The Dynasty Trails of Ancient Hue
The Dynasty Trails
of Ancient Hue
Royal opulence from Vietnam’s Nguyen rulers awaits along or nearby Hue’s rustic Perfume River.
From wandering through the final resting places to admiring the essence of the nation’s
last dynasty, its remaining highlights are woven perfectly into one day.
WHY THIS TOUR?
The ancient town of Hue has had a turbulent and rich history. Once it was an imperial city, later on, under the Nguyen dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945, it became Vietnam’s imperial capital. Nowadays, Hue is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Vietnam.
Straddling the Perfume River, this mysterious, sombre city is a historical dream comes true, with numerous 19th-century ruins, royal tombs and an excellent museum. Its historical part was declared a World Heritage site in 1993 by UNESCO.
TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 17:00
Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hue and drive you to the embarkation point for our cruise over the Perfume River. A short boat cruise on the often romantic-depicted Perfume River will take you to the legendary Thien Mu Pagoda, which is not only a landmark but also one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Thien Mu Pagoda (namely Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda), also known as Linh Mu Pagoda, is one of the most fascinating and ancient pagodas in Hue city.
We continue to admire the majestic centre piece of Hue for which this central Vietnam town gained its name and fame. Dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, Hue’s Imperial Citadel comprises of several inner and outer courtyards, each with its own purpose and characteristics. Taking a dominant place in the heart of Hue, the Citadel was severely damaged during the Vietnam War with devastation still shown throughout the citadel. Popular areas are the Flag Tower, the various imperial buildings and public areas of the various emperors ruling from here. The morning ends with a leisurely stroll around the central Dong Ba market.
Having lunch in a local restaurant, we continue to admire the peaceful and impressive sepulchres of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, perched on the river’s southern banks. Tu Duc’s tomb is located in a narrow valley in Duong Xuan Thuong village and is regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of royal architecture. Our next visit brings you to the tomb of Khai Dinh, situated 10 km away from Hue. The construction of this royal tomb started in 1920 and took almost 11 years to complete. It is one of the most criticized of all the final resting places of the Nguyen dynasty.
The afternoon ends with a visit to the local handicraft street. Those interested will be thrilled to find out how the famous conical hats and incense sticks are made by hand. We end the day with a transfer back to your Hue hotel.