Former Imperial Capital of the Nguyen Dynasty

The Imperial Citadel was built by Emperor Gia Long in 1804.  Within the walled gates was the Forbidden Purple City, the private residence of the Emperor. The complex suffered damages during the conflict with the French in 1947, and then mostly destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968.  But wandering through the grounds gives you a great sense of history. You can still see The Emperor’s reading room and The Halls of the Mandarins which were used for court ceremonies. 

Thien Mu Pagoda can be reached by local boat cruising a short way along the Perfume River.
Originally founded in 1601, named after a Fairy woman, Tien Mu who, according to the legend, met
Lord Ngyuen Hoang, telling him that building a pagoda at this spot would bring prosperity to the country. The 7-story octagonal tower was constructed under Emperor Thieu Tri in 1844 and dedicated to Manjushri-Buddha which is the Buddha that appeared in human form. A pavilion houses an enormous bell which was cast in 1710 and weighs 2052kg, said to be heard 10km away.
In the main sanctuary, in a case behind the bronze laughing Buddha, are 3 statues of: A Di Da, the Buddha of the Past;  Thich Ca, the historical Buddha (Sakyamuni); and Di Da, The Buddha of the Future (Maitreya).

During the 1960s, Thien Mu Pagoda was a center of anti-government protest. Here you can see the Austin motorcar that transported Monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self immolation in Saigon, protesting the policies of President Ngo Dinh Diem, who was supported by the US.
Ngo Dinh Diem turned out to be very corrupt. His sister-in-law, Madame Nhu, (born Trần Lệ Xuân),
served as the de facto First Lady of South Vietnam because Diem was a lifelong bachelor. She was the wife of Ngo Dinh Nhu, who was Diem’s brother and chief advisor. 
Following the self-immolation of the Buddhist monk, Madame Nhu made highly controversial and callous remarks, including: 

• Labeling the suicide protest a “monk barbecue”.
• Stating, “Let them burn and we shall clap our hands”.
• Offering to “supply the gasoline and a match” for any future burnings.
• Accusing the monks of lacking patriotism and using “imported petrol”. 

Known as the “Dragon Lady,” Madame Nhu’s comments were widely seen as insulting to the Buddhist majority and contributed to the alienation of American support for the Diem regime.

Royal Tombs

The Nguyen Dynasty was the last of the Vietnamese dynasties. There were 13 emperors and seven had elaborate tombs dedicated to them. Hire a dragon boat for a leisurely cruise down the Perfume River.

The most beautiful and interesting tombs of the Emperors to visit:
Minh Mang: 1820-1841 who was the second son of Gia Long
Tu Duc: 1848-1884
Khai Dinh: 1916-1925

The historical monuments of Hue were designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1993.

Crafts and Projects:

Silk Embroidery handcrafted in Hue is exquisite and a visit to the
XQ Gallery is a highlight!
See:  https://xqvietnam.com/

Healing the Wounded Heart Shop
beautiful crafts and eco-friendly items produced by disabled artisans which support heart surgeries for poor children. Located on Vo Thi Sau Street.
https://www.spiral-foundation.org/

The commercial center of Hue
enjoys a very relaxed ambience for a Vietnamese city. Being a big University town, the river area is a favorite area to relax for locals. Filled with cafes and restaurants, there are many very comfortable and reasonably priced small hotels and guesthouses.

Accomodations in Hue:

Town Center:

Orchid Hotel comfy 3-star
https://orchidhotel.com.vn/our-properties/orchid-hotel/

Classic:
Hotel Saigon Morin established in 1901. If their website does not work, find it on Booking com or Agoda:
https://morinhotel.com.vn/

Luxury:
Azerai La Residence:
https://azerai.com/azerai-la-residence-hue/

Short drive from the Center:

Pilgrimage Village one of the finest small luxury resorts that I have experienced. Truly a special oasis,
15 min. drive from center and close to quiet pagodas.
https://www.pilgrimagevillage.com/

if staying at Pilgrimage Village, you are close by car to the Royal Tombs, so on this case, do the dragon boat ride one way, and have transport drop or meet you from Pilgrimage Village.

Tu Hieu Pagoda – where Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh, first ordained as a monk, is a short drive from Pilgrimage Village. Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022) affectionately known as Thay, was a renowned Zen Buddhist monk, poet, scholar and peace activist. He stood for nonviolent, compassionate solutions to conflict during the Vietnam/American War and was a pioneer of “Engaged Buddhism.” During the war, he established
The School of Youth and Social Service (SYSS) to rebuild bombed villages, establish schools, and provide medical care to victims of the war. He traveled to the U.S. to meet with Dr. Martin Luther King, who along with the civil rights movement in the US, joined in support to call for the end of the Vietnam War.
Thich Nhat Hanh settled in France, establishing Plum Village, focused on engaged Buddhism and the art of mindful living,

Precious moments in Day of Mindfulness with the Brothers and Sisters of Tu Hieu Pagoda.
Learn more about Thich Nhat Hanh and the worldwide community of Plum Village.

Peace is Every Breath- Peace in Every Step

The DMZ North of Hue and Legacy of War

The DMZ north of Hue is the former Demilitarized Zone in Quang Tri province, which was a heavily contested buffer area along the 17th Parallel that divided North and South Vietnam during the American-Vietnam War. Now a site of historical tours exploring the Vinh Moc Tunnels, war cemeteries, and former battlefields like Khe Sanh.  Day trips to this area can be arranged for those interested in American/Vietnam war history.

Links to good work being done there today:

Project RENEW: a dear friend and former tour guide, Phu Nguyen, has dedicated himself to work here:
https://landmines.org.vn/
https://renewvn.org/

Getting to HUE:

Domestic Flights serve HUE Airport  ( HUI ) with frequent flight from Hanoi or from Ho Chi Minh City
https://www.vietnamairlines.com/ Also check into budget carriers like VietJet Air.

TRAIN Travel:
The Reunification Express from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh stops in Hue.
https://www.seat61.co m/Vietnam.htm

From Danang, Hoi An and My Son- approx 3.5 hours scenic drive north to Hue via the Hai Van Pass. Known as Sea Cloud Pass, enjoy breathtaking coastal views, hairpin turns, and historic bunkers.
Marble Mountains are a cluster of five limestone hills named after the elements of Metal, Water, Fire, Earth. There are lots of photo spots along the winding road section, and you can branch off to the Ba Na Hills to see the Golden Bridge- the famous 150-meter long pedestrian bridge which opened in 2018.
Known for its stunning design of giant stone hands supporting the walkway, symbolizing a pathway to heaven amidst the clouds.
Continuing the drive along the coast, overlooking Lang Co Bay and Lao An Lagoon, this is often called one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives where mountains meet the sea. But be prepared to also see alot of new prime property development happening along this coast.

For Hoi And and My Son: CLICK HERE

South Vietnam:   Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta

Enjoy your Journeys! Travel Gently and Live Consciously

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