HUE

Hue was the capital of Vietnam during Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. You can still feel the royal vibe in Hue, especially when you visit Hue Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, which was the emperor's home.

You can learn a lot about history when discovering Hue. One of my highlights in Hue was going to Tu Hieu Pagoda where Zen Master Thich Nhat Thanh became a novice. After he was exiled during the Vietnam war, he was allowed to return to Vietnam in 2018. He spent 4 more years in the pagoda until he died in 2022. Thich Nhat Hanh was born in Hue in 1926 and became a leading Buddhist teacher on mindfulness and meditation. Until now, his books are famous and known all around the world.

Citadel of Hue

The citadel contains the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and other buildings that were built during Nguyen Dynasty and served as the seat of the emperor. It was mainly used for ceremonies.

During the Vietnam war, it got heavily damaged and is undergoing restorations until now.

Hue City

Hue gets a lot of visitors as it's so rich in history. The city can get busy but I feel like it still kept its royal vibe. It's nice to just take a walk along Perfume River and trying some traditional local food.

Perfume River

What a beautiful name for a river! In autumn, orchards fall into the water and give a perfume-like aroma.

It's nice to walk along the river and enjoy the atmosphere.

Tu Hieu Pagoda

This is where famous Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh became a novice and where he returned to spend the final years of his life.

Bun Bo Hue

The signature dish that you have to try here!

Hue Night Walking Street

You can come here to have food and buy souvenirs.

Restaurants & Coffeeshops

The former royal court in Hue is the origin of a lot of Vietnamese dishes.

The most famous one should be Bun Bo Hue, a spicy beef noodle soup

You can try a lot of traditional specialities here!

Bun Bo Hue

Everywhere

This is the traditional Bun Bo Hue with beef. You'll find many places in Hue where you can get it.

For a vegetarian version (usually with tofu), you can go to Huong Mai.

Vegetarian Restaurant

Huong Mai

This is my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Hue. They have so much delicious food which makes it hard to decide what to order.

Vegetarian Restaurant

Moc Nhien

This restaurant is so good and so cheap, maybe the cheapest I've ever got!

Dessert Bistro

Kem Xoi Dua

Have you ever tried coocnut ice cream with sticky rice?

If not, try it here.

Coffee

DAUDO

DAUDO is a nice coffeeshop by the river where you can enjoy your drinks.

Coffee

HUE COFFEE ROASTERY

I like this place because it feels very local and they have a nice balcony. You can come here before or after visiting Hue Imperial City.

Bach Ma
Nationalpark

The tallest waterfall in Southeast Asia, abandoned houses and bunkers:

Here's what you need to know about Bach Ma Nationalpark!

Have you ever heard of Bach Ma Nationalpark?

Well, I didn't and I want to share it with you because it's still not busy there and kinda mystic.

How to get there

Please book a guided tour! It's not easy to access and the area can be dangerous if you don't know it.

What happened here?

Bach Ma Nationalpark was populated first by French colonialists who liked the cooler climate in the mountains and built some houses in the area. During the Vietnam War, it was a hide for the Vietcong so the US Army dropped mines and also the herbicide "Agent Orange" to deforest the area. It felt like a lost place to me because nowadays, nobody is living there anymore but you can still see the abandoned houses and bunkers. Apart from the dark history, the nature is beautiful and you can also stand on top of the highest waterfall in Southeast Asia (Do Quyen) at 400m.