By Thanh Bui

Hue Citadel - Vietnam

The second of Central Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites rests largely in the shade of its smaller but more dominant cousin. While Hoi An’s ancient town is a must on any travelers itinerary for Vietnam, Hue is sometimes bypassed especially by tourists on a whistle-stop tour of the country. Whilst it may not have the quaint old world charm of its near neighbor, in the citadel and the royal tombs, Hue does have two of the country’s most impressive sites. As with most good things in life, the deeper you dig the more you find there is to discover.

Protected by 10km long, two meter thick walls and the Perume Tiver, the immensity of the citadel is impressive. In front of the walls and facing the river is a 37 meter high flagpole, the tallest in Vietnam.

Like a Russian doll, the citadel consists of a city within a city. Commenced in 1804, the Imperial Enclosure was the administrative center of the dynasty. At its heart lies the Forbidden Purple City, where only the Emperor, his family, servants and trusted mandarins were allowed to set foot. Although the site suffered greatly during both the French and American Wars, a ruffled charm still engulfs the place

Hue’s other main draw is the royal tombs that spread along the banks of the Perfume River to the south of the city. Accessible either by boat or motorbike, part of the attraction opulence, reflecting the decline of the dynasty that ruled the country from 1802 to 1945.

Thien Mu Pagoda is to the south west of the city. The original pagoda was built in 1601, although it has been rebuilt many times since. It is seen by many as the symbol of Hue

Beyond the obvious sites, the massive appeal of Hue is simply wandering around the city, crammed with interesting monuments, pagodas and old buildings, often in incongruous settings. Of particular interest are the garden houses.

Designed according to the principles of Feng Shui, the houses offer a harmony between architecture and nature. The ubiquitous expanse of water makes for a very tranquil setting. Many are open to the public on an informal basis, some even offering food or accommodation. Kim Long, the area between the citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, is a good place for discovering garden houses, including the Temple of Princess Ngoc Son on Nguyen Chi Thanh street. Hue’s temple of Literature is also located nearby

Hue is also famous for its cuisine. Thanks to Emperor Tu Duc, Imperial Hue cuisine has a reputation for being some of the finest in the country. For those on a less than royal budget, the city also has some excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup “bun bo hue” and local rice cakes, “banh beo” and “banh cuon”. One thing is for sure, you will never go hungry in Hue – neither for food nor culture

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Image By Adam Hurley

A Vietnam cycling trip is one of he most exciting and adventurous experience you will ever have that is guaranteed. As you cycle through river banks, up steep mountain slopes, on the country side and in large cities, you will experience wonders that you would have not seen anywhere else in the world. It will keep you spell bounded long after you have completed the Vietnam trip and you will remember your Vietnam trip experience till the very end.

Asiana Travel Mate arranges one such Vietnam cycling trip. The people who will lead the Vietnam cycling trip are all professionals who have a lot of experience and knowledge in these areas so all your needs is taken care of. You just need strength in your legs to peddle your cycle and vision in your eyes to savor the beauty of Vietnam.

Biodiversity in Vietnam is ranked 16th in the whole world and there are 11 new species of animals and plants that are discovered here every year. On your cycling trip you are sure to experience many different kinds of wildlife and plants and trees as well. There are 126 parks that are protected for conservation and 28 official national parks that house the wildlife treasures of Vietnam and you can experience all this right from the impressive height, the saddle of your bicycle offers you.

You will also come across Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam’s two biggest cities while on the Vietnam cycling trip and here you can take a cruise on the waterways of Vietnam which are touted to be about 17,000 kms in length. The cities are also a grand display of the development that Vietnam has achieved in education and social issues. These cities are great for shopping and the usual items for sale for foreigners are embroidery, wood carvings and silk. The cuisine of Vietnam is also very unique and it can be experienced in its authentic form in these big cities. Fish sauces of different varieties like sweet, sour, spicy etc are famous here.

A cycling trip can be undertaken any time of the year and its as exciting as it can get. As diverse as Vietnam is in biodiversity, it is equally diverse in topography due to which the climates you will experience will keep changing as you go from place to place. Everyday is a new day with a new climate and that’s the best experience of the Vietnam cycling trip. From the beaches to the mountains to the waterways and the big bustling cities the Vietnam cycling trip takes you everywhere.

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