Hue City is a well-known destination for local and foreign tourists thanks to its unique beauty. However, Hue seems to transform itself into a different one; it is more bustling and more colorful at night.
In addition to dropping by some must-see destinations such as Hue Royal Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda and the royal tombs of Nguyen Dynasty’s kings, tourists can stroll along the streets close to the Huong River to admire Hue’s beauty in the evening. The liveliest place that should be named is the Truong Tien Bridge area where there is a busy night market full of people checking in and out and at the same time watching the bridge’s lights changing their colors.
To Hue’s citizens, the Truong Tien Bridge on the Huong River has witnessed all the ups and downs of history and become a romantic symbol of the ancient capital. During the day, the bridge manifests varied beauties with simplicity early in the morning, hustle and bustle in the daytime, solitude at twilight and hectic at night when its colorful lights are reflected on the water. The road beneath the bridge is a busy night market where a variety of goods are sold such as foods and souvenirs.
A visit to Hue will be incomplete without taking a dragon boat ride in the Huong River at night and listening to Hue’s royal court music. A trip en route from the Truong Tien Bridge to the Phu Xuan Bridge by boat will cost only VND10,000-15,000 a person while the trip plus Hue’s music performance will cost VND50,000 a person. In the evening tourists will listen to some ladies in purple traditional ao dai singing beautifully. This is a completely different Hue.
Visitors can take a sightseeing tour by motorbike along the roads leading to the north, south, east and west gates. These roads under the shade of seasoned trees are full of street vendors and restaurants selling Hue’s signature dishes such as banh beo, banh nam, banh loc, Hue-style sweetened soup and Hue-style noodle soup. Hue represents a combination between old and new elements.