Hue Travel Attractions

Travel Guides in Hue
Area: 5,063.3 sq. km

Population: 1,143.5 thousand habitants (2006)

Ethnic groups : Viet (Kinh), Ta Oi, Co Tu, Bru Van Kieu, Hoa.

Capital: Hue City

Districts: Phong Dien, Quang Dien, Huong Tra, Phu Vang, Huong Thuy, Phu Loc, Nam Dong, A Luoi.
Geography
Thua Thien-Hue Province is located in Central Vietnam. It is next to Quang Tri Province to the north, Da Nang to the south, and Quang Nam Province to the south-west. This province leans up against the Truong Son mountain range and is washed by the East Sea, along its 120km seashore.
Climate: The weather is submitted to tropical monsoon climate divided into four distinct seasons: fresh spring, very hot summer, mild autumn and windy, cold winter. The dry season lasts from March to August. It is hot with temperate rarely reaches to 39.5ºC. The rainy season lasts from September to February. It is quite cold with average temperature is 19.7ºC, but sometime down to 8.8ºC. In this time, it rains a lost, sometime lasts all day. If tourist would to avoid rainy, they come to Da Nang City, 108km from south of Hue. In the mountain area, the weather is cool with the annual temperature is between 9ºC and 29ºC. The most convenient time to visit the area is from November to April.
Tourism
Thua Thien-Hue offers very diversified and beautiful landscapes. Nature and human beings create a harmoniously beauty with Bach Ma (White Horse) National Park and other attractive beaches such as Thuan An, Lang Co and Canh Duong.

The province provides a well-balanced blend of royal heritage and folk culture. As a matter of fact, tourists discover dozens of handicraft villages, with annual festivals that are painstakingly organized.

Hue is also an important center of Buddhism. In Hue and its surrounding still exist tens of pagodas constructed more 300 years ago, and hundred of temples and pagodas built in the early 20th century.

Besides, tourist is able to enjoy many traditional famous dishes and find out about sophisticated handicraft here.

Hue Citadel has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO since December 1993, Hue Royal Musical (Nha nhac) has been declared as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage since November 2003.
Festivals
Thai Duong Festival

Time: 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.

Location: Thai Duong Village, Thuan An Commune, Phu Vang District, Thua Thien Hue Province.

Objects of worship: Goddess Thai Duong (miraculous mystical stone).

Activities: Procession of the Goddess to Thai Duong Shrine for making sacrifice gian.
Co Bi Village Festival

Time: 23rd day of the fifth lunar month

Location: Co Bi Village, Phong Son Commune, Phong Dien District, Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Objects of worship: God of the opening rice paddies.

Activities: Procession of worship-conferring diploma from Dinh Shrine to the communal house, chess playing, cock fighting.

Chi Long Village Festival

Time: 12th to the 13th day of the sixth lunar month. The main festival day on the 13th day of the sixth lunar month.

Location: Phong Chuong Commune, Phong Dien District, Thua Thien Hue Province.

Objects of worship: Lady Dai Cang (in the 15th century), who had merit of escorting 4 heads of clan (Le, Nguyen, Vo, Tran) reclaimed wasteland and set up the village.

Activities: Ky phuoc ceremony, procession of heads of clan's votive tablets, túc yêt ceremony (includes: reading funeral oration, bong dancing, incense offering). The offerings include the whole pig and ox. After worshipping, some offerings are put on paper boat and floated on river. The custom of avoiding going to the forest and no fire from morning to evening.
Phu Xuan Communal House Festival

Time: 5th to the 6th day of the sixth lunar month

Location: Thai Phien Street, Tay Loc Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province.

Objects of worship: The genies of founding the village.

Activities: Tam sinh sacrifice (use three animals: ox, pig, and goat as offerings to sacrifice to the god).
An Truyen Festival

Time: 16th day of the seventh lunar month.

Location: Phu Vang District, Thua Thien – Hue Province.

Objects of worship: God of opening rice paddies Ho Quang Lanh and families Nguyen, Huynh, Doan.

Activities: Procession of god, chess playing, cock fighting.
Minh Huong Festival

Time: From the 14th to the 16th day of the seventh lunar month.

Location:Minh Huong Village, Dien Hai Commune, Phong Dien District, Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Objects of worship: God of the opening rice paddies.

Activities: Procession of god, boat racing, great worshipping is held in once every 3-year.
Transportation
Transportation by train, road, air and water routes is very convenient.

Road: Thua Thien-Hue Province is 654km from Hanoi, 1,051km from Ho Chi Minh City, 85km from Da Nang. The province has the National Highway 14 that links Hue with Central Highlands. It is also on the National Highway 1A that connects Hanoi and Ca Mau.

Train: The Thong Nhat Express trains from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh stop at Hue Railway station. The local trains come to some other provinces.

Air: Phu Bai Airport serves flights: Hue – Ho Chi Minh City and Hue – Hanoi.