An imperial city in Vietnam, Hue stands to reflect the ancient glory of the country that once had palaces, emperors, kingdom and queens like the rest of Asia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hue enjoys a preferable location on the bank of the Perfume River. Popular for its grand monuments, tombs and pagodas, a visit to Hue can be an immensely gratifying experience for lovers of history and architecture. While looking for places of tourist interest in Hue, you will most definitely reach the Imperial Citadel where once the ancient rulers lived and ruled from.
Though most of it remains in ruins, some parts of the citadel have been restored for tourist visits. You can also visit the Imperial tombs, sprawling complexes spread throughout the city. Thien Mu Pagoda and its lovely grounds make for one of the major attractions in Hue. Young monks study here and prepare for their life ahead. Tu Dam, Tu Hieu, Huyen Khong are other popular pagodas in Hue.
For a relaxing time under the sun, head to the Thuan An and Lang Co beaches, popular for their white sands. You will also visit the natural hot springs in Thanh Tan in Phong An, Phong Dien where you can spend a few leisurely hours.
Some of the popular food items in Hue that you must try are com hen (rice with baby clams), banh bot loc (rice pastry with meat and shrimp), banh la cha tom (soft pastry with leaves with meat, shrimp, and egg), banh hot thit quay (roast pork pastry), Bun thit nuong (rice vermicelli with grilled meat) as well as Bun bo gio heo (rice vermicelli with beef and pork). You might also like sweet soups called Che that are appreciated by a majority of tourists.
