Hue
Ancient capital - new experience
Hue - Vietnam Royal’s Legacy
History 2
Architecture 3
Unique destinations
Hue Imperial City 5
Perfume River 7
Thien Mu Pagoda 8
Characteristics of the people
9
of Hue
Hue’s cultural and artistic
10
heritage
Hue Culinary
Bun bo Hue 12
Com Hen 13
Banh canh Nam Pho 14
Contents
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Hue - Vietnam Royal’s Legacy
History
Hue, one of the oldest cities in Vietnam, has a rich
cultural and historical heritage. The city's history dates
back to the Ho Dynasty, but its prominence began when
Emperor Gia Long established the Nguyen Dynasty at the
end of the 18th century. He chose Hue as the capital and
built the Imperial City, which served as the political,
cultural, and religious center of the Nguyen empire for
over 140 years, from 1802 to 1945.
Under the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue flourished as a center of
arts, culture, and education. After Vietnam's reunification
in 1975, Hue maintained its role as a major cultural hub
in Central Vietnam. It continues to host traditional
festivals, such as the annual Hue Festival, which attracts
tourists from both domestic and international origins.
In summary, Hue boasts a rich and diverse history,
integral to Vietnam's cultural heritage.
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Architecture
Imperial City
This is the heart of Hue's
architecture, including palaces,
temples, pavilions, and walls. The
architecture here is characterized
by its grandeur, symmetry, and
meticulous details, designed to
reflect the power and authority of
the Nguyen emperors.
Hue Citadel
The Citadel’s sprawling complex is
a testament to the grandeur of
Vietnamese architecture. Enclosed
within its fortified walls, you will
discover a harmonious blend of
traditional Vietnamese and French
colonial influences.
Places and Temples
Within the Imperial City, the
Hue is home to several ancient
palaces served as the residences
pagodas and temples, each showcasing
and administrative centers of the
unique architectural styles influenced
Nguyen emperors. They feature
by Buddhist principles and Vietnamese
intricate wood carvings, lacquer
aesthetics.
work, and imperial motifs.
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Imperial
gardens
design Adjacent to the palaces, these gardens
are meticulously landscaped with
ponds, bonsai trees, and paths,
serving as tranquil retreats for the
imperial family.
Traditional
Houses
and
Hue-style Houses are characterized
by their wooden structures, tiled Structures
roofs, and inner courtyards,
reflecting local climate and lifestyle.
Preservation and Restoration Effort
Various initiatives aim to preserve and restore Hue's architectural
heritage, ensuring that these historical buildings and structures continue
to be appreciated and studied by future generations.
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Hue Imperial City
The Imperial City was originally
constructed using earth. It was not until
Unique late Emperor Gia Long's reign that brick
was used instead. The Hue Imperial City
is a unique combination of Vietnamese
destinations traditional architectural rules, Oriental
philosophy, yin-yang and five elements
theory of Chinese I Ching. The structure
was also affected by western military
architecture named after Vauban, a
French architect in late 17th century.
Hue Citadel is a must-see
attraction that no Hue tour
should miss. It still retains
many architectural
masterpieces and distinctive
cultural values.
There are a total of 10 city
gates, each about 16 meters
high. Inside the Imperial City,
there are 6 areas that serve
as the workplaces for
hundreds of officials,
including Quoc Tu Giam, the
Secret Institute, the
Censorate, the Embassy, the
Cabinet, and the Academy of
Scholarly Worthies.
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An important part of the Hue Citadel is the
Imperial City, which was built based on the
architectural designs of the Imperial Palace
in Beijing. As a result, visitors often feel as
though they are entering a miniature
version of the Beijing Imperial Palace.
Inside the Imperial Citadel is the Forbidden
City, which is divided into two main parts:
Can Chanh Palace in the front, where the
emperor often handled political affairs, and
Can Thanh Palace in the rear, which served
as the emperor's residence. Khon Thai
Palace is the residence of the queen, Quang
Minh Palace is the residence of the crown
prince, and Thuan Huy Palace is the
residence of the concubines.
Additionally, within the Imperial Citadel, you
can find the Flag Tower, also known as the
Flagpole, the Thai Palace, and various
palaces and temples dedicated to emperors
of all dynasties. The entire complex is built
with great majesty, comprising a
remarkable ensemble of architectural
works.
It is the largest and most complete ancient
structure in Vietnam and has now been
included in the list of World Cultural
Heritage.
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Perfume River
An important part of the natural landscape
The Perfume River, an integral part
of the natural landscape of Hue city
in Vietnam, is often referred to as
“The Soul of Hue”. Its poetic and
destined landscape holds significant
cultural and aesthetic value.
Originating from the Truong Son
Mountain Range, the Perfume
River is formed by the merging
of the Ta Trach and Huu Trach
streams, eventually flowing into
the sea through the Thuan An
estuary. As it meanders gently
through the inner city, with its
clear waters reflecting the
historic charm of the old town
on the left bank and the modern
district on the right bank.
Palaces, castles, pavilions,
citadels, pagodas, gardens, villas,
and schools are all mirrored on
the water's surface in an
exceptionally graceful manner.
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Thien
Mu
Pagoda
Located next to the Perfume River in the
west of Hue city, Thien Mu Pagoda is a
famous ancient pagoda in Vietnam. It
was built on the grounds of an ancient
Champa temple with a history of more
than 400 years and is currently a
heritage site protected by the United
Nations. Legend has it that Thien Mu
Pagoda originally housed 32 golden
Buddha statues, but during the French
occupation, these statues were stolen.
The forest is green, the
The temple is especially famous for the shadow of the tower reflects
7-storey stupa named Phuoc Duyen has on the surface of the lake
a height of 21 meters. creates a beautiful picture.
Phuoc Duyen Tower is built on an Legend has it that there was a
isosceles octagonal base with 8 sides. woman prophesied that a wise
Each floor of the tower worships a man would build a temple to
different god. On the right side of the worship Buddha. Therefore,
tower is a stone stele praying for the the founding king of the
prosperity of the dynasty, on the left is a Nguyen Dynasty ordered the
hexagonal bell tower hanging an ancient construction of this pagoda.
bell cast in 1701 weighing 2 tons. The There are 10 magnificent
main side of the tower faces Thien Mu structures in the temple.
lotus lake which connects with the Historically, the pagoda has
romantic Perfume River, Phuoc Duyen been damaged and restored
Tower stands in the middle of the tower. many times.
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Characteristic of Hue
people
The people of Hue are known as the inhabitants of the ancient city of Hue,
one of Vietnam's cultural urban centers. They embody distinct cultural
traits, values, and a way of life that reflect the profound historical
influences of the city.
The people of Hue are not only Occupations and Modern Life
residents of a historically significant The people of Hue adapt and thrive
city but also bearers of its deep- in modern economic environments,
rooted cultural spirit and values in participating in diverse industries
Central Vietnam. from tourism to services and
manufacturing.
Living with Historical Heritage
The people of Hue take pride in their
city's rich historical and cultural Harmonious and Polite Attitude
heritage. They actively preserve and Known for their cultured and refined
develop traditional values such as manners, the people of Hue are
court music, traditional costumes, and friendly, sociable, and hospitable.
folk arts.
Diverse Arts and Culture
The Hue community is proud of its
deep and diverse cultural heritage,
encompassing performing arts like
Royal Court Music and Hue folk
songs, as well as distinctive
cuisines such as banh beo and
banh khoai.
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Hue’s cultural and
artistic heritage
Royal court music
Hue Royal Court Music is a highly refined
and dignified form of music performed
during royal ceremonies and traditional
festivals. It blends traditional musical
instruments such as drums, flutes, lutes,
and zithers to create a sophisticated and
elegant atmosphere.
Hue Traditional Singing
Hat Hue is a traditional genre of folk singing
unique to Hue, often performed during
festivals and religious ceremonies. The
melodies are characterized by their flowing
rhythms and heartfelt expressions, reflecting
the deep emotions and spirit of the Hue
people.
Literature and Poetry
Hue has been home to many famous writers
and poets throughout history, from great
poets like Nguyen Du to prominent poets of
the 20th century. Hue literature and poetry
often have romantic, sentimental, and poetic
themes.
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Film and Theater
Sculpture and Fine Arts
In addition to traditional arts, Hue has
Wood carving and lacquerware are also seen significant development in
traditional crafts that thrive in Hue. film, theater, and modern performing
They produce exquisite artworks of arts. They contribute to the city's
high artistic value. cultural diversity and richness.
Conservation and
Promotion of Heritage
Efforts to conserve and
promote Hue's cultural
and artistic heritage are
ongoing, with the goal of
preserving and developing
the city's unique cultural
values.
Hue's cultural and artistic
heritage not only
symbolizes the essence of
Central Vietnam but also
serves as an endless
source of inspiration for
those interested in ethnic
arts and culture.
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Page 13
Vermicelli and pho are not only Bun Bo Hue is the soul of Hue
familiar dishes of Vietnamese people cuisine, not only a famous delicacy in
but are also famous around the the country but also recognized
world for their unique and strange around the world. Eating Bun Bo Hue
flavors. Each region has its allows you to experience the blend of
variations, creating differences in sweetness with a variety of spices.
traditional culture. If you visit Hue, The aromatic spices come together to
don't forget to try Bun Bo Hue, a create a uniquely appealing specialty
bold specialty with the distinctive that defines Bun Bo Hue
flavors of the region.
Bun bo Hue
The soul of
Hue’s
cuisine
The special flavor of the vermicelli bowl comes from the broth, which
features the spicy taste of chili, the aroma of lemongrass, and a touch of fish
sauce, all combined to enhance the distinctly typical flavor of Hue. That's
why people from Hue feel a sense of pride when they come across shops
named 'Bun Bo Hue' while they are far from home.
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Com Hen
Com Hen is considered a poor family The boiling broth for Com Hen is
dish in Hue cuisine because of its boiled again and seasoned with
popularity, simplicity, and authenticity. Hue shrimp paste, sugar, ginger,
Therefore, Com Hen became a and salt.
popular dish and became a typical
culinary symbol of Hue origin. Anyone Stir-fried clams are put into a bowl
who has come to Hue will never with rice, herbs, roasted peanuts,
forget the delicious taste of this dish. star fruit, sesame seeds, and
topped with pork cracklings. Shrimp
Com Hen requires a lot of ingredients paste and chili can be added to
mixed in a bowl. It needs basket enhance the taste. You can also get
clams, rice, fried pork skin, chili, basil, noodles instead of rice for this dish.
roasted peanuts, annatto oil, garlic,
Hue shrimp paste, star fruit, fried
onions, spices, roasted sesame seeds, The completed clam broth can be
and fish sauce. The main salad added to the Com Hen mixture of
includes julienned taro stems mixed clams and rice as a marinade.
with bean sprouts, banana flower, etc. Everything is well mixed before
serving. This dish is normally
People soak the clams to get rid of served very spicy to locals because
the dirt, thoroughly clean them, and Hue people eat very spicy food.
boil them before removing the shells.
The flesh is then marinated with
spices for 10 minutes and stir-fried
with oil, chopped onions, chili powder,
and fish sauce.
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Banh canh
Nam Pho
The dish is closely associated with the land
that produced it, and the same goes for
Nam Pho noodle soup. Until now, no place
makes Nam Pho noodle soup as deliciously
as the people of Nam Pho and Hue. It is a
very popular, cheap, and delicious dish,
suitable for all ages.
This simple dish is meticulously prepared,
elaborate, and time-consuming. The cake
fibers are cooked from rice flour and filtered
flour in the ratio of "3 rice - 1 filtered." The
broth used to cook Nam Pho noodle soup is
made from fresh shrimp and crab, so it
always has a naturally sweet taste. The
noodle soup filling is made from pork belly
and shrimp. The shrimp, which come from
the lagoon, are fresh, not fishy, and have
sweet and rich meat. Everything is cleaned,
pounded, cubed, and cooked into a thick
mixture. The shrimp combined with pork
belly creates a brick-red color that looks very
eye-catching and stimulates the taste buds.
Not only does it attract with its taste, but
also with the appearance of the bowl. The
soup is very attractive with the white color of
the cake mixed with the shrimp and meat
filling and the green color of the onions. The
rich flavor of the shrimp and meat, along
with the cilantro mixed with the noodles,
creates a unique flavor for this specialty
dish.
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