Hue (smack-dab on the middle of Vietnam) used to be home to Nguyen emperors and the national capital from 1802 to 1945.

The three walled enclosures that snug tight the Imperial City and the megalomaniac tombs of the Emperors scattered along the Perfume River are a constant reminder of the Royalty footprint of past eras.

So much, even today everyone in Vietnam seems to be called Nguyen (due to the Nguyen dynasty, the last Royal family of Vietnam, with a rule that lasted 143 years, preceding French Indochina and the Empire of Vietnam).

Hue cuisine is somewhat different from the rest of the country. It’s known for its inclination towards more vegetarian and spicy selections. Maybe due to its Royal traditions, Hue food seems to be more aesthetically pleasing when compared to other areas of Vietnam.

Most tourists come for a day and visit the Citadel, but after spending 4 (vigorously relaxing) days there, we strongly believe Hue has (more than) enough charm to make you stay as long as you wish (or as much as you can afford to spend).

As we said above, the Royal contemporary influences on everyday Hue is still very much vivid. Hue has a vast array of traditional food that simply isn’t present anywhere else in the country, and is considered by most Vietnamese the best cuisine their country has to offer. It’s also specially curious that their dishes presentation resemble the Spanish Tapas, being characteristically small, with distinct structure and presentation, and (once again) like Tapas, a usual meal set consist of many different dishes.

Bun Bo Hue

This one hits the right spot. It’s a popular Vietnamese soup vermicelli dish. And if you make it to Hue, you’ll see it being served everywhere.

Banh Beo

This “water fern cake” (it gets that denomination due to its shape) is a sort of small steamed rice pancake. You’ll probably get a dish with a couple of these small white (almost transparent) pancakes, which are covered with more ingredients that you can imagine. Try it and figure out what they are!

Oh, and since you’re in Hue, don’t forget to check out the Abandoned Water Park! It’s a must see!