Hue Imperial Citadel: Ancient Nguyen Dynasty Palaces, Royal Tombs & Imperial Gastronomy
Imperial architecture and palaces in Hue. Photo via Unsplash
Khao Sok National Park
Explore The Cheow Lan Lake, enjoy canoeing and Bamboo Rafting, take a bath with elephants, ride ATVs and practice rafting, all with licensed English Speaking Guides.
Discover Khao Sok Lake Tours →As the political and cultural capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 under the 13 emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue stands as a grand monument to royal architecture, artistic refinement, and courtly gastronomy.
Walking the Forbidden Purple City
The vast Imperial Enclosure (Dai Noi), encircled by 10-kilometer-long stone moat ramparts, houses the Meridian Gate (Ngo Mon), the Palace of Supreme Harmony (Dien Thai Hoa), and ancestral dynastic temples surrounded by manicured lotus lakes.
"Hue cuisine is an art form of balance and elegance, designed to satisfy the delicate palates of royal emperors with intricate textures and bold flavors," says master chef Phan Ton Tinh Hai.
Imperial Tombs Along the Perfume River
- Tomb of Khai Dinh: A striking fusion of Gothic European and traditional Vietnamese architecture encrusted in elaborate porcelain and glass mosaics.
- Tomb of Tu Duc: A poetic lakeside garden retreat featuring wooden pavilions, pine groves, and frangipani blossoms where the emperor wrote poetry.
- Bun Bo Hue: The legendary spicy beef noodle soup infused with lemongrass, shrimp paste, and annatto oil that has captured food lovers worldwide.
Take a scenic dragon boat cruise down the Perfume River at dusk to listen to traditional Ca Hue chamber music performed by silk-clad musicians.