Hue

Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. At its heart and surrounded by moats, lies the Purple Forbidden City, the residence of the Nguyen Emperors. Although it was severely damaged during the war, the remains of the citadel, which have been partially restored, still contain many interesting sights for tourists having Vietnam customized tour. South of the city are the imperial tombs with the most important being: Tu Duc, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. As well as several sites of historical interest ‘Hue cuisine’ is also celebrated throughout Vietnam and is an important strand of Vietnam’s culinary heritage.

Thien Mu Pagoda - Built on a hill overlooking the Perfume River, 4km southwest of the Citadel, this pagoda is an icon of Vietnam and as potent a symbol of Hue as the Citadel. The 21m-high octagonal tower, Thap Phuoc Duyen, was constructed under the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri in 1844. Each of its seven storeys is dedicated to a manushi-buddha (a Buddha that appeared in human form).

Thien Mu Pagoda was originally founded in 1601 by Nguyen Hoang, governor of Thuan Hoa province. Over the centuries its buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Since the 1960s it has been a flashpoint of political demonstrations.

To the right of the tower is a pavilion containing a stele dating from 1715. It’s set on the back of a massive marble turtle, a symbol of longevity. To the left of the tower is another six-sided pavilion, this one sheltering an enormous bell (1710), which weighs 2052kg and is said to be audible 10km away.

The temple itself is a humble building in the inner courtyard, past the triple-gated entrance where three statues of Buddhist guardians stand at the alert. In the main sanctuary behind the bronze laughing Buddha are three statues: A Di Da, the Buddha of the Past; Thich Ca, the historical Buddha (Sakyamuni); and Di Lac Buddha, the Buddha of the Future.

The best time to visit is early in the morning, before the tour groups show up. For a scenic bicycle ride, head southwest (parallel to the Perfume River) on riverside Tran Hung Dao road, which turns into Le Duan road after Phu Xuan Bridge. Cross the railway tracks and keep going on Kim Long road. Thien Mu Pagoda can also be reached by boat.

Rea more: 6 best things to do in Hue
Top 10 dishes to try when you travel to Hue

The Imperial Citadel - For anyone visiting Hue the former capital of Vietnam, visiting the Imperial Citadel should be at the top of the to-do-list. This grandeur walled architecture was built in 1803 by Gia Long - an emperor who founded the Nguyen Dynasty. The water of its surrounding moat was taken from the Perfume River that flows through the city. The palace is led by ten main majestic gates and divided into two main parts: the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. The former one served to protect the important palaces inside while the latter, was used as royal family members’ residence and workplace.

During the climax of the Vietnam War in 1968, the centuries-old Imperial Citadel acted as a worthy military fortress in the hands of the anti-imperialist communists. Later, American bombing flattened this site, of which a few original buildings remain today. In 1993, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been in actively restored and preserved. Although it’ll never be able to reclaim its former glory, Imperial Citadel is a beautiful and breath-taking historical site.

Perfume River - Flowing across the city of Hue, Perfume River is famed for the perfume-like aroma exudes by the petals that fall into it. It's touted that a visit to Hue would not be complete without a boat excursion on the gentle Perfume River. It’s physically true though, to feel the romance of Hue, taking a boat trip of it is indispensable.

Autumn is the best season to visit the river since flowers in the orchards up river begin to lose their blossoms and go into the further downstream. Sitting on a paddle boat or sampans, you can see the 350-yard calm river nourishes families on boats with kitchen and bathroom onboard. There're fishermen trying their luck by tossing out nets and smiling back when you make eye contact. The sunset view is great with the orange colors create a golden scene of romantic visions of Southeast Asia. Fully recharge your camera to catch the silhouette of the local wooden riverboats.