Hue is known for its collection of widely admired UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered throughout the city. The Imperial Citadel stands firm in the center of the city, alongside the Perfume River, as a testament to the strength of the Vietnamese people to overcome any obstacles or hardships in their path.

The forbidden city, a remarkable cluster of buildings that reflects Vietnam’s history over the past two hundred years, is at the heart of the citadel. But after you’ve spent a few hours absorbing history – including royal concert halls, colonial administrative buildings, and bullet holes from the war – make sure you explore the rest of the neighborhood too! Here, garden houses have been converted into leafy coffee shops and serene lakes are hiding around every corner.

History buffs and culture lovers will love our 4-day historical journey through the best of Hue’s sights and sounds, including juicy tidbits on what life was like in the regal courts of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Commemorating the dead with grand structures is an important part of Hue culture, spurred by the Nguyen Emperors that once held Hue as their capital. It’s not surprising then that the Nguyen dynasty royal tombs steal the tourism show,  each one different while offering a unique window into this fascinating period of Vietnam’s history.

Gia Long tomb is the oldest, the least visited, and the most atmospheric while Minh Mang tomb is the grandest, reflecting the strength and power of his empire as well as his strong Confucianist beliefs. Thieu Tri’s tomb sees the least number of visitors and is in the worst shape, while Duc Duc’s tomb is found in the city center, small and humble, perhaps due to his suspicious death after reigning only 3 days. Unlike the others, Tu Duc blends harmoniously with the nature around it and has a rural, wild vibe complete with its own lakes, while Dong Khanh offers sweeping countryside vistas and architecture with slightly gothic undertones.

Finally, the penultimate king before the communist takeover, Emperor Khai Dinh, made his mark by fusing – with an arguable degree of success – Eastern and Western architectural styles in his final resting place.

Why stop at just Hue? Check out our itinerary featuring the incredible UNESCO World Heritage sites within Vietnam’s imperial city and Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.

Beloved Anthony Bourdain was always quick to admire Vietnamese cuisine and its strong identity without the need for “pomp and circumstance”, as he called it. But nowhere caught his attention quite so much as Hue and its traditional bun bo hue dish, a fragrant noodle soup delicately balancing sweet, spicy, and salty flavors.

The concoction may have been created due to the city’s royal legacy. The Nguyen kings were a demanding dynasty and they wanted special dishes crafted just for them. Fortunately, the secret got out, giving us regular people access to these regal delicacies on Hue dinner cruises, food tours, and classic noodle stalls.

Take your taste buds on a journey and experience this devotion to tradition on our 7-day central Vietnam gourmet tour which passes through Hue and Hoi An.