. This is a fantastic advantage, giving you the opportunity to visit many of the most famous and unique sites that Hue has to offer.

Hue has long been known for its picturesque Perfume River, a natural feature that has inspired poetry and literature throughout the ages, embodying the essence of the city. Whenever you think of Hue, the Perfume River comes to mind. What makes the river special is that it is uniquely tied to the city itself. Unlike many rivers that flow through various regions, the Perfume River originates and flows solely within the bounds of Hue. Alongside this majestic river stands the iconic Truong Tien Bridge, a historical landmark that has witnessed many significant moments in the city’s history. Over the years, the bridge has endured numerous challenges, including times when it was damaged and nearly lost. Yet, it has always been restored and remains a timeless symbol of Hue. Particularly in the evenings, the Truong Tien Bridge lights up in vibrant colors, resembling a grand hairpin stretching across the Perfume River, creating a stunning visual spectacle.

When we think of Hue, it's impossible to overlook "Ca Hue," a traditional genre of music that has deep roots in the city’s culture. Ca Hue is a blend of vocal and instrumental music that merges folk tunes and imperial court music, offering a sound that is both simple and sophisticated. Known for its melancholic yet sweet melodies, it mirrors the gentle spirit of Hue's people, with famous folk songs like ‘Mái nhì’, ‘Mái đẩy’, and ‘Lý con sáo’. These songs are poetic and soft, creating an atmosphere that is both serene and moving. Besides these folk songs, Hue also boasts court music with more solemn and regal tunes, like ‘Giao nhạc’, ‘Miếu nhạc’, and ‘Ngũ tự nhạc’. Ca Hue lies between these two musical traditions, with its deep, lyrical qualities that stir the heart, expressing the joys, sorrows, love, and struggles of life. Unlike modern entertainment, Ca Hue is a refined experience that appeals to those with a deep appreciation for its beauty. A night of Ca Hue may take place in a small, intimate hall, but the true magic is found when it's performed under the moonlight along the Perfume River, where the music flows with the tranquility of the surroundings. After the lively rhythms of northern tunes, the evening slows as more melancholic southern songs like ‘Nam Ai’ and ‘Nam Bình’ take over, filling the air with a sense of longing and nostalgia. People come to experience the emotional depth of Ca Hue, whether from a dragon boat on the river or while sitting in an open-air performance, enveloped by the serene atmosphere of the moonlit night. The combination of traditional instruments like the đàn bầu, đàn tranh, đàn nguyệt, and sáo, along with the haunting vocals, creates an unforgettable experience. With its artistic and deeply human qualities, Ca Hue on the Perfume River is a cultural treasure and an intangible heritage that brings pride to Hue and leaves a lasting impression on all who experience it.

Hue is not just known for its stunning landscapes, but also as a cradle of ancient temples, each of which holds a rich story full of cultural and historical significance. The city is home to a large Buddhist community, and its temples embody diverse forms, meanings, and values. One of the most iconic temples is the Thiên Mụ Pagoda, which has been tied to Hue since the days of Emperor Nguyễn Ánh, when he chose Hue as the imperial capital. The temple features ancient and unique architecture and sits along the banks of the Perfume River, in a spot of excellent feng shui where the elements of heaven and earth meet harmoniously. Additionally, there is the serene and secluded Huyền Không Sơn Thượng. This Zen temple nestles in a valley surrounded by rolling hills, towering mountains, and a forest of thousands of pine trees, known as Vạn Tùng Sơn. Located more than 300 meters above sea level, this peaceful retreat offers breathtaking scenery, and it's a place where one could easily get lost in the quiet beauty of its paths and surroundings.

When you think of the people of Hue, you think of a gentle and humble essence that blends with the land and sky. As you walk along the roads of Hue, you have the chance to observe the rhythm of life up close. The streets here are not as wide as in other major cities, but they offer an intimate view where you can easily follow the paths of many people. The simplicity and serenity of the people of Hue will captivate you. It could be a young child mesmerized by the clouds, a street vendor in the quiet evening, an elderly couple enjoying tea in peaceful silence, or a group of girls in their graceful ao dai heading home after school. The people of Hue are thoughtful, their lives unfolding quietly with each passing moment. While they bustle with energy during festivals and holidays, on ordinary days, they return to a calm, carefree pace of life.

If you fall in love with a girl, or if you are a girl yourself, spend a few days in Hue to truly feel the ups and downs of life here. The weather in Hue is quite humid compared to other places. Some days, the sun beats down fiercely on the streets, but when it rains, it pours persistently, testing the patience of anyone seeking shelter until the rain stops. On some mornings, the rain turns the sky a silvery gray, only for the sun to come out and dry everything in the afternoon. Other days, it’s warm in the morning, but by evening, you’ll long for the comfort of a sweater. The weather in Hue can be as unpredictable and complex as a person’s feelings, just like a girl whose moods are hard to understand, or a boy who finds it exhausting to keep up with her. And that’s why love in Hue is so uniquely Hue!

The Hue accent is a regional dialect, lacking the tonal fluctuations or gestures found in the Northern or Southern accents. However, the Hue accent is strangely affectionate. Anyone who has visited Hue cannot forget the sweet, charming tone that defines it. Hue girls always say 'dạ' and 'thưa' in such a soft and calm way, never hurried, just like the gentle flow of the Perfume River. People from Hue often use these polite expressions, even when they don’t know someone well. Saying 'dạ, thưa' is not just about showing respect, but it reflects the kindness and warmth of the speaker. In contrast to places like Saigon, where 'thưa' is mainly used in formal contexts, the addition of 'dạ' in Hue makes the interaction feel much more personal and approachable. What’s more, many people from other regions are so taken by Hue girls, with their soft accents and graceful demeanor, that they long to marry a Hue girl. Behind the gentle words is a pure, sincere heart that’s just as precious as the tone they speak in.