Hué is a relaxing city in central Vietnam on the banks of the Pearl River. It is big enough to be interesting but small enough to bicycle or even walk around. People from Hué say their food is the best in Vietnam and we can certainly verify that it is delicious! You might want to try Nem Lui, minced sweet pork around bamboo sticks grilled over hot coals. Banh Khoai is a sort of pancake stuffed with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts.

Hué is divided between the older fortified Citadel that contains all the historic sights, and the new city across the Pearl River. The new side contains most of the facilities a traveler usually needs. The main attractions of Hue are the old Imperial complex, the Citadel and the Forbidden City. There are also pagodas and many tombs of the emperors a few kilometers south of the city.

Embroidery is a traditional industry of Hué, and framed embroidery can be purchased almost anywhere in the backpacker area. Old Vietnam War (the Vietnamese call it "American War") equipment can be bought from street vendors. Most of the stuff is probably highly illegal to take on a plane, so be warned! Also on sale are "dynasty ceramics" that has supposedly been lifted from the bottom of Pearl River, fake of course...

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