Spread regally along the banks of the Perfume River, Hue is the destination to get to grips with Vietnam’s imperial past. A vibrant and cultured city, it is here that Vietnam’s turbulent recent history and bright future truly collide. Seat of emperors from 1802 until 1945 when the country split in two, Hue found itself right in the heart of the war, close to the frontier between the north and south, with many of its old buildings pummelled and shattered by both sides.

UNESCO World Heritage-listed today the scars of war remain prominent amongst the grandeur of the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City, whilst out of the edge of the city, along the river, the tombs of bygone rulers sit amongst great natural beauty, making Hue a wonderful combination of history and beauty.