Hue lies in the center of
Vietnam and has remained as the capital city for a considerable period of 143 years. There are a lot of places to visit in Hue as it is a hub of museums, tombs, rivers, and pass. It has a reputation of a more popular tourist destination in comparison to any other province or capital in Vietnam.
Hue Imperial City
This walled fortress and palace were once the home of Vietnam’s emperors. Also called “The Citadel” the palace grounds are surrounded by an impressive moat filled with waterlilies. Much of the structure was damaged in battles, but the restoration is ongoing. Once inside you can see different buildings in their original, restored and damaged stages.
Make sure your taxi driver drops you off at the correct gate. There is only one entrance to the Imperial City but some taxi drivers like to pretend that they do not know that tourists wish to be dropped off at the main gate.
The Thanh Toan Bridge
One of the main attractions of the ancient Hue city, this archetypal sumptuous footbridge is situated in the countryside. One of the beautiful places to visit in Hue, this bridge was constructed in the 18th century and consists of both Japanese and Chinese features. The core aim of this bridge is to unite the two villages. This bridge also becomes the point of congregation for the villagers thereby making it an adequate place to sit and observe the life, chat with the local people. This bridge is surrounded by lush greenery and some rice fields also.
The Thien Mu Pagoda, overlooking the Perfume River, is an iconic
Hue backdrop and a symbol of the ancient city. The 7 story pagoda was originally built in 1601 but, as a site of political demonstrations, has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in the years since. The pagoda is still a religious site today and it is common to see monks wandering around the grounds.
The Austin car which Thich Quang Duc, the infamous burning monk, used to drive himself to the Ho Chi Minh intersection where he burned himself to death in an attempt to demonstrate that Buddhism needed martyrs is also housed on the grounds.
Through the center of Hue flows the Perfume River. Many tourists choose to take a boat tour along the river. Passengers can enjoy the river views, have a meal and visit some of the major tourist sites around the area that are accessible by boat.
Another way to take in the river is to stroll along the walkways along the river’s edge. In the morning’s joggers take their morning runs here and in the evening the area becomes transformed. Little shops and restaurants that were closed during the day open at sunset and lanterns are lit.
Dong Ba Market
Visiting a market is an essential part of any Vietnamese sightseeing adventure and Dong Ba in Hue is a decent option. The market is a mix of local Vietnamese produce and souvenir shopping and it’s fascinating to witness market life.
Be prepared: it is dirty and grimy and a tourist tax is inevitable.
Read more:
The quintessence of cuisine in Central Vietnam, Hue
Elephant Springs
Lying amidst Hue and
Da Nang, this place is still under recreation zone if seen from the tourist viewpoint. This place is located at a distance of 17 km from
Hai Van Pass and poses as one of the best places to visit in Hue for a refreshing break from the journey. Amidst the cold water, plenty of small and big size stone give it a look of elephants. Especially a large stone portraying the elephant, situated next to the waterfall, depicts continuous water flowing from its nose making it an interesting scene.
Source Internet
