It has been quite some time since Hue had such a gorgeous fall. Unlike the fierce heat of summer or the bleak, rainy days of winter, the cool, refreshing air of fall makes people compare the former imperial capital with a tender and elegant young woman, just out of her teenage years. In the morning, when the sun clears the horizon, the air is a touch chilly and the streets covered by a thin layer of mist, like a ribbon of silk floating along the Perfume (Huong) River and over Trang Tien Bridge. Such scenes encourage local people and visitors alike to stop for a moment just to take it all in.
Golden sunlight pours through trees on the riverbank. Travelers walk gently, as if they don’t wish to disturb the fallen leaves. The sound of pagoda bells in the old capital ring out, barely intruding on the peace and tranquility and creating an air of contentment.
Towards Tam Giang Lagoon, the primeval Ru Cha mangrove forest appears like a garden in a fairytale colored in gold and yellow. A small bamboo sampan sways gently as it navigates the rippling water, adding a dash of romanticism and touching the soul.
If you have the time, it’s well worth wandering around Hue’s old citadel, whose tree-lined streets are shaded by canopies and often mentioned in the works of famed Vietnamese songwriter Trinh Cong Son. Take a break, sip on a cup of coffee, gaze at the ancient citadel, and admire women passing by in their traditional “ao dai”, all the while appreciating that Hue has a unique cultural heritage not found elsewhere.
