Are you ready to unearth the mysteries of the alluring Hue Vietnam? (Source: @mr.shanefilan)If you are passionate about Vietnamese culture or just looking for an escape from the bright lights and traffic jams of bustling cities, Hue could be a long-awaited oasis for you. Regardless of the rapid urbanization in Southeast Asia, the ancient royal city enchants tourists with poetic landscapes, a tranquil atmosphere, religious traditions, hundreds-year-old historic architecture, and significant highlights of UNESCO-recognized tangible and intangible cultural heritages. This article will provide you with the essential information you need to know before planning your trip to Hue, Vietnam.

1. About Hue, Vietnam

1.1. Hue location

Located in central Vietnam, Hue City is the capital of Thua Thien Hue – a coastal province which shares borders with Quang Tri Province to the north, Quang Nam Province and Da Nang to the south, Laos to the west and the East Sea to the east. The province has an 80 kilometer-long Perfume River, a 128 kilometer-long coastline, and over 200,000 hectares of forest.

As one of the leading central provinces, Thua Thien Hue affords a convenient transportation system with Phu Bai International Airport, Thuan An Port, Highway 1A, and the trans-Vietnam train.

Hue is a central city of Vietnam (Source: Collected)

1.2. History of Hue Vietnam

Hue originally belonged to a prefecture of the Champa Kingdom before the occupation of the Vietnamese. Hue, Vietnam had started its long history as a feudal capital since when it was ruled by the nine Nguyen lords of Inner Realm (Central and Southern Vietnam) from 1687 to 1775. Subsequently, the Tay Son brothers conquered Hue and it remained the administrative capital from 1788 to 1801. After the fall of the Tay Son Dynasty, Emperor Gia Long (Nguyen Anh), a successor of the Nguyen lords, recaptured Hue Imperial capital and unified the Vietnamese monarchy, which paved the way for the reign of the thirteen emperors of the Nguyen dynasty – the last dynasty in Vietnam from 1802 to 1945.

Hue, Vietnam used to be the educational, cultural and political capital under the Nguyen dynasty for 143 years (Source: Lê Đình Hoàng)In the 1880s, Hue remained the Imperial Palace of the French protectorate (Annam) established over Central Vietnam. This is why the intriguing architecture in Hue represents strong French influences. Eventually, Hue’s royal glory ended after the last Nguyen King – Bao Dai – abdicated in 1945.

During the Vietnam War, notably the “Battle of Hue” – a part of the Tết Offensive in 1968, Hue endured considerable damage due to its proximity to the border that separates the South and the North. Afterward, massive reconstruction and rehabilitation had been undertaken to restore the precious historic relics in the ancient capital.

Well-preserved royal mausoleums in Hue, Vietnam (Source: @plum_hyatt)Throughout 5 centuries, Hue was the cradle of imperial power and patriotic revolutions, witnessing the splendor of the Vietnamese’s feudal past and their suffering in the fierce wars. In modern times, Hue retains its significance as a center for tourism, education, and religion in central Vietnam