Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 179

Hue
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Hue is the intellectual, cultural and spiritual heart of Vietnam. Palaces and pagodas, tombs
and temples, culture and cuisine, history and heartbreak - there's no shortage of poetic
pairings to describe Hue.
A World Heritage Site, the capital of the Nguyen emperors is where tourists come to
see the decaying, opulent royal tombs and the grand, crumbling Citadel. Most of these ar-
chitectural attractions lie along the northern side of the Song Huong (Perfume River). For
rest and recreation, plus a little refreshment, the south bank is where it's at.
The city hosts a biennial arts festival, the Festival of Hue ( www.huefestival.com ) , on even-
numbered years, featuring local and international artists and performers.