Hotels in Hue
Though not yet described as 'The Venice of the East', the imperial city of Hue - fonner capital of Vietnam's Nguyen Dynasty - is divided by the Perfume River and has numerous canals. So taking to the water is a great way to see the city's sights, and the famed Hue Dragon Boats – the local motorized equivalent of Venetian gondolas are the way to travel.
These long-tailed, brightly painted boats ply the Perfume River, and most do indeed have some resemblance to those fearsome if mythical fire-breathers, though tencling to be of rather haphazard construction.
It's possible to enjoy the Dragon Boat experience by taking one as though it were a water taxi. Any trip around town will have the added dimension of revealing the sights and sounds of Hue's busy river life with houseboats everywhere, laden sampans heading for market or undertaking another important mission like sand dredging ... and of course there are more of those in-your-face Dragon Boats at every turn. This in itself is a worthwhile outing.
But the Hue area has many fascinating monuments and historical sights, and a Dragon Boat journey up river through lush countryside is a splendid way of visiting some of the best. There are many options to choose from, but a typical tour will include the Linh Mu (Thien Mu) Pagoda, Hon Chen Temple, Tu Due Tomb, Emperor Minh Mang's Tomb amidst tranquil gardens and lakes and Khai Dinh Tomb. Some require a moto-taxi from the bank and the stops (usually 30 to 45 minutes) are not long enough to allow proper exploration, as these tombs are often large complexes. However, the Dragon Boat trip is an experience in its own right, and it's always possible to return on another day and spend more time at particular sights.
HOW
By boat
WHEN TO GO
Any time January to April is best, from June to August it sometimes rains very hard.
TIME IT TAKES
Around eight hours for a typical day tour by Dragon Boat.
HIGHLIGHTS
A Dragon Boat ride to Thuan An Beach for a bit of typical tropical sun-sea-and-sand relaxation.
Sunset over the Perfume River – take a stroll beside the river as night falls for a wonderfully romantic light show.
A side trip to the Imperial Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty, damaged by American bombing during the Tet Offensive of 1968 but partially restored and still mightily impressive.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Perfume River is so named from the traditional ritual of scattering flower petals on the water.
