Hue tours are absolutely delightful. As Vietnam's spiritual, artistic and cultural center, Hue vacation offers those Vietnam tours enthusiasts an opportunity for an incredible concentration of sights and ruins.

If art and architecture matter more to you than beaches and beer, Hue will be high on your Vietnam must- visit list. The capital of the Nguyen emperors, Hue is packed with temples, tombs, palaces and pagodas- or at least the remains of those that successive armies didn't manage to completely destroy. Foodies won't want to miss the fussy degustation-style Imperial cuisine for which this city is rightly famous.

On the banks of the enigmatically named Perfume River, the peculiar light of this historic place imbues photographs with a hazy, purple tinge. It would all be quite idyllic if it weren't for the constant dogging most tourists face as soon as they step off the bus. The touts in Hue are more incessant than most!

While the offshoots of mass tourism may be annoying, it should be remembered that Hue's cultural sited were destined for oblivion without it. After 1975 they were left to decay-Imperialist reminders of the feudal Nguyen dynasty. In 1990 that the local people's Committee recognized the potential of the place and declared these sites 'national treasures'. In 1993 Unesco designated the complex of monuments in Hue a World Heritage site, and restoration and preservation work continues.

Traditional features showed in Hue are quite colorful. No matter the once gleaming palaces, or the Hue Festival that is celebrated even-number years, Hue is like an explosion of colors for your real experience.

Only in recent years has the government reconsidered the ancient city's cultural worth; restoration has begun on the delicate architecture that transplants visitors into the world of majestic, imperial Vietnam. As a visitor in your Hue tours, you now hold the chance to witness the process while changing in the area. Vietnam Tourism JSC, your professional Hue tour operator is going with you!

HUE PRACTICAL INFORMATION

1. Getting there & away

a.Land

Bus

The main bus station is 4km to the southeast on the continuation of Ð Hung Vuong (it becomes Ð An Duong Vuong and Ð An Thuy Vuong). The first main stop south is DanangAn Hoa bus station (Hwy 1A), northwest of the Citadel, serves northern destinations, including Dong Ha (25,000d, 1½ hours). (40,000d, three hours, six daily).

Hué is a regular stop on the open-tour bus routes. Most will drop passengers off around the Ð Hung Vuong tourist ghetto and pick up from the hotels. Expect a complete circus when the bus stops, as you’re likely to be followed by several persistent touts, all keen to direct your wallet to their hotel.

Mandarin and Sinh Cafés can arrange bookings for the bus to Savannakhet, Laos.

Car & motorbike

Some of the principal destinations from Hué include Hanoi (689km), Dong Ha (77km), Lao Bao (152km), Danang (108km) and HCMC (1097km).

Train

The Hué train station (822 175; 2 Ð Phan Chu Trinh) is at the southwestern end of Ð Le Loi. Destinations include Ninh Binh (205,000d, 12½ to 13½ hours, three daily), VinhDong Hoi (65,000d, 2½ to 5½ hours, eight daily), Dong Ha (25,000d, 1½ to 2½ hours, six daily) and Danang (40,000d, 2½ to four hours, seven daily). (143,000d, 6½ to 10 hours, seven daily),

b.Air

The main office of Vietnam Airlines (824 709; 23 Ð Nguyen Van Cu; 7.15-11.15am & 1.30-4.30pm Mon-Sat) handles reservations. Several flights a day connect Hué to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

2. Getting around

a.Local transport

Taxi

There are several metered taxi companies in Hué. Try Co Do Taxi (830 830), Gili (828 282), Mai Linh (898 989) or Phu Xuan (87 87 87).

b.Bicycle

Bicycle, motorbike & car hire

Pedal power is a fun way to tour Hué and the nearby Royal Tombs. Many hotels rent out bicycles for about US$1 per day. Self-drive motorbikes are available from US$5. A car with driver is available from US$25 per day.

3. Money & costs

Money

Vietcombank (824 572; 78 Ð Hung Vuong) has an ATM and exchanges travellers cheques and foreign currency. There’s another Vietcombank branch (30 Ð Le Loi; 7am-10pm Mon-Sat) located at the Hotel Saigon Morin. You can find a Vietcombank ATM (Ð Luong The Vinh) outside the Imperial Hotel and another Vietcombank ATM (5 Ð Le Loi) located outside La Residence Hotel.