Hue and its people are relaxed and it's easy to unwind here. This makes it one of the most attractive destinations in the country.
Hue and
its people are relaxed and it's easy to unwind here. This makes it one of the
most attractive destinations in the country.
Also it is known as a university town as it is home to both
Hue College of Fine Art and Hue National school of Music
and Dramatic Arts. The two were amalgamated in 1986 to form the Hue College of
Arts.
Hue is
perfect for nature lovers and those enthusiastic about art and history.
Art
Galleries in Hue
Art lovers around the world have long been interested in
Vietnamese paintings. When in Hue, check out the
two main art galleries; New
Space Art
Gallery on 7 Pham Ngu Lao St.
(Tel: +84 (54) 848544) and its second branch on 28 Nguyen Tri Phuong St. (Tel: +84 (54)
849353), both owned by painters and twins Le Ngoc Thanh and Le Duc Hai.
Another good gallery in Hue is Boi Tran Arts Gallery on 85 Tran Hung Dao St., Hue city (Tel: +84 (54) 523655).
Boat
Cruise on Perfume Pagoda
This wonderful waterway flows through Hue and provides a delightful vista from any
angle. The Song Huong
River is known as the Perfume River. A wide and impressive waterway,
it gets its name from the thousands of orchard flowers upstream from the
ancient capital. In the autumn as the trees shed their blossom, it falls into
the river and floats downstream. The scent created gives the river a perfumed
aroma and hence the name was created.
This waterway has two sources way up in the Day Truong
Son Mountains.
The Ta Trach (left tributary) starts higher and flows over 55 impressive
waterfalls before joining the Huu trach (right tributary). This tributary is
shorter and has itself passed over more and rapids, before the two join
together to form the Perfume
River. This is a
delightful River throughout its length. Bright blue clear waters flow through
lush green countryside, passing delightful villages as it winds its way north
east, onto Hue, before exiting into the South China Sea.
As it passes by Hue
the river landscape is astonishing. The bright blue shimmering waters fringed
by the Towers, Pagodas, temples, palaces and the town itself, make for a really
beautiful sight. In the evening local folk songs can be heard drifting in the
still warm air. The sights sounds and smells of this amazing river make for a
heady mix. Steeped in romance and history it is an astonishing place to be.
Old river craft line the banks as the river slips by, lives
that have remained unchanged for generations coexist here with those of modern
tourists drawn by the incredible scenery. Boat trips take passengers for rides
along the 20 mile stretch near Hué. From these trips visits to the Thien Mu
Pagoda nad the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang can be made. At the Thien My
Pagoda, which was a hotbed of anti government unrest in the 1960s, an old Austin motor car can be
viewed. This is the very vehicle that transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to
his death by self immolation in Saigon. The
Imperial Tomb is regarded as probably the most beautiful of all of Hue’s pagodas.
The Perfume River has been an important contributor to the
development of the city of Hue
over the years. An important transport route, it continues to serve the city as
a tourist attraction in its own right. It is a wonderful river with a romantic
name. Make it a part of your travels plans and you certainly will not be
disappointed.
Spa
in Hue
Many visitors like to treat themselves after a long walk
touring around the old ruins of Hue
by going to a local spa and massage. For a good spa try La Résidence Hotel &
Spa 5 Le Loi Street (Tel: +84 (54) 38 37475) and Abalone resort & Spa which
is located on picturesque Tam Giang Lagoon, a short 15-minute drive from Hue.
For a foot massage try De Nhat Massage, located opposite the
Temple Restaurant on 30 Chu Van An.(Tel: +84
(54) 834646).
Cooking
Classes
Another fun and creative way to spend time in Hue is to join a cooking
class. Vietnamese food is very delicious and healthy and on top of that Hue is famous for its royal cuisine as the city once
served as the capital of Vietnam.
There are many dishes that make Hue’s
cuisine outstanding.
For cooking classes, try Y Thao Garden House on 3 Thach Han street
(Tel: +84 (54) 523 018), Missy Roo Bar & Restaurant on 62 Nguyen Tri Phuong
(Tel: +84 (54) 228 628), and the Pilgrimage Village Hotel on 130 Minh Mang Street (Tel: +84 (54) 38
85461).
The teachers will take you to buy fresh ingredients from
nearby local markets before heading back to class.
