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Vietnam’s
former imperial city,
Hue- Vietnam,
is one of the main cultural, religious and
educational centers of Vietnam. Hue became
the nation’s capital under the Nguyen
Dynasty when Emperor Gia Long, the first of
the Nguyen emperors, chose the location for
the imperial city in 1802. The city remained
Vietnam’s capital until 1945, when Bao Dai,
the last of the Nguyen emperors, abdicated.
Many
of Hue’s attractions are found along the
banks of the romantically named Perfume
River that flows through the centre of town.
On the north bank of the river is the
Imperial Citadel, built along the lines of
Peking’s Forbidden City, enclosed by
10-metre thick walls and surrounded by a
moat. A few kilometers further up the river
is perhaps Hue’s best-known religious site,
Thien Mu Pagoda,
with its distinctive seven-storey octagonal
tower.
 The
elaborate mausoleums of the Nguyen emperors,
more like palaces than tombs, are scattered
around the rural areas surrounding the city.
The
mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc, Khai Dinh
and
Minh Mang
are particularly impressive being
extravagant complexes of pavilions, temples,
courtyards and lakes. A leisurely cruise by
dragon boat up the Perfume River is a good
way to see many of Hue’s attractions.
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For
a day trip from Hue visit beautiful
Bach
Ma National Park,
a hill resort in colonial times, with its stunning
mountain scenery, waterfalls and nature trails. For
those interested in Vietnam’s recent history it is
possible to visit some former battle sites in what
was once known as the
Demilitarized Zone
or ‘DMZ’. Alternatively, around 70 km south of