Cities and regions／Vietnam
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Hue

Huế was the capital of unified Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. Its Imperial City, Nguyễn dynasty tombs and Perfume River form a spread-out ensemble in which the surrounding landscape and travel between sites shape the visit.

Ngọ Môn Gate, entrance to the Imperial Citadel of Huế.
Photo by shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 2.0
The place

What makes it special

  • The Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City, with palaces, courtyards and dynastic shrines.
  • The tombs of Minh Mạng, Khải Định and Tự Đức, each offering a distinct composition and setting.
  • The Perfume River, which connects the landscape of the citadel and the mausoleums.
Entrance to the Minh Mạng Tomb in Huế, Vietnam.
Photo by Minh Lê Source: Pexels Licence: Pexels License
Mosaics and staircase at Khải Định Tomb in Huế
Photo by dronepicr Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 2.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Hue

Guides to this place

1 article

Hue

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

1 related guides

Ngọ Môn Gate, entrance to the Imperial Citadel of Huế.

Huế’s Imperial City and the Tombs of the Nguyễn Dynasty

The Imperial City is the starting point, not the whole story, of Huế. This guide offers a way to choose tombs, timing and transport in order to understand a political, ritual and funerary landscape spread along the Perfume River.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 26/09/2026