A NICE CHOICE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

A MINI TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF HUE, VIETNAM

by Nguyen Thi My Tam

Hue - the land of civilization with a rich history, unique culture, many heritages, and unique festivals - is no longer strange to both Vietnamese people and foreigners and it is also an ideal destination for all traveling lovers. The quiet and peaceful landscape, as well as the hospitality of local people makes Hue so special and attractive to tourists.

Coming to the ancient capital, visitors are overwhelmed with the golden palaces, the majestic mausoleums, and the scenic spots tinged with history. All of these elements make up the unique beauty of Hue. It’s sure to be an awesome choice to have a trip to this ancient capital to visit the tangible and intangible cultural heritages bearing many intellectual and spiritual values ​​of the Vietnamese people.

When is the most suitable time to travel to Hue?

If you have the intention of enjoying awe-inspiring famous beauty spots and mouth-watering food in Hue, taking weather into consideration can help you explore the ancient land without being disturbed by sudden rain. The following are some not-to-be-missed recommendations for you:

• From January to March: The weather is cold, the trees are budding, and the scenery is beautiful. This is a really suitable time to admire the gentle beauty in Hue.

• April: This month is the Hue festival season. The atmosphere is vibrant and bustling, the streets are beautifully decorated. If you are a fan of festive activities, this is a perfect time for you.

• From May to July: The climate in Hue is cool and dry, which is also the most beautiful time to travel to Hue, especially in early August.

Where to stay in Hue

There is a vast bulk of Hue’s accommodation for visitors, with a seemingly ever-growing selection of places to stay.

***Indochine palace hotel: This is considered as one of the best hotels, truly a five-star hotel. The building itself is magnificently set in lovely gardens. The rooms are spacious and extremely modern and comfortable. Inside the hotel is a large and beautiful pool with an adjoining gym and sauna. The buffet breakfast is delicious with a huge range of food to suit all tastes served by helpful and friendly waiters.

***Homestays in Hue: For many people, staying in a homestay will be money-saving and diverse in choices. You can easily find information about good homestays, beautiful views, reputation on forums, groups, or travel review sites. Make sure to find yourself a reputable stop-off, so you can rest assured when traveling to Hue; or else, your trips will be somehow spoiled.

What to eat in Hue

This is definitely a common question that travelers look for most. Hue’s Cuisine has its own unique characteristics. The dishes are not too sweet or too spicy, very skillfully and delicately prepared, and full of the Central flavor.

• Spicy beef noodle soup

Beef noodle soup is a famous specialty of Hue. Traveling to Hue, you must get up early and eat a delicious bowl of beef noodle soup here. The broth is carefully simmered from beef bones, onions, and other traditional spices to create a delicious and attractive taste. Hue beef noodle soup is big and soft, served with a piece of fried rice, and a bit of blood and greasy pork hooves. Before eating, it is suggested that you add some fresh lemon, a few pieces of chili and raw vegetables to have the best truly spicy beef noodle soup.

• Banh beo Hue

A hot bowl of “banh beo” with sweet and fragrant filling coming with a bowl of spicy dipping sauce is absolutely out of this world. When you’re eating, pour fish sauce over the bowl of banh beo, enjoy the soft and supple taste of the dough, the aroma of fried onions blended with the sweetness of the shrimp and meat fillings.

• Hue sweet soup

Hue is also famous for many types of sweet soups, each with its own specific taste such as sweet lotus seed gruel, rice ball sweet soup, and sweet taro gruel. You don’t need to go to any big restaurants, just sit by the street vendors or small alleys, order a cup of tea and you can enjoy the sophistication of Hue's cuisine.

With a fantastic combination of history, breath-taking beauty, specific cuisine and a world cultural heritage, ancient Hue really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for traveling lovers.