Writing in a French travel magazine, journalist Emmanuel Boutanm was surprised when the mausoleum and cemetery in Hue were romantic and not deadly.
Emmanuel Boutanm, a writer for the French travel magazine Vacance, praised Hue, describing it as a place of timeless and timeless beauty.
In his eyes as a foreign guest, Hue is a romantic place that "lyricizes" even death. For example, the Vietnamese do not want to feel death, so tombs are often decorated vividly. Tomb of King Tu Duc has a more romantic look than the gloom of a mausoleum. Khai Dinh Tomb stands out with its blend of Vietnamese and Western architecture. Gia Long Tomb is said to have the most beautiful feng shui location among the royal tombs, stretching along the hillside. His family members are also buried here, especially because he allows his wife - Thua Thien Cao Empress to be buried next to him, which is against the rules.
Khai Dinh Tomb is poetic when viewed from above. Photo: anhtai.bber
The best way to visit these mausoleums is to sit on a dragon boat to experience the ancient royal atmosphere, both traveling the Perfume River and having the opportunity to visit Thien Mu or Tu Dam Pagoda, both of which are popular spots. famous in Hue. A unique place that tourists rarely mention is An Bang cemetery, which Emmanuel likened to "the city of the dead" because of its luxury and magnificence.
But also in Hue, Ho Thuy Tien water park has a different beauty, somewhat "dead and horror". Opened in 2004, the park closed because of few visitors. This is a famous place with Western tourists thanks to the desolation of an abandoned place. Plants grow wild everywhere, interspersed with ruined buildings.
Emmanuel Boutanm gives many compliments about Hue Citadel. He describes the building as having a sophisticated design. The citadel was built on a bend of the Perfume River, located on the left bank where streams and canals converge. The flexibility is shown through the curves, straight lines, and angles of each architectural detail, which he considers to be true royal luxury.
Vancance's writer is also passionate about Hue cuisine. He believes that the dishes in Hue are processed quintessentially, inheriting the heritage of the ancient royal court. "Hue is famous for royal cuisine, where the king is not satisfied with sloppy and duplicated dishes. Therefore, the chefs in the palace must prepare fresh and varied meals, and decorate them with decorations. must be beautiful and artistic. Some of Hue's vegetable dishes are no different from spectacular sculptures," he said.
Woman in Dong Ba market. Photo: Bernd Jonkmanns/Laif-Rea
Today, luxury dishes such as bird's nest, bear's feet, bird's nest soup are no longer made, but recipes can be applied and handed down to popular street foods such as spring rolls. , cake beo, filter cake, tea... All are delicious dishes.
If visitors want to discover more about cuisine and cooking ingredients in Hue, Emmanuel Boutan suggests Dong Ba market as the ideal destination. "The amount of goods sold here makes Europeans overwhelmed. They seem to be lost here. The fish stalls alone are 'a small market in a big market', bustling since 3 am when the boats hit the market. night fish docked for delivery".
In addition to the royal imprints, you can also rent bicycles to go to the suburbs. Thuy Bieu village with picturesque Thanh Tra gardens or Thanh Toan tiled bridge hundreds of years old. Hue also has a variety of experiences when there is a beautiful Thuan An beach with golden sand, where people often flock to swim.
The contradictory beauty is also reflected in the Western architectural works located next to the vestiges of the ancient citadel. Those are Truong Tien Bridge, Quoc Hoc Hue School, Hue Railway Station...
