Hue — Vietnam's Serene Old Capital & the Most Beautiful Heritage Train in Southeast Asia

If you're looking for a destination that combines astonishing historical depth, unforgettable food and one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world, then central Vietnam — and Hue in particular — belongs at the very top of your list.

In my latest vlog, we sink into the quiet, poetic beauty of Hue before boarding a stunning train that runs along the coast to Da Nang. It really is a wonderful adventure from start to finish.

Catch up on Episode 1 before we explore Hue together.

For anyone planning a trip to Vietnam, here are the experiences in the old capital you absolutely shouldn't miss.

1. A Journey Into the Past: Exploring Hue's Imperial City

Our first stop brings us to the majesty of the Imperial City (Đại Nội) — once the most dazzling symbol of Nguyen-dynasty power, spanning the long arc of history from 1802 to 1945.

Simply stepping through Ngo Mon Gate, history seems to materialise before your eyes. Among lotus-scented moats stands a complex of palaces and pavilions carved with extraordinary delicacy. Far from the dry words of history books, walking the very paths once trodden by emperors feels strangely alive. The scale is so vast you could spend an entire day lost in this captivating space.

2. Thai Hoa Palace: A Symbol of Power at the Heart of the Old Capital

Just past the threshold of Ngo Mon, the heart of the royal court — Thai Hoa Palace — reveals itself in full grandeur. This is where the golden throne sat through 13 Nguyen kings, a sacred space that hosted the most important ceremonies, from coronations to solemn grand audiences.

The palace's beauty lies in the intricacy of every carved dragon on the ironwood columns lacquered in red and gilded with gold, set against the brilliant glazed-tile roof glowing in the sun. Before it stretches the vast Esplanade of Great Audiences, where it's easy to picture hundreds of mandarins bowing before their king in reverent silence. Standing amid all that imperial splendour, time seems to pause so you can take in a golden age.

3. Kien Trung Palace: Elegance and the Mark of Empress Nam Phuong

One of the moments that truly took my breath away was standing before Kien Trung Palace. After decades as a war-ravaged ruin, this exquisite palace has been reborn through restoration — more resplendent and alive than ever.

Kien Trung is a one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece, where French and Italian Renaissance styles meet Vietnamese ceramic-mosaic art in spectacular fashion. Under Hue's golden light, the palace gleams like a precious jewel.

The place carries a peculiar magnetism thanks to the story of Empress Nam Phuong — the last empress, renowned for her beauty and Western education. This was once the modern home she shared with Emperor Bao Dai, where European splendour blended with Asian refinement. Walking among the quiet windows, you can almost glimpse her graceful figure again. With its cinematic beauty and historical depth, this is an unmissable spot inside the Imperial City.

4. Original Salt Coffee at 142 Dang Thai Than

On this trip I visited the “birthplace” of the famous salt coffee at 142 Dang Thai Than. The café sits on a quiet street right beside the Imperial City, with a rustic garden setting that breathes the unhurried air of the old capital.

The coffee is brewed in the traditional phin style, topped with a fluffy layer of salted cream. The best way to drink it: wait for the coffee to finish dripping, add ice, then stir well so the salty cream balances perfectly against the bitterness of the Robusta and the richness of the condensed milk. It's an addictive experience you shouldn't miss in Hue.

5. Banh Ep Gia Di: Hue's Famous Street Snack

Coming to Hue without trying banh ep would be a real shame. In the video I drop by the well-known Banh Ep Gia Di. Tapioca dough with egg, minced pork and spring onion is pressed paper-thin, sizzling on a hot cast-iron pan. To eat, you roll the cake with a little fresh herbs, cucumber and sour papaya, then dunk it deep into a sweet-sour-and-fiery fish sauce. The chewiness of the tapioca against the richness of the filling will have you ordering a second and third plate.

6. An Dinh Palace: A Stunning Classical “Film Set”

Remember the lavish backdrop of the film “Gai Gia Lam Chieu”? That's An Dinh Palace. Once home to Emperor Khai Dinh and later the family of Emperor Bao Dai, the building blends European Neoclassicism with traditional courtly motifs. The space is nostalgic, romantic and intensely cinematic — almost any angle here yields a beautifully vintage frame.

7. Minh Mang Tomb: A Masterpiece in Harmony With Nature

If Khai Dinh's tomb is daring in its materials, Minh Mang's is the pinnacle of balance and symmetry in Nguyen architecture. Set amid a quiet pine forest with deep-green lakes, the mausoleum exudes a stately dignity while remaining wholly at one with nature. Strolling across the stone bridges and breathing the clear air here brings a profound sense of peace.

8. Com Hen Hoa Dong: The Essence of Humble Hue Cooking

Having made the trip out to Con Hen (Vy Da), you simply must stop at Com Hen Hoa Dong — an eatery decades in the making. A proper bowl of Hue com hen is a blend of countless ingredients: savoury stir-fried baby clams, crispy pork crackling, roasted peanuts, banana blossom, taro stem, and crucially the fermented shrimp paste and pungent chilli oil. Mix it all together and sip a little of the sweet, clear clam broth. Even as it makes you sweat from the heat, that rustic flavour stays with you.

9. Vy Da Xua: Stillness Over a Cup of Royal Tea

After a long day on the move, nothing beats retreating to Vy Da Xua to slow down. Set within an old timber rường house, with a courtyard full of greenery and birdsong, the place is steeped in Hue's poetry.

Sipping a cup of fragrant herbal royal tea and nibbling a little gently spiced candied ginger, you feel the full measure of the old capital's calm, gracious, unhurried rhythm.

10. The Heritage Train: A Legendary Railway From Hue to Da Nang

To close out the journey in the old capital, nothing beats taking the “Central Heritage Connection” train to Da Nang. Instead of the quick but monotonous road tunnel, the Heritage Train offers a completely different perspective — celebrated as one of the most beautiful and rewarding rail journeys in Southeast Asia.

The most precious highlight comes as the train winds over the Hai Van Pass — known as “the grandest frontier under heaven.” From the carriage window you take in a spectacular meeting of opposites: on one side, sheer cliffs and primeval green forest; on the other, the turquoise Lang Co Bay and crystal sea stretching to the horizon.

Beyond the scenery, the carriage itself is designed for travellers to soak up the breath of the sea. Sitting by the window, letting the sea breeze run through your hair as waves lap gently at the foot of the cliffs, is a serenity hard to put into words. This isn't merely a trip — it's a slow-motion film of Vietnam's majestic natural beauty.