About Hue City, Vietnam

1. Hue location

Located in central Vietnam, Hue City is the capital of Thua Thien Hue - a coastal province which shares borders with Quang Tri Province to the north, Quang Nam Province and Da Nang to the south, Laos to the west and the East Sea to the east. The province has an 80 kilometer-long Perfume River, a 128 kilometer-long coastline, and over 200,000 hectares of forest. 

As one of the leading central provinces, Thua Thien Hue affords a convenient transportation system with Phu Bai International Airport, Thuan An Port, Highway 1A, and the trans-Vietnam train.

2. History of Hue Vietnam

Hue originally belonged to a prefecture of the Champa Kingdom before the occupation of the Vietnamese. Hue, Vietnam had started its long history as a feudal capital since when it was ruled by the nine Nguyen lords of Inner Realm (Central and Southern Vietnam) from 1687 to 1775. Subsequently, the Tay Son brothers conquered Hue and it remained the administrative capital from 1788 to 1801. After the fall of the Tay Son Dynasty, Emperor Gia Long (Nguyen Anh), a successor of the Nguyen lords, recaptured Hue Imperial capital and unified the Vietnamese monarchy, which paved the way for the reign of the thirteen emperors of the Nguyen dynasty - the last dynasty in Vietnam from 1802 to 1945.

In the 1880s, Hue remained the Imperial Palace of the French protectorate (Annam) established over Central Vietnam. This is why the intriguing architecture in Hue represents strong French influences. Eventually, Hue’s royal glory ended after the last Nguyen King - Bao Dai - abdicated in 1945. 

During the Vietnam War, notably the “Battle of Hue” - a part of the Tết Offensive in 1968, Hue endured considerable damage due to its proximity to the border that separates the South and the North. Afterward, massive reconstruction and rehabilitation had been undertaken to restore the precious historic relics in the ancient capital. 

3. Hue's weather - The best time to visit Hue

Hue's weather features a tropical monsoon climate with 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. You can plan your trip considering each season's characteristics.

Mid-January ~ April: The average temperature during spring is around 22°C~25°C. It is dry and less humid from February to April, making this period the most pleasant time of the year to enjoy outdoor activities. Annually, Hue welcomes ever-increasing holidaymakers during the Lunar New Year (January or February) and the Hue Festival (April) - a significant cultural event celebrated every two years to honor the traditional and historical values of the city.

May ~ August: In the summertime in Hue city, the temperatures average 30°C~38°C. During the dry season with high humidity, indoor activities are favorable, such as visiting temples, museums, and traditional markets.

Mid-August ~ September: The temperatures drop to around 18°C~20°C, and rains start falling in autumn. This rainy season is preferable for travelers who want to avoid the crowd in peak seasons.

October ~ December: Flood and rainfall tend to occur frequently at the end of the year. This flood season is not the best time to visit Hue.