The second of Central Vietnam’s Unesco World HeritageSites rests largely in the shade of its smaller but more dominant cousin. Hue is sometimes bypassed especially by tourists on a whistle-stop tour of the country. Whilst it may not have the quaint old world charm of its near neighbour, in the citadel and the royal tombs, Hue does have two of the country’s most impressive sites. As with most good things in life, the deeper you dig the more you find there is to discover.

Protected by 10km long, two meter thick walls and the Perume Tiver, the immensity of the citadel is impressive. In front of the walls and facing the river is a 37 meter high flagpole, the tallest in Vietnam.

Hue’s other main draw is the royal tombs that spread along the banks of the Perfume River to the south of the city. Accessile either by boat or motorbike, part of the attraction opulence, reflecting the decline of the dynasty that ruled the country from 1802 to 1945.

Thien Mu Pagoda is to the south west of the city. The original pagoda was built in 1601, although it has been rebuilt many times since. It is seen by many as the symbol of Hue

Beyond the obvious sites, the massive appeal of Hue is simply wandering around the city, crammed with interesting monuments, pagodas and old buildings, often in incongruous settings. Of particular interest are the garden houses.

Designed according to the principles of Feng Shui, the houses offer a harmony between architecture and nature. The ubiquitous expanse of water makes for a very tranquil setting. Many are open to the public on an informal basis, some even offering food or accommodation. Kim Long, the area between the citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, is a good place for discovering garden houses, including the Temple of Princess Ngoc Son on Nguyen Chi Thanh street. Hue’s temple of Literature is also located nearby

Hue is also famous for its cuisine. Thanks to Emperor Tu Duc, Imperial Hue cuisine has a reputation for being some of the finest in the country. For those on a less than royal budget, the city also has some excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup “bun bo hue” and local rice cakes, “banh beo” and “banh cuon”. One thing is for sure, you will never go hungry in Hue – neither for food nor culture

Vietnam is a nice and peaceful country located in the South East of Asia. With a long coast line from the North to the South and a lot of mountains and highlands, Vietnam has both sea and mountain attractions. The country is one of the hottest travel destinations in Asia. More and more tourists come to Vietnam every year because of its peace, friendliness and fast development. Tourists can enjoy visiting peaceful traditional villages, grand temples and pagodas or sunbathing on beautiful beaches in luxury seaside resorts. This article will give you some helpful advice for your travel in Vietnam:

You should check full information on Vietnam prior to your trip. You should note some typical features of Vietnam culture. Follow Vietnam Laws, avoid involving in illegal issues. Should not bring with you high valued things when going out. Ask your hotels to keep your papers: Passport, air tickets and other important things.Take a hotel card before going out, thus you will easily contact your hotel if lost the way. Should not go out late with anyone you do not know. Should call a taxi instead of a Motorbike taxi when going out in the evening. Should check carefully luggage for the trip, ask your travel agent what should be brought with for your trip.

Respect the habits of the Local people. Do not point your figures towards local altar for it is considered to be rude. Should not dispose empty bottle when trekking, for you are not sure the bottle is safe or without risk of dental problems. Should not wear shorts when visiting temples or pagodas. Should take off your shoes before entering some one’s house. Should learn some useful Vietnamese for emergency cases. Bargain when purchasing something except for fixed price. Take a careful look before crossing streets. Taking care of yourself with safe food, cheap or street food may result in low quality and poor conditions.

Should hire a tour guide if you think necessary for a guide knows how to help you avoid unnecessary problems. Only bring with you necessary things. Should bring with you some dollars, for the dollar is the most popular currency in Vietnam. Should exchange for some Vietnamese currency (at airport or bank); Vietnam currency will be necessary for some of your small payments. If possible, get the address or phone number of your Embassy in Vietnam. Make sure that your visiting areas are safe and no risk of natural problems. Should visit Vietnam from August – March, for this period is really suitable for traveling (good climate). Buy travel insurance prior to your trip.

Should not photograph someone if he does not want you to. Avoid involving in issues of local people, everything should be settled in peace. Should not approach restricted areas especially army zones. Be sure that you bring with you necessary medicines.Should print emails or bring with you fax sent by Vietnam partner, or should notify Vietnam partner your coming 3-4 days prior to your departure to make sure that you will be picked up at the airport in time. Before going to Vietnam you should do some searches for a general idea about prices in Vietnam. On the internet, you can easily find information about prices of going by taxi or some other means of transportation.