Hue is one ofthe most popular destinations forvisitors to Vietnam. Straddling the PerfumeRiver, this mysterious, somber city is a historian\\'s dream come true, withnumerous 19th century ruins, royal tombs and an excellent museum.

The Imperial City of Hue was thecapital of Vietnam during the reign of theNguyen dynasty, the last dynasty in Vietnam. Even today, the Vietnamese regardHue with awe and respect. Hue also has the distinction of being one of therainiest cities in Vietnam, receiving more than 120 inches each year.
Hueis dominated by The Citadel, a moated, walled fort, constructed during the early19th century. Within these walls lies the forbidden Purple City, former home ofthe royal family. The Citadel was also the scene of brutal fighting andstaggering casualties during the 1968 TetOffensive, when the North Vietnamese held the fort for 26 days before beingdriven out by American forces. The damage inflicted to the architecture is stillbeing repaired and the Citadel may never be fully restored. In somewhat bettershape are the various royal tombs of the Nguyen emperors, which can easily bereached by boat, car or motorbike. The historical museum is one of the best inthe country.

The Vietnamese regard Hue as the pinnacle of Vietnamese fashion, language andcuisine. The women of Hue, wearing the traditional ao dai and non bai tho, arereputed to be the most beautiful in all of Vietnam. The Hue accent is regardedas the most distinct and pleasing to the ear. The food, including local dishessuch as banh khoai, is said to be the tastiest. Some of this is surely legendrather than fact, but who am I to argue?

You won\\'t be alone when you visit Hue. At any time of the year this smallcity is bustling with tourists. Hue is on almost every tour itinerary and it is thenorthern terminus of the infamous "open tour" bus route. Lots oftourists also means lots of hawkers, cyclo drivers and children selling chewinggum. It sometimes seems impossible to walk more than 10 feet without beingaccosted by someone wanting to sell you something. Smile a lot, say thank you(preferably in Vietnamese) and go about your business and you will be leftalone.

Hue can easily be visited as a day trip from Danang, oras an overnight stop on the way to Hanoi orbefore returning to Saigon. The best time to visit Hue is from May to August,when it tends to be dryest. Bring a raincoat anyway, as it\\'s still likely torain.