HUE

12/31/2025

We did a day trip to the Imperial city of Hue (pronounced Hway) which was about a 2 hour drive straight north up the coast. The drive was gorgeous!

The Hue Imperial City was the capital under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) with grand palaces and temples within fortified walls, mirroring Chinese imperial cities, and famously includes the Forbidden Purple City, a private royal enclave. It suffered heavy damage during the Tet offensive in the Vietnam War but has been undergoing restoration. It was pretty stinking impressive!

After the Imperial City of Hue, we visited the nearby Thien Mu Pagoda which was founded in 1601 and is famous for its seven-story Phuoc Duyen Tower, built in 1844, symbolizing Buddha's reincarnations, plus a giant bronze bell.

Also on the grounds is the original car from the iconic photo of the "burning monk" which refers to Thích Quảng Đức, a Buddhist monk who sacrificed himself on a Saigon street in June 1963 to protest the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government, creating a startling image that shocked the world and influenced U.S. policy during the Vietnam War.

Our final stop was at the Khai Dinh Tomb which is famous for its fusion of Vietnamese and European architecture, intricate ceramic mosaics, and its status as the last Nguyen Dynasty tomb, built by Emperor Khai Dinh (1916-1925). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its elaborate, costly design featuring stone figures, dragon staircases, and stunning interior details. It was incredible!

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