Hue is quietly captivating in the eyes of international tourists.

In the eyes of international tourists, Hue is a quiet yet rich destination – a place that harmoniously blends history, cuisine, and urban life.

In Southeast Asia, names like Bangkok, Bali, and Siem Reap have long been considered tourist "meccas," with a high density of check-in spots, entertainment services, and an overwhelming number of international visitors. Meanwhile, Hue, once the political, cultural, and religious center of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty, seems to lag behind in this global race. But this very characteristic creates a unique appeal: a destination that is not noisy but profound, not ostentatious but unique.

A glimpse of Hue in the early days of 2026.

"I find Hue similar to Ho Chi Minh City, but less noisy. There are still bars and restaurants, but it's not overwhelming with sounds and lights," shared Troy Nankervis, a tourist from Sydney, about his nights wandering through the Old Quarter. For Troy, Hue is a fascinating blend: ancient enough to evoke history, yet vibrant enough to avoid being boring.

Roo Wanders, a tourist from Singapore, was impressed by Hue's tranquil yet elegant atmosphere. "I felt like I was transported back in time when I entered the Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, or the royal tombs," she said. During her two-day trip, Roo took a boat trip on the Perfume River, strolled through Dong Ba Market, and enjoyed three meals of Hue beef noodle soup – a dish she described as intensely flavorful, spicy, and profound.

The common thread in the comments from these two tourists is the balance in Hue's pace of life – not too fast, not too slow, making exploration more relaxing compared to overcrowded destinations like Hoi An or Sa Pa during peak season.

A foreign female tourist watches children playing at Ben Me, located in Phu Xuan Park, Hue.

Dustin Kemp, a Dutch writer for Indie Traveller, believes Hue is a rare place where "history is not just for seeing, but for feeling." According to him, strolling along the Perfume River, taking a boat ride at sunset, or cycling through the ancient villages surrounding the city gives visitors the feeling of stepping through different periods of time.

"The concept of 'romance' in Hue comes from a multi-layered experience: serene landscapes, majestic architecture, distinctive cuisine, and gentle people," Kemp wrote in a recent blog post. He considers the Perfume River one of the best-preserved rivers in Asian cities – a rare occurrence in the context of rapid urbanization.

Unlike coastal or highland cities that focus on scenic experiences, Hue is a place where tourism experiences are closely intertwined with traditional culture and cuisine. From royal dishes transformed into street food like banh beo and banh loc, to cafes nestled in ancient traditional houses where visitors can enjoy a cup of salted coffee and listen to Hue folk songs in the late afternoon – everything is distinctly local. Roo recounts the unexpected moment when he stepped into a small cafe and experienced the unique, salty-sweet blend of salted coffee.

The beauty of the Perfume River and Truong Tien Bridge at sunset.

Troy acknowledges that Bali and Thailand are more widely known, but he believes Vietnam – with Hue as a prime example – is competing in its own way, showcasing unique values ​​from culture and flavor to history. In the context of booming Asian tourism and increasingly fierce competition, Hue is seeking its own path to leave a lasting impression on international visitors.

Being recognized as a centrally-governed city and hosting the National Tourism Year 2025 presents a golden opportunity for Hue to step into the spotlight in a new role: a heritage city capable of hosting large-scale tourism and sports events.

In early April, the VnExpress Marathon Hue 2026 will attract 12,000 athletes and tens of thousands of family and friends to the city. This is not just a sporting event, but an opportunity for Hue to demonstrate its capacity to welcome new types of tourists – dynamic, athletic, and valuing local experiences. The fusion of historical landscapes and modern running is opening a new path: tourism combined with sports and experiences, where each runner's step is a journey through the cultural facets of the ancient capital.

For those seeking an experience slow enough to savor, deep enough to remember, and unique enough to tell a story about, Hue is the place. In the eyes of international visitors, Hue is not a "golden city of the past," but a destination reviving in its own way – tranquil yet enduring.