The Royal city of Hue still resonates with the glories of imperial Vietnam and is the former capital of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The city of Hue (pronounced Hway) is a blend of the old and new and largely owes its charm to its location on the Perfume River. It has an eclectic mix of old and new with modern homes found next to crumbling city walls, and modern hotels towering above the historic sights. The people of Hué are the gentlest and least aggressive in the country and the city epitomises the best of Vietnam and in a country that is disappearing under concrete. It represents a link with the past, where people live in old buildings and don’t lock their doors.

Any visit must include time to explore the vast Imperial Citadel and its palace and then to relax take time to float along the Perfume River through stunning countryside discovering fabulous tombs of the emperors.

Just north of Hue is where the border between North and South Vietnam lay before the country was reunified. Here you can explore a number of war relics and familiarise yourself with the history of the demilitarized zone and other the key sites along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Also within easy reach are Thuan An Beach and the beautiful Than Hoan Covered Bridge.