Hue (Huế) is in the central region of Vietnam and is the former imperial capital.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Hue is intimately connected to the imperial Nguyễn Dynasty, based in Hue, which ruled from 1802 to 1945, when the Emperor Bao Dai abdicated in favour of Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary government. The city went through tough times during what is known locally as the American War, when it was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During that time, they executed around 1,000 people suspected of sympathizing with the South. After a ferocious assault, US and South Vietnamese forces retook the city, but ultimately lost the war, returning the city to the Northern forces. Hue is easy to get a grip on.
Like other Vietnamese cities, Hue is flooded with cyclos and motorbikes, as well as a few meter taxis. Taxi drivers are usually honest, but make sure they turn the meter on. Trips start at 15,000 dong for the first 2 km and tick upward at 11,500 dong/km. Some meters run incorrectly (showing up to 10 times the distance actually traveled), so ensure you have a rough idea of the distance to your destination. If the meter is running too quickly, at the destination pay an estimate of the fair price and insist on calling the police if the driver will not accept the estimated non-meter price. The driver will back down.
The historical monuments of the city have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 1 Ho Chi Minh Museum, 6 Lê Lợi, ☏ +84 54 3520-445. M-Sa. Contains photos and information on Ho Chi Minh, and the history of Hue in photographs. Free. 2 Phu Bai Airport. A must-see if you are interested in the earlier conflicts, back when the airport was a dirt strip. During the Vietnam War, an American garrison was assigned there and built up the airport with concrete bunkers, a paved airstrip and a few other luxuries. The airport was vital in keeping Hue supplied during the Easter Offensive of 1972 when "Charlie jumped the line".
Blind Massage, Kiet/Alley 180 Phan Boi Chau (off Phan Boi Chau St on the right up the hill about 1 km past the train tracks (look for a small blue sign in English)). At the institute for the blind. All of the staff work and live in this facility and speak a little English. Popular with the locals. 40,000 dong/hr for massage and 30,000 dong/hr for steam-bath. My An Hot Spring and Spa (7 km from Hue on the way to Thuan An Beach). The water here has a high sulphur content, purported to have health benefits. US$3 for foreigners to use the swimming pool and 2 hot spring pools. Thanh Tan Hot Springs (about 13 km from Hue centre). Similar to My An, but without the odour of sulphur.
Hue is famed for its imperial cuisine, which was prepared for the emperor and his retinue. Although the emphasis is more on presentation than taste, an imperial banquet is well-worth trying. The most famous local dish is bún bò Huế (just called bún bò within the city), a noodle soup served with slices of beef and lashings of chili oil. Another tasty local treat is sesame candy (mè xửng), which is peanutty, chewy and quite tasty if fresh. Nem lui is a dish of sweet, minced pork around bamboo sticks grilled over hot coals. Banh khoai is a "pancake" filled with bean sprouts, shrimp and pork. Bun thit nuong is barbecued pork served with vegetables and noodles. The people of Hue have a strong tr…
B4 Bar-Café, 75 D Ben Nghe. A charming Belgian-Vietnamese owned bar, with a welcoming interior and free pool. 1 Brown Eyes Chillout Bar-Club, 56 Chu Van An, ☏ +84 5 482 7494. Happy hour, 17:00-22:00. Live DJ, free pool table and a good vibe. Not far from Pham Ngu Lao, but they offer to pay for taxis from hotels for parties of four persons or more. Stays open till the last one passes out. No cover.. Café on Thu Wheels, 1/2 D Nguyen Tri Phuong. It's a little bar owned by the charming lady Thu. DMZ Bar & Café, 44 D Le Loi. Stays open late. Sinh To Place, 30 Ben Nghe. Shop for drinking ice tea, coffee, smoothies and juices. Local prices (they are published on a board).
Be suspicious of locals asking where you are from and then claiming to have family living there as this can be a scam: they will ask you to sit down for lunch/dinner with them and talk. After eating they will offer to pay for the meal and just ask that you buy them a local bottle of wine to drink at their temple. When you arrive at the local shop, the owner will say the wine is 7,000 dong and then when you attempt to pay she will insist on 700,000 dong. Hue is a safe city. However, at night all cyclo-drivers, especially in Pham Ngu Lao area, should be avoided. Travellers have been mugged, beaten and robbed by these people.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Hue typically sees ~33°C daytime highs and 21 rainy days.
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