As the former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of Vietnam’s royal past and is a curious mix of bustling streets and tranquil ruins. The beautiful Perfume River runs through the city, separating the Old town and the New town. We spent the rainy afternoon touring through the ancient Citadel, visiting tombs and cruising on the river to the Thien Mu Pagoda (“Heavenly Lady Pagoda”).
The ruins were incredible and I took hundreds of photos. We stopped for lunch and tried Bún bò Huế (pronounced “boon ba hway”). It’s a signature Vietnamese noodle soup named after the city, that is made from beef shank with lemongrass and then seasoned with fermented shrimp sauce and sugar, then made very spicy with chilli oil. Yum!
In the evening we participated in one of the biggest highlights of my visit to Vietnam, a Royal Feast dinner. Our group dressed up in ancient costume and we had a spread of delicious food created for us. The venue and supper were amazing, and dressing up really added to the ambiance of the evening. I would highly recommend it!
Photo Gallery:
[slickr-flickr tag=”hue” items=”8″ type=”gallery”]
For More Information:
Wiki Travel
http://wikitravel.org/en/Hue
Ancient Hue Royal Dining
http://www.ancienthue.com.vn/
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