Hue

Step into imperial times with a visit to the large Hue Citadel, the prime attraction of Hue. There, the walled interior houses the Forbidden City - a sprawling complex of palaces, temples, pavilions and galleries. Enjoy a romantic boat ride along the Perfume River on the way to explore the royal tombs of Tu Duc, Minh Mang and other former emperors that lie scattered around the countryside. The covered bridge of Thanh Toan, lush paddy fields and cottage industries that dot the city outskirts offer varied and interesting excursions. Traverse the quaint streets of Hue on a cyclo or bicycle and take in Hue’s unique atmosphere. Do not forget to visit “nha vuon”, elegant historic garden houses that are exclusive to Hue.

From Hue, it’s good a day trip out to the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a buffer site between North and South Vietnam that saw intense fighting during the American War; or drive to Hoian Ancient Town, which is just 120km away, passing Hai Van Pass and Nuon Nuoc beaches in Danang, enjoying fantastic views of the mountains mingled with the sea.