Huế
Huế is a city in Vietnam. It is a former capital city of that country, and is well known for its monuments and architecture.
The city itself is located in the central regions of Vietnam, and is the capital city of Thua Thien-Hue province. It is built on the banks of the Perfume River. On the north side of the river is the Citadel, the centre of the historic city. Most of Hue's important monuments, temples, and pagodas are found in this area. The south side of the river is newer, and contains most of the city's business and residential areas.
Hue originally rose to prominence as the principle city of the Nguyễn family, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam. In 1802, Nguyễn-Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hue the national capital. It retained this status until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated and a Communist government was established in Hanoi, in the north. While Bao Dai was briefly proclaimed Emperor again in 1949 (although not with recognition from the Communists), his new capital was Saigon, in the south.
In the Vietnam War, Hue's central position placed it very near the border between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The city was located in the South. In the Tet Offensive, the city suffered considerable damage. After the war's conclusion, many of the historic features of Hue were neglected, being seen by the victorious Communists as a "relic of the feudal system", but there has since been a change of policy, and much of the historic city has been restored.
Hue's complex of monuments is listed among the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
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