Bach Ma national park (Bach Ma mountain) 

Bach Ma national park

The park is about 60km south of Hue city and 1,450m above sea level. Like Sapa and Tam Dao in the north, and Da Lat in the central Highlands, Bach Ma has a cool climate for overheated travelers. Along with a broad palette of fauna and flora, Bach Ma is also famous for its springs and many spectacular waterfalls. 16km down the Cau Hai-Bach Ma highway, there is a small, half-hour footpath to the 400m-high and 20m-widde Do Quyen waterfall, which appears suddenly as though hung in the sky. In the summer, red flowers blossom along both sides of the waterfall, and visitors can also enjoy Bac (Silver) waterfall, which is 10m high and 40m wide, which has been compared to an enormous white curtain swaying in the wind. Standing on the top of the Bach Ma moutain pass, Tuy Van mountain, Cau Hai lagoon, and Hue city, which by night sparkles down below the mountain.

Lang Co peninsula 

Lang Co peninsula

The Lang Co peninsula is green year-round with long rows of coconut trees that make the peninsula one of the Vietnam’s most beautiful landscapes. One side of the peninsula flanks a lake, while the other side offers a white-sand beach in the shadows of the famous Hai Van moutain (or Hai Van Quan). The sea along Lang Co is home to coral, lobster, and variety of high-value seafood, while many wild animals and plants can be seen on the neighboring Son Tra island. Visitors to the area can enjoy swimming, diving, mountain climbing, fishing, and discovering local wild life along the yawning Lap An lagoon and towering Bach Ma mountain range.

Thien An Hills-Thuy Tien lake 

Thien An Hill

Thien An is 4km southwest of Hue city and 18km from the Phu Bai airport. The pine-covered hills in Thien An offer fresh air and a quietness for city-weary travelers. In the middle of the hills lies Thuy Tien lake, which in autumn is very clear, reflecting the pine trees wreathing the lake. Close to the royal tomb area and famous landscape of Hue city, Thien An and Thuy Tien area a relaxing weekend get away.

A Luoi-Ho Chi Minh trail 

 

A Luoi-Ho Chi Minh trail

Ideal for tourists interested in learning about the Vietnamese people’s resistance war against the Americans and understanding ethnic minorities living in the trail area. Nestled in the Truong Son mountain range, A Luoi is about 70km south of Hue city along national highway 49 and home to Pa Co and Ta Oi minority groups, which have preserved traditional a legend in Vietnam for transporting materials south during the war with America.

Tam Giang- Cau Hai lagoon sysytem 

Tam Giang lagoon

Consisting of Tam Giang, Sam, Truoi, Thuy Tu, Ha Trung, Cau Hai and other lagoons, Tam Giang-Cau Hai is one of the world’s largest coartal lagoon systems, streching 68km and covering almost 22,000ha. The widest area is 14km wide, and the narrowest area is 0.6km. The total water surface area is 216sq.km, accouting for 43 percent of the total area of Thua Thien Hue city province, and almost 50 percent of the total area of lagoons in Vietnam (480.5sq.km)

The Tam Giang-Cau Hai coastal lagoon system was  formed more than 2,000 years ago and is ideal for visitors interested in water sports, boating along a river to the lagoons and sea, as well as home to continued scientific research.

My An mineral water resort 

My An mineral water resort

The healing waters rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are just what the doctor ordered for visitors with backaches, arthritis, heart diseases, constipation, high blood pressure or stress. My An village (Phu Duong commune, Phu Vang district), is a short 6km east of Hue city, 7km from the Thuan An beach, and 20km from the Phu Bai airport.

Thanh Tan mineral spring 

Thanh Tan mineral spring

Thanh Tan mineral spring

Thanh Tan hot spring is located in a hill area near the Truong Son mountain range in northwest Phong Son commune, Phong Dien district, 30km from Hue city and about 12km away national highway 1A.

Nhi Ho waterfall 

Nhi Ho waterfall

43km south of Hue city, visitors hike 300m from the parking area to the Nhi Ho waterfall where water falls into two large pools. Construction of a one-hectare man-made lake surrounded by orchards is underway, which will offer fishing and rowing once finished.

Voi (Elephants) spring 

Voi (Elephants) spring

About 20km south of the Nhi Ho waterfall, Voi Spring spans several kilometers and its jumble of large and small rocks along each other side are said to resemble thousands of flying elephants. Four places along the spring – Da Bang, Vung Voi, Vung Du and Chuot Mao are ideal for swimming or just splashing around in the water of Voi spring was the first place of its kind discovered in Phu Loc district. Every summer, between 5,000-10,000 visitors flock to the popular spring.

Vong Canh hill 

Vong Canh hill

The hill rises up from the Perfume river, about 600m from the Tu Duc and Dong Khanh royal tombs and almost 7km away the central Hue city. Although not as famous as Ngu Binh mountain, Vong Canh it also offers a panorama view of Hue city.

Huong (Perfume) river 

Huong river

The picturesque river has a total length of 30km – runing from the Bang Lang Crossroad to the Thuan An Estuary – and a with of 300-400m, with a total area of 300sq.km of  water. Joining in Bang Lang to from the Perfume rivers start high in the Truong Son mountain range, eventually running through Hue city and dividing it along the northern and southern banks.

The river passes many local sights, such as Tuan landing, Hon Chen temple, Thien Mu pagoda, Phu Xuan bridge, Truong Tien bridge, Hen dune, and Sinh crossroad. It then joins the Bo river and snakes to Tam Giang lagoon. The clean, calm river is a major source of water for Hue city and a classical symbol of the city’s spirit.

The river has become a popular venue for tourist eager to listen songs of Hue city performed live shipboard, to visit relic sites around the city, or to fly kites above the river.

Ngu Binh mountain 

Ngu Binh mountain

Another gift of nature to Hue city, the Ngu mountain is also a symbol of Hue city. Ngu Binh is 105m high and has a large, flat top. The mountain is overshadows two smaller hills named Ta Bat Son (meaning “mountain on the left”) and Huu Bat Son (“mountain on the right”).

When the weather is nice, Ngu Binh mountain offers a perfect overview of Hue city’s magnificent palaces, ancient pagodas and churches, the winding Perfume river, and green pine-covered hills. Past this lies a vast plain in the districts of Huong Thuy, Phu Vang, and Huong Tra, and the majestic Truong Son mountain range, which appear and disappear behind silver clouds. To the east, visitors can the see misty white sand banks on the Thuan An beach.

Tu Dam pagoda 

Tu Dam pagoda

Tu Dam is situated at the conner of Dien Bien Phu street in Hue city, founded by superior buddhist monk Minh Hoang Tu Dung in 1695 under the name An Ton. In 1941, king Thieu Tri renamed the pagoda Tu Dam.

Tu Dam pagoda has played a major role in the development of the Vietnamese buddhism, and in 1945, it was a base for buddhist. From 1960-1963, a southern buddhist movement originated in Tu Dam pagoda to protest Ngo Dinh Nhiem and his autocracy.

Thien Mu pagoda 

Thien Mu pagoda

Situated along Perfume river in Huong Long commune, Hue city, the pagoda is part of the ancient capital complex, which has been reconized as a world cutural heritage site. The pagoda was rebuilt 1601 and improved in subsequent years. All project in the pagoda area stand on rectangle hill, surrounded by a stone wall. Apart from Dai Hung temple, the central bulding, thera are many valuable projects in the pagoda area, including the Phuoc Duyen (Tu Nhan) tower, Huong Nguyen communal house, and the bronze bell weighing 2,052 kg and cast in 1710.

Tu Hieu pagoda 

Tu Hieu pagoda

Tu Hieu pagoda is 5 km southwest, of Hue city and was founded in 1843 by superior Buddhist monk Nhat Dinh. Initially, it was small and named An Duong. In 1848, the eunuchs of the Nguyen dynasty asked the king to provide funds and his own property rebuilt and enlarge the pagoda, with the hope to be worshipped at the pagoda after thier deaths. This explains small tomb area for eunuchs under Nguyen dynasty, with altars honoring these eunuchs, including Le Van Duyet, a meritorious offical Gia Long King, in back section of the pagoda.

Phu Cam cathedral 

Phu Cam cathedral

Largely completed in 1905, the cathedral follwed modern architectural style designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu.

The Messiah church 

The Messiah church

The church situated at the end of Nguyen Hue city street in Hue city, built between 1937 and 1942. The church has wide doors, a tiled roof and four bells in the steeple, which are electronically controlled. The church is an intersting mix oriental and occidental architecture.

Hue city branch of the Ho Chi Minh city museum 

Locate at 7 Le Loi street, Hue city, and showcasing a number of realia and picture of Ho Chi Minh, particularly those taken during his stay in Hue city. Visitor to the museum can better understand President Ho Chi Minh’s life and achievements, as well as the love and respect of resident of Hue city for Vietnam guiding light.

Quoc Hoc (National culture) school 

Quoc Hoc school

The school was established in compliance with king Thanh Thai’s decree date September 17th, 1896, and the governor – general of Indochina’s  decree date November 18th, 1896. The school’s student were children of royal families and mandarins, as well as former students of Thanh Nhon and Quoc Tu Giam schools. In 1915, the school was rebuilt, when thatched houses were replaced with two rows of brick, tile-roofed house following the western European architectural style, which has been maintained until today. When he was young, President Ho Chi Minh studied at the school and joined in patriotic activities, along with many other high ranking leaders, including Tran Phu, Nguyen Chi Dieu, Le Duan, Vo Nguyen Giap, Le Duan, Pham Van Dong, and To Huu. Throughout Vietnam’s historic ups and downs, the school’s brilliant teachers and students have contributed significantly to national education.

Truong Tien bridge 

Truong Tien bridge

According to the book entitled, “Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi” (History of Unification of Great Viet Nam ) written by Nguyen dynasty’s national historiographer’s office, the contruction of Truong Tien brigde began in the southeastern part of the imperial capital in 1897 and was completed in 1899 under the ninth Thanh Thai dynasty. It consisted of the 1897 and was completed in 1899 under the ninth Thanh Thai dynasty. It consisted of 6 spans with total length of about 400m. In August 1904, a thunderstorm in central Vietnam destroyed four spans of the bridge. Its was repaired in 1906 and was upgraded many times since then. The Truong Tien brigde crossing the Perfume river in a symbol of Hue city.

Thanh Toan title-roofed brigde 

Thanh Toan title-roofed brigde

It was originally made of timber in 1776 using funds of Ms. Tran Hung Dao, the wife of a high-ranking official under Le Hien Ton dynasty. The brigde crosses a canal that runs through Thanh Toan village, Thuy Thanh commune and Huong Thuy district. The brigde is 17m long, 4m wide, and there are wood benches on the two sides of the brigde is roofed with enamel tiles and divided into seven sections. Thanh Toan is unique architectural project with high historical and cutural value, renovated and recognized as a national relic site in 1991.

Hue garden house 

Hue garden house

Hue garden house is the cultural destination that tourists should not miss visiting upon thier arrival in Hue.

A garden housr normally covers an area of 800-5,000 square meters. Garden houses in Hue feature a common style of architecture characterized by an airy and nice precint. Going through the emtrance gate, tourists can see binh phong (masonry screen), a rock-garden, apond, kneeling dragons and tigers, a garden of ornamental trees... Normally, each garden house hosts scores of species of ornamental trees proves to be a meticulous collection and is skillfully cared for by its owner. In each precinct of the garden house exist a few typical houses patterned after nha ruong (Hue ancient architectural housr there are made with a timber frame and covered with tiles). Entering the house, tourists can feel a solemn and ancient atmosphrer that is quite different from ordinary life. Each garden house has its own name, conveys a special meaning and has a close attachment to its owner’s deep soul, elegant life and art passion. Hue garden house is one of the distinctive cultural traits that contribute to highlighting the beauty of Hue city, a UNESCO recognized world cultural heritage. Some well-known garden houses in Hue can be listed such as Lac Tinh Vien (65 Phan Dinh Phung street), princess Ngoc Son (Nguyen Chi Thanh street, Phu Cat ward), Tinh Gia Vien (20/3 Le Thanh Ton street), Y Thao (3 Thach Han street), An Hien (Kim Long), Ty Ba Trang (52 Ong Ich Khiem street)...