A HUE Kinda Day

Hue was never on my list of things to do in Vietnam, yet somehow I found myself staying there for almost 5 days enchanted by its charm. Although small in comparison to Vietnam’s other cities, Hue offers a wide variety of sights and activities both in and around the city. 

Having no idea what Hue was or what to see, it helps when you have some amazing local friends to help you out and show you off the beaten path. This was the case as they picked me up in a typhoon at 7AM on motorbikes to cruise around to various temples, passing pagodas and zipping over bridges to other sites where not a single tourist could be found.

Luckily the rain let up and I was able to visit the focal point of Hue which is the Imperial Palace located along the Perfume River. The Imperial Palace of the Nguyen Dynasty, between 1802 and the end of WWII, remains today a labyrinth of temples, palaces, and pavilions all surrounded by a mighty wall enclosed by a moat with grandiose gate entrances. Although not as impressive in age as other historic sites in Asia, its extensiveness and ability to survive numerous wars makes it a picturesque starting point for a visit to Hue.

 Outside the Imperial Palaces walls lies another wall bordering the entire river with a massive Vietnamese flag on what appears to be a fortress but is just a larger portion of wall. The river is crossed by several bridges which at night are illuminated and the adjacent bank of the river is lined with a flea market selling clothes and handicrafts as well street snacks and drinks. Even in the rain the city center, at its slow pace offers the most casual backpacker a lot to do.