Set along the banks of Perfume River, Hue used to be the capital of Vietnam between 1802 and 1945 under the reign of the Nguyen Emperors, later on under French Colonial Domination. In 1802, Emperor Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty moved the capital from Thang Long (Hanoi) to Hue, however in 1885 the French seized power, making the emperors nominal rulers only. The Nguyen’s made Hue a famous center of the arts, scholarship and Buddhist learning, but their extravagant building projects & luxurious lifestyle resulted in crippling taxes. Hue ceased to be the capital of Vietnam when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated in 1945, two years later a huge fire swept through the city & destroyed many of its wooden temples & palaces. From early 20th century, the city was embroiled in social & political unrest led by the anti-colonialists.
The capital of the Nguyen Emperors, Hue is packed with temples, tombs, palaces and pagodas. In 1990 that the local People’s Committee recognized the potential of this place and declared these sites “national treasures”. In 1993 UNESCO designated the complex of monuments in Hue a World Heritage site, and restoration and preservation work continues.
The Vietnamese regard Hue as the pinnacle of Vietnamese fashion, language and cuisine. The women of Hue, wearing the traditional “Ao Dai” and “Non Bai Tho”, are reputed to be the most beautiful in all of Vietnam. The Hue accent is regarded as the most distinct and pleasing to the ear. The food, including local dishes such as: fried sweet potato is said to be the tastiest.
The best time to visit Hue is from May to August when it tends to be driest. The Festival of Hue is celebrated biennially in even-numbered years, with local and international cultural performances at some locations throughout the city.
Emperors Tombs
Emperors Tombs - The other great attractions in Hue are the Tombs of the Emperors, which are located along the Perfume River south of the city.
* Tomb of Gia Long (20km): the most remote of the tombs, quiet and fallen into disrepair as Gia Long, the first Nguyen Emperor, was notoriously despotic.
* Tomb of Minh Mang (12km): in this opulent complex, the main buildings are arranged on an east-west axis, including a courtyard surrounded by warrior statues and several temples and pavilions. Several bridges cross two lakes before the axis ends before the vast burial mound. The mausoleum features large gardens and lakes: a pleasant place to sit and relax.
* Tomb of Khai Dinh (10km): this is the best preserved of the lot and, while comparatively compact, quite grand at first sight. While it follows the classic formula of forecourts leading up to the tomb of the Emperor, complete with statues in attendance, architecture buffs will spot some European influences.
* Tomb of Thieu Tri (8km): built in 1848. This Emperor and his wife were the most revered and loved throughout the country. Although he only ruled for 7 years, he was the most sorely missed. His last will was that he be placed in a tomb that was not extravagant, parting ways with the tradition of creating lavish final resting places for their Emperors.
* Tomb of Tu Duc (7km): the complex served as a second Imperial City where the Emperor went for "working vacations". Tu Duc's contemplative nature and poetic spirit is reflected in the landscape and arrangement of the 50 buildings that at one time stood here. A vast, sprawling complex set around a lake, with wooden pavilions and tombs and temples dedicated to wives and favored courtesans. The Emperor's tomb itself, tucked away in the back, is surprisingly modest – the final courtyard is nearly empty with just a stone coffin in the middle.
Thien Mu
Thien Mu Pagoda is situated on Ha Khe Hill, on the north bank of the Perfume River a few miles southwest of central Hue. It is the official symbol of the city of Hue. Thien Mu means "elderly celestial woman", and refers to an old legend about the founding of the pagoda.
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