Hue was Vietnam's capital from 1802 to 1945, during the rule of the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue is no longer a politically or economically influential city, but it has remained the major cultural and artistic centre of the country. Hue's imperial citadel used to be comparable to Beijing's forbidden city, but most of it was destroyed during the bloody fighting which followed the Tet offensive in 1968. An increasing number of buildings are being restored. The imperial tombs south of the city are well preserved, since no fighting took place there. Each of them is a large complex with a different character. Their visit can be combined with a cruise along the nonchalant Perfume river on a typical dragon boat. On the way, you pass the Thien Mu pagoda, of which the octagonal tower is one of the most famous buildings of the country. The complex of Hue monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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