Did you know that Hue was Vietnam’s former capital city?
Vietnam was ruled by the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. The Nguyen’s where a very powerful family who had its capital in the Vietnamese city of Hue for over 100 years.
Unfortunately, much of the beautiful buildings of the former capital city of Vietnam are now in ruins, but Hue is still a must see when you visit Vietnam and you love a bit of history.
We think Hue is one destination in Vietnam that is pretty underestimated, but we absolutely loved visiting Hue and taking in all it’s beauty.
Hue’s landmarks and temples are national treasures these days and visiting Hue will bring you back to Vietnam in the 17th century.
Must-sees in Hue include the Imperial City, The To Mieu Temple complex and Ky Dai.
Scroll through our Picture’s of Hue, Vietnam and read the things we loved and discover why you should definitely visit Hue yourself when travelling through Vietnam
Imperial City
The Imperial City Hue is a walled palace within the citadel of the city of Huế. The building was built in 1362 and took around 200 years to complete. The locals consider the Imperial City as a symbol of wealth and power as building materials were carried all the way from Hoi An.
Inside the citadel, you will find the Imperial City (Hoàng thành), with a perimeter wall of two kilometers in length. Within the Imperial City you will find the Purple Forbidden City (Tử cấm thành), similar to the Forbidden City in Beijing. Access to the innermost enclosure was restricted to the imperial family only.
Unfortunately, the Imperial Citadel today is just a shadow of what it once was. Many buildings were destroyed by the Vietnam war and these days, only a handful of buildings within the citadel still stand. Regardless of this, the Imperial City in Hue is still very worth visiting.
To Mieu Temple complex
Minh Mang, the emperor back in the days ordered the Mieu Temple in Hue to be built in 1823 to worship the previous nine rulers of his dynastic line, which is why there are nine tripod cauldrons around the courtyard in front of the temple. The Mieu Temple itself is modeled off the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Beijing.
Kỳ Đài
Ky Dai is one of the many structures that belong to the Hue ancient architecture complex. Build in 1807 as a very simple complex, Ky Dai got restored several times over the years.
These days you will find people chilling out, having a picnic, play or catching up. A lovely place to take in Vietnamese life and how the locals live.
Explore the countryside by bike or scooter
If you want to see something else in Hue beyond the ancient buildings, hire a bike or scooter and explore the countryside and learn more about local life in Vietnam.
The countryside around Hue is still pretty much untouched, which we absolutely loved.
Where to stay in Hue, Vietnam
Are you looking for something luxurious or maybe you want to visit Hue on a budget? You will find the best accomodations in Hue suitable for any budget right here
Airbnb in Hue Vietnam
Hue has a few lovely Airbnb’s, so you can experience true local Vietnamese life.
Book via our special link to get a massive $$ dollar discount off your first booking with AirBnb, so you definitely score yourself a bargain.
Have you booked your trip via Airbnb before? Book your next Airbnb accommodation in Hue easy and fast right here ↓
Want to know more about Vietnam? Read our complete Vietnam travel guide and my solo travel experience through Vietnam, right here
