EATING THE BEST BUN BO HUE IN VIETNAM! 🇻🇳

Summary

In this vibrant travelogue, Mike and Ashley embark on a whirlwind 24-hour adventure in Huế, Vietnam, the ancient capital. They indulge in the local cuisine at Maison Trang, explore the UNESCO World Heritage site, and navigate the bustling Walking Street. Amidst the city's rich history and stunning architecture, they share their experiences with traditional music and modern-day conveniences, highlighting the importance of online security with NordVPN during their travels.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The ancient capital city of Huế is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a rich history and cultural significance.
• 🍜 Mike and Ashley enjoyed highly recommended Vietnamese cuisine at Maison Trang, including bún bò Huế and bún thịt nướng.
• 🚶‍♂️ They explored the city's night life by visiting the Walking Street, experiencing the modern culture of Huế.
• ☕ They had an exceptional iced coffee experience at Crew Feel Coffee, which became Mike's favorite coffee in Vietnam.
• 🛡️ The couple emphasized the importance of online security while traveling, using NordVPN to protect their data and access streaming sites.
• 🏰 The Imperial City inside the Citadel of Huế is a major attraction, featuring the Meridian Gate and various historical structures.
• 🎭 The Duyet Thi Duong Royal Theater offers a glimpse into the traditional performances and cultural activities of the past.
• 🌳 The well-preserved gardens and natural elements within the Imperial City highlight the harmony between nature and architecture.
• 📸 The scale model of the city in its prime provides a visual representation of the grandeur of the Imperial City.
• 🍴 Mike and Ashley's visit to Huế included trying local delicacies like fish ice creams and taro-flavored drinks.
• 🌄 The overall experience in Huế was memorable, with the city ranking high on their list of favorite destinations in Vietnam.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to document Mike and Ashley's 24-hour visit to Huế, the ancient capital city of Vietnam, showcasing their experiences with local food, culture, and historical sites.

Which VPN service does the video promote?

The video promotes NordVPN, a virtual private network service that provides online security and privacy.

What is the significance of the restaurant Maison Trang?

Maison Trang is a restaurant highly recommended by a friend of Mike and Ashley, known for its fantastic Vietnamese food.

What traditional Vietnamese dish did Mike and Ashley try at Maison Trang?

Mike and Ashley tried bún bò Huế, a traditional Vietnamese dish, at Maison Trang.

How did Mike and Ashley describe their dining experience at Maison Trang?

They described their dining experience at Maison Trang as incredible, feeling like they were in the home of the owners, and considered it one of the best meals they had in Vietnam.

What historical site did Mike and Ashley visit in Huế?

Mike and Ashley visited the Imperial City, which is part of the Citadel of Huế, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What did Mike and Ashley do after their visit to the Imperial City?

After their visit to the Imperial City, Mike and Ashley went to a coffee shop called Crew Feel Coffee across the bridge on the Perfume River.

What is the significance of the Meridian Gate in the Citadel of Huế?

The Meridian Gate is the main and southern entrance to the Imperial City inside the Citadel of Huế. It was built in 1833 by Emperor Minh Mạng in a traditional Nguyễn style and was modeled after the original Meridian Gate in Beijing, China.

What did Mike and Ashley think about the scale model of the city in its prime?

Mike and Ashley found the scale model of the city in its prime to be very well done and appreciated how it gave them a perspective on what the city used to look like, with many of the major buildings still standing.

What was Ashley's reaction to the idea of paying to dress up and sit on a throne?

Ashley found the idea interesting but decided to skip it for that day, as she was more focused on finding a restroom and continuing their exploration.

How did Mike and Ashley feel about their overall experience in Huế?

Mike and Ashley felt that their 24 hours in Huế was one of the highlights of their adventures in Vietnam, with delicious food, impressive archaeological sites, and a rich cultural experience.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ Exploring Huế's Culinary Delights and Nightlife

The paragraph begins with the travelers arriving in Huế, the ancient capital of Vietnam, with a 24-hour itinerary to explore this UNESCO world heritage site. They start their journey with a visit to Maison Trang, a highly recommended restaurant, where they enjoy traditional Vietnamese dishes like bún bò Huế and bún thịt nướng. The travelers also discuss the local's reaction to proper pronunciation of Vietnamese dishes. After a satisfying meal, they take a stroll down the Walking Street, interacting with street dogs and anticipating the exploration of the city's ancient culture the following day.

05:00

☕️ Morning Coffee and Visiting the Citadel

The travelers begin their day with a visit to Crew Feel Coffee, where they enjoy a unique iced coffee experience. They discuss the importance of using NordVPN for online security while traveling, highlighting its ability to protect data and access streaming sites. After their coffee break, they head to the Citadel, passing by the Perfume River and the historic cannons. They purchase tickets to enter the Imperial City, costing 400,000 dong, and express their excitement to explore the historical site.

10:05

🏰 Wandering the Imperial City and its Gardens

The travelers explore the ruins of Thái Hòa Palace, currently under reconstruction, and encounter bunnies during their walk. They take a ride on a funicular, enjoy fish ice creams and milk tea, and admire the ancient walls covered in moss and lichen. They also visit the Thai Binh Reading Pavilion, known for its beautiful landscaping and pottery mosaics, and feed koi fish in a garden area. The paragraph ends with them exploring the Duyet Thi Duong Royal Theater, a cultural site with historical instruments and costumes on display.

15:08

🎭 Discovering the Royal Theater and its History

The travelers delve into the history of the Duyet Thi Duong Royal Theater, where the emperor and his family used to enjoy traditional performances and banquets. They explore the exhibits showcasing old instruments, preserved costumes, and historical pictures providing a glimpse into the past. They learn about the daily performances and sound checks, and although they would have liked to watch a performance, their schedule does not permit. They also come across a photo opportunity where visitors can dress up as royalty, but they decide to skip it.

20:11

🏛️ Reflecting on the Imperial City's Grandeur

The travelers continue to explore the Imperial City, admiring the scale model of the city in its prime and discussing the challenges of maintaining such historical sites. They encounter a garden with a unique water feature and reflect on the city's transformation over time. Despite the heat and their hunger, they are captivated by the beauty and tranquility of the place. They also discover the entrance to the Queen Mother's living quarters, which once included a Buddhist temple, a storehouse, and a pleasure pavilion.

25:11

👑 Experiencing Huế's Rich History and Planning the Next Adventure

The travelers conclude their 24-hour visit to Huế by reflecting on their experiences, from the delicious local cuisine to the impressive archaeological sites. They rank Huế as one of their top destinations in Vietnam and recommend it as a must-visit for any traveler. As they prepare to leave for Hanoi on a 13-hour bus journey, they express their hope for a slightly longer trip to avoid arriving too early in the morning without accommodation.

Keywords

💡Huế

Huế is the ancient capital city of Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the primary location of the video, where the travelers explore its historical sites, cuisine, and culture within a 24-hour period. The city's significance is highlighted by its rich history and the well-preserved Imperial City, which is a major draw for tourists and history enthusiasts.

💡UNESCO World Heritage Site

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places that are considered to be of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common culture and heritage of humanity. In the context of the video, Huế is noted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, emphasizing its historical and cultural significance. The Imperial City within Huế is a prime example of such a site, showcasing the ancient architecture and history of Vietnam.

💡Bún bò Huế

Bún bò Huế is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup that originates from Huế. It is a dish made with lemongrass, pork, and beef broth, often served with herbs and chili. In the video, Bún bò Huế is a must-try local food that the travelers are eager to taste, showcasing the culinary culture of the region.

💡Citadel of Huế

The Citadel of Huế is a large complex of royal palaces and buildings located in the city of Huế. It was the seat of the Nguyen dynasty and the political and cultural center of the former Vietnamese monarchy. The Citadel's historical and architectural significance is a central theme in the video, as the travelers explore its various structures and learn about its role in Vietnamese history.

💡Vietnamese cuisine

Vietnamese cuisine refers to the traditional food and dishes of Vietnam, known for its use of fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors, and a balance of sweet, sour, and spicy tastes. In the video, the travelers explore Vietnamese cuisine by visiting local restaurants and trying dishes like bún bò Huế and bún thịt nướng, showcasing the culinary diversity and cultural significance of food in Vietnam.

💡NordVPN

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service provider that encrypts internet traffic and changes the user's IP address to provide online privacy and security. In the video, NordVPN is mentioned as a sponsor, highlighting its use for protecting data while traveling and accessing geo-restricted content like streaming services.

💡Walking Street

Walking Street refers to a pedestrian-only area in a city where people can stroll, shop, and enjoy street performances or other public events without the interference of vehicular traffic. In the video, the travelers visit the Walking Street in Huế to experience the local modern culture and nightlife, showcasing a different aspect of the city beyond its historical sites.

💡Imperial City

The Imperial City is the historical heart of the former royal capital of Vietnam, located within the Citadel of Huế. It was the residence of the emperors and the political center of the country during the Nguyen dynasty. The term 'Imperial City' in the video refers to the specific area within the Citadel that the travelers visit, showcasing the grandeur and historical significance of the Vietnamese monarchy.

💡Travel itinerary

A travel itinerary refers to a planned schedule or route for a journey, including the destinations, activities, and timeline. In the context of the video, the travelers have a tight 24-hour itinerary in Huế, highlighting the challenge of fitting in as much exploration and experiences as possible within a limited time frame.

💡Cultural experience

A cultural experience involves engaging with and learning about the customs, traditions, and arts of a place or culture. In the video, the cultural experience is a central theme as the travelers immerse themselves in the local food, history, and modern life of Huế, providing viewers with an authentic glimpse into Vietnamese culture.

💡Travel vlog

A travel vlog is a video blog where the creator documents their travel experiences, often sharing insights, recommendations, and personal stories. In the video, the travel vlog format allows the travelers to narrate their 24-hour adventure in Huế, providing viewers with a first-person perspective of their journey and the highlights of their visit.

Highlights

Mike and Ashley visit the ancient capital city of Vietnam, Huế, with only 24 hours to explore.

They dine at Maison Trang, a highly recommended restaurant for authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

The travelers experience traditional music and local delicacies like bún bò Huế and bún thịt nướng.

Mike and Ashley explore the Walking Street in Huế, getting a taste of the city's modern culture.

They discuss the importance of NordVPN for online security while traveling and accessing streaming sites abroad.

The couple's journey takes them to the Imperial City, where they marvel at the Meridian Gate's resemblance to Beijing's.

Exploring the Ancient City, they discover the beauty and tranquility of the Thai Binh Reading Pavilion and its surrounding gardens.

Mike and Ashley enjoy a unique experience feeding koi fish and observing the well-preserved architecture of the Imperial City.

They visit the Duyet Thi Duong Royal Theater, learning about its historical significance and the traditional performances held there.

The travelers come across a scale model of the Imperial City in its prime, giving them a glimpse into the city's past.

Mike and Ashley discuss the challenges of cleaning and maintaining such ancient structures.

They reflect on their experience in Huế, ranking it among their top destinations in Vietnam.

The video concludes with a recommendation for travelers to include Huế in their Vietnam itinerary.

Transcripts

[Mike] This video is brought to you by NordVPN.

[Ashley] After a short, but sweet stop-off in Da Nang, it is time to head to Huế, the ancient capital city of Vietnam.

[Ashley] With so much to explore before our visas expire, we only have 24 hours to explore this UNESCO world heritage site.

[traditional music]

Our 24 hours in Huế starts right now.

We're gonna head out and grab some dinner, and see how much of the town we can see,

and then probably do some exploring tomorrow, so let's go.

So we're going to a little restaurant called Maison Trang, which came highly recommended by a dear friend of ours.

It looks like it's got fantastic Vietnamese food, and that's what we're in the mood for.

Right here.

Where? -[Mike] To your left.

Mm. It smells good.

[Mike] Yeah, it does.

[Ashley] Take off your shoes.

[Employee] Hello, come in, please. [Ashley] Hello.

Thank you. [Mike] Oh, thank you.

So, we have to get bún bò Huế.

[Mike] Yeah, of course.

Bún bò Huế.

[Mike] Yeah, probably. -Probably.

When you pronounce things properly in Vietnam, they get very excited.

[Mike] Bún thịt nướng

[Employee] Ah, bún thịt nướng.

When you say them improperly, they, like, giggle, and laugh, and try to help you. It's very, very cute.

Thank you.

Okay, guys. We ordered entirely too much food.

It all looks really, really good, though, and it comes so highly recommended.

There have been people just flooding in here, so I'm very excited to give it a try.

I've already taken one bite of these spring rolls, because I could not wait, and they are absolutely delicious.

They're stuffed with pork, there's bean sprouts, a little bit of lettuce, mint, I think, is in there, and then they also give you the chili,

and the peanut dipping sauce, which is absolutely phenomenal, so I'm gonna take one more bite before I try the other stuff.

Mm. So, that's amazing.

I'm gonna try the bún bò Huế next.

We had this in Đà Lạt, and it was pretty good. It was the first time, so I had nothing to compare it to.

I am excited to try it this time.

I'm gonna put a healthy dose of beansprouts because I absolutely love them.

Oh, yeah. Give me some lime.

Ah.

Alright.

Mm.

Mm-hmm.

Definitely prefer these over the ones in Đà Lạt.

The noodles are cooked perfectly. These are delicious.

We tried bún thịt nướng last night at the night market actually, and we're gonna try it here.

This one looks way better.

Cover it with the peanut sauce. Get it with a little bit of soy sauce.

[Ashley] Is it better here?

Oh, yeah. So better.

It's got, like, crispy onions and sesame seeds, as well as this amazing barbecue pork, and garlic,

and the noodles, like you said, just like in the bún bò Huế, are cooked absolutely perfectly.

Okay, so we just got done with our dinner, and that was absolutely incredible.

One of the best meals that we have had in Vietnam.

It's just such a cool dining experience. It feels like we're in the home of the owners, uh, just eating in their kitchen,

and they were kind enough to bring us tea at the beginning of the meal, which is a pleasant surprise, and everything was delicious.

We ordered way too much food and we ate all of it.

So, we decided that since our hotel and the restaurant we were at are just kind of right in the main center

of where everything happens here in Huế, that we'd take a detour and go check out the walking Street.

We're not going to be able to see it tomorrow night, and we probably won't stay out super long but we wanted to see what it was all about.

Are you sweet?

[Ashley] Who's an old pug?

[Ashley] Oh, getting the butt scritches. Oh, there you go.

[Ashley]: Pug rubs!

Street dogs are the best part of traveling.

This thing is wild.

[Ashley]: That's our future when AI takes over.

[Mike] The new face of ChatGPT.

I think we found the Walking Street.

It doesn't really look like it's popped off yet. The streets are still predominantly empty.

It's only seven o'clock, though. It'll be like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom come 10 o'clock.

Alright, guys we just finished on the Walking Street. We're gonna call it a night.

We've got to wake up early to explore all of the sites, but first impressions, I think the city is awesome.

We saw a little bit about the modern culture here in Huế, and tomorrow, we're going to check out some of the ancient culture.

Bye!

Good morning. So, we didn't wake up quite as early as we planned.

Shocker.

But, we're here in front of the Perfume River, and we're gonna grab some coffee real quick before going and checking out the Citadel

and a bunch of other ancient sites.

Let's go.

[laidback music]

Holy cow, guys, look at this. This is amazing-looking, anyway. -Yeah.

I'm so excited.

Mm. -Normally, it's this little bit of coffee, and it's a little bit of milk,

and then you'll mix it and pour it on ice, but they've kind of, like, done it for me, and it's layered.

It's just this amazing concoction.

I need to start getting these more often. -Yeah.

This might be the best iced coffee I've had in Vietnam. For sure.

Oh, yeah. -I don't even know where we're at.

Crew Feel Coffee. It's right across the bridge on the Perfume River. -Yeah.

And, yeah, I think this is my favorite coffee that I've had in all of Vietnam so far.

For sure. This is a win.

Oh, I love it, and then you clear your palette with this delicious tea, which I still don't know what it is.

It smells so nice. I wonder if it's just, like, green tea. -Yeah.

It smells really, really nice. -Yeah.

Like, I would wear this smell as a perfume.

Splash!

We're gonna enjoy these coffees, and then we're gonna head off to the Citadel.

It may seem like we're constantly on the move, but in reality, we spend most of our time sitting in cafes, editing videos,

and figuring out our next travel destination.

Unfortunately, this can leave us vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

[Ashley] Imagine you're at a coffee shop and you connect to the free Wi-Fi.

[Ashley] Meanwhile, some creep is impersonating the cafe's network, and now they have access to all of your data.

[Ashley] The good news is there is a solution, and you can protect your data with just a few clicks.

We've been using NordVPN since the start of our travels, and we feel safe knowing we're protected online.

[Ashley] If you don't know what a VPN is, it stands for Virtual Private Network, which basically encrypts your traffic

[Ashley] and changes your IP address, giving you complete privacy and enhanced security.

To stay safe online, click the link in our description or go to nordvpn.com/mikeandashley.

Aside from the security benefits that NordVPN provides,

it also gives us access to streaming sites that we otherwise couldn't watch while traveling abroad.

When taking a break from editing, I love logging into HBO or Disney+ to catch up on all my favorite movies and shows.

[Mike] Because those sites aren't available in most of the countries we travel to, all I have to do is connect to the U.S. with NordVPN,

[Mike] and I have access to all of the content I watch from home.

[Mike] On top of all these amazing benefits, If you've signed up today using the link in our description

[Mike] or by going to nordvpn.com/mikeandashley, you'll receive an exclusive deal from NordVPN and get four extra months for free.

They have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free.

So click the link in our description or head to nordvpn.com/mikeandashley to get started today.

Thank you, NordVPN, for supporting our channel. Now, let's get back to the video.

[upbeat music]

So, we are on our way to the Imperial City now. We're gonna go through the South Gate, which is also known as the Meridian Gate.

I'm actually super excited to check this place out.

[Ashley] I am, too.

Whoa, look at that gate!

This is actually the hottest it's been, so definitely bring sunscreen, bring water.

There's vending machines everywhere, in case you forget.

So the history of these cannons is pretty cool.

[Ashley] After overthrowing the Tay Son dynasty, the Gia Long Emperor ordered the military to confiscate all of the bronze weapons

[Ashley] and melt them down to be created into these nine holy cannons to make memories of the future.

Onward to the Meridian Gate.

There's this huge structure with a giant Vietnamese flag on it, and it is just gorgeous. And it's in front of this huge courtyard too.

Hello. Uh, two please for the Imperial.

Cảm ơn.

Alright, so we got our tickets to go into the Imperial City.

It's 400,000 dong total, so 200,000 per person, uh, which comes out to roughly about 17 U.S. dollars if I'm doing my math correctly.

So definitely more than we were planning on spending, but is what it is. I'm super excited, and I'm sure it'll be worth it, so.

Let's go check it out. We don't have very long.

So right behind me is the Meridian Gate, which is the main and southern entrance to the Imperial City inside the Citadel of Huế.

It was built in 1833 by Emperor Minh Mạng in a traditional Nguyễn style, and interestingly enough, it was modeled after the original

Meridian Gate in Beijing, China. So this place is a huge and popular place for all kinds of people to take Instagram photos.

This place is epic. It feels like we have just been transported into ancient Vietnam and also, like, ancient China, kind of.

Yeah, this place is incredible. Let's get going inside. I'm so excited.

Yeah, yeah. -This is so cool.

I'm so glad we didn't A. skip Huế, and B. skip coming to this, and just go grab lunch or something.

Yeah, no kidding.

Alright, let's go.

Wow, this place is beautiful.

And that Meridian gate, like, holy cow.

[Mike] Yeah, I can see why it's the main entrance.

So, behind me is where the Thái Hòa Palace used to stand, and right now it is just rubble and scaffolding. It is wild.

They've got this giant facade up so that you can kind of get a glimpse of what it used to look like, and what it will look like

after the construction, but I kind of snuck my head back there, just to see what it was like and if there was any of it standing.

There's really not much. It is crazy. I wonder how long it's going to take to rebuild it.

There's bunnies!

Little bun-buns!

Isn't that wild?

They're deafening!

Oh, you get to ride it. Can we do it?

How much is it?

I don't know.

Hello.

How much is it?

[Employee] 100,000 for one.

100,000 for one.

[Mike] It'd be cool. How long? -How long is it?

[Employee] Four minutes.

Four minutes.

What do you think?

Uh, two please, yes.

Xin chào. Thank you.

[upbeat music]

That was super fun. I liked it. -[Mike] Yeah.

Vamos.

Those bugs!

We got our two little fish ice creams. These are, like, our favorite thing, and then a water because it is so hot.

I got taro flavor, which, for those of you who don't know in the States because I didn't, is, uh, Japanese sweet potato.

And then Mike got a milk tea, which we're both obsessed with.

One fishy...two fishy.

[Mike] It's all purple inside.

Mm-hmm.

Not gonna lie, I think I like mine better and I love milk tea.

You think you like yours better? -But this is really good. Yeah.

It's really good.

But I like the taro.

Mm.

Both are very good.

Yeah.

[traditional music]

I love how old and ancient all the walls look and there's just, like, moss and lichen growing on them.

[Ashley] It is the Ancient City.

Yeah, right? I like museums, but this is always so much cooler.

[traditional music]

Oh, wow.

I'm the empress!

So, this place is massive, and all the people who try to take you here in the little bike tuk-tuks always are like, "Oh, one-two hours."

One-two hours if you, like, sprint through it. If you're actually trying to see it, I feel like it takes, like, three or four hours, really.

Ugh. So watch your head on that thing.

[Mike] Ow!

Because holy Hell, that hurt. I always forget that I'm tall in Asia, and then I'm always very quickly reminded.

Ugh.

We're in a little park right now it is absolutely beautiful and very, very well-maintained.

Uh, it's a little bit towards the end of the Imperial City, but it is gorgeous.

I'm making my way towards- I'm not really sure what it is. I thought it was, like, maybe a well,

but now that I'm getting closer I'm not so sure, but it's got this beautiful big tree and stairs leading up to it.

[pensive music]

Alright, so, not quite what I was expecting. Definitely not a well.

Not even sure what it would have been, but I am actually glad I came up here because there's a pretty good viewpoint of the garden,

so not such a bad thing.

This garden is amazing. There's all kinds of- I'm not even sure if they're bonsai trees, but they look like bonsai trees.

They're these little tiny trees and pots and I feel like that's a bonsai tree, right?

I don't know if, like, a bonsai tree is a very specific type of tree.

I was pretty sure it was a way of manicuring and growing a tree to where you basically halt its growth

because you keep it in a smaller pot so its roots can't get that big and then you trim it.

Woah, that is beautiful.

[Ashley] Beautiful! There's fish in there!

We almost walked by this garden. We almost were like, "Oh, it's just a garden."

This honestly might be one of my favorite parts of the whole, like, Imperial City.

[laidback music]

Okay, so we found this little bin and it has fish food in it so we're gonna leave a donation and feed these little koi fish that are inside.

We're the only donation. That's surprising.

[Mike] Or they just came and collected it.

Or they just came, yeah.

Alright, let's see if these fishies are hungry. Oh, wow. There's big koi fish in there. Some little babies, too, but.

[Ashley] Yeah, they're hungry.

[Ashley] I love the noise they make.

So we're currently in the Thai Binh Reading Pavilion, which was the emperor's reading room.

It's distinguished by the beautiful landscaping, and also the pottery mosaics that are inside of this building. Let's go check them out.

[peaceful music]

I thought the last garden with all the bonsai trees was amazing.

This place is beautiful.

But this is wild.

I don't know if it's part of his, like, reading room or what.

There's a little audio guide but of course, we didn't opt for it, so I don't know what this is, but it is stunning.

There is so many peaceful places that I would just love to sit down and reconnect with nature and zen is the perfect word for it.

And it's so well preserved.

Oh, my God. This place is so peaceful, too.

Okay, so this is garden goals. This is what I want our garden to look like when we finally find a place to live.

There's little sprinklers everywhere coming out of the rocks, obviously to keep everything watered, but I wish it was watering me.

Can you imagine, like, living in this city?

[Mike] Yeah, that's the thing I keep forgetting. It's like- this isn't an Imperial house, this is an Imperial City.

Yeah, like a whole city.

[peaceful music]

This is the Duyet Thi Duong Royal Theater.

Back in the day, the emperor and his family would come here, and they would watch traditional performances,

and they would also use it as a place to hold banquets for foreign envoys that would come and visit the Imperial City.

Now it's more of like a cultural site where they set up exhibits and allow people to enter

and learn a little bit more about the history of this place.

They've got a ton of instruments that I've never seen or heard of before.

Like this right here; they're stone chimes, and I don't even know how that would work. Like, that doesn't make sense to me.

And then there's a lot of really, really, really old pictures, which is just so cool, so you can really envision what this entire city

must have looked like back in the day. I mean, these pictures have to be from the 1800s, and it's just- it's really, really neat.

Like this right here; this is a buffalo horn that they must have blown.

They've also got a sea snail horn here, and then these beautiful costumes that the musicians wore.

And they're so well preserved. I'm not sure if they're original or if they're reproductions, but oh, my God, look at this one.

It's so ornate. The stitching and the embroideries is just immaculate, and the colors are just so bright.

And then there's just a bunch of books and a bunch of music notes, and some of these awesome masks.

Different paintings. In these pictures, they wore them during performances. It's wild. They're just so well preserved.

This one looks like Deadpool.

Okay, so we just found out that there's actually a twice-daily performance at 10 o'clock and three o'clock.

The tickets are an additional fee, but if you're able to be here during that time definitely check it out.

I would love to see the performance, but unfortunately, the timing is not going to work out for us today.

They are doing a sound check right now, which is pretty cool though, so we get a little glimpse of what's going to happen,

but we're gonna have to move on so, boo.

[peaceful music]

Okay, so we just walked into this place. I was hoping that it was a restroom, but I see all these costumes here.

I'm pretty sure that you can pay to get your picture taken, and there's even an option to have, like, servants in the picture with you,

so I'm not sure that's what that is, but let's go find out.

Okay, yeah. So, if I'm understanding this sign correctly, you can pay 135,000 dong to basically dress up and sit on a throne.

Now, if you want to dress up, sit on the throne, and have two servants at your feet, you can pay 195,000 dong, which is interesting,

I guess, but I think we're gonna skip that for today. I just need a restroom.

It's very fancy, though.

I kind of hope we're getting to the end of this just because I am extremely hungry,

but at the same time, I don't want it to end because it's so pretty.

What?!

[Ashley] Look at that cool thing!

That's awesome. There's like a hole in the wall.

[Ashley] Yeah. We have to go that way. I think.

Through the hole in the wall?

[Ashley] I mean...

Sign me up.

I don't think this is where we're going.

[Ashley laughing] I don't think this is where we're supposed to go, either.

[Ashley] Alright, back through the hole in the wall.

Uh, we always managed to find the path less traveled.

Here we are.

There's, like, this covered building. Lots of shade.

But no, no. Not us. We'd rather take the scenic route.

It's...very old.

Alright, do you want to go in there and go to the shade, or do you want to go this way?

[Mike] I think shade. I think I need shade right now.

Shade. This way?

[Mike] Yeah.

Okay.

It is hot.

[peaceful music]

There's this scale model of what the city used to look like in its prime, and obviously, the buildings are no longer standing.

Well, most of the buildings are no longer standing, but it's so well done.

It looks like the roofs are made of toothpicks.

[Ashley] Yeah, maybe.

It's really beautiful.

[Ashley] It's so cool. It really gives you a picture of, like, that was a legitimate city, like-

Because all of the major buildings are still standing.

I mean obviously with the exception of ones that they're doing renovations on and completely rebuilding,

But there's so many of these empty spaces like through that little hole in the wall -

[Ashley] I don't think this is where we're supposed to go, either.

...That are just fields at this point, and this gives you a lot of perspective as to what was in those fields.

We're gonna keep moving before we finally get to go have lunch.

God, these windows.

Like, you can just tell how old this stuff was. You can't fake that type of, like, antiquity.

If anybody is in the Facebook group, uh, "things designed by people who don't have to clean them," this would be a perfect example.

Yeah, this would- maybe be the first example of things that were designed by people who don't have to clean them.

This whole place, really. I mean, these rafters. [Ashley] Yeah, right?

Like, how are you gonna dust and clean these rafters? Did they dust?

[Ashley] They had servants to dust.

That is true.

Whew. It is hot, and it's also three o'clock, and our bus leaves in like two hours.

I think we've seen most of this place.

I don't know that we've seen all of it, but according to the map, I think we've seen most of the major points.

It's part museum, part UNESCO World Heritage Site. All incredible.

Just the architecture alone is breathtaking.

Hi, lovely.

Hello.

You ready to get food?

So ready.

We're gonna be on a bus for, like, 13 hours.

I'm scared that it's gonna be shorter than 13 hours because then we're gonna get there at like five in the morning,

and we don't have a place to stay yet because that's what we do.

Because Ashley is the best planner ever.

Yeah. So, fingers crossed that it will actually be 13 and a half hours, and that's it.

At least you fit in the bus.

That is true. Let's check out this last little thing on our way out, and then go grab some food.

Yeah. We might have to get someone to drive us to food.

You- definitely, yeah.

I don't know what it is because I didn't look it up.

It's beautiful.

I like all the little ferns that grow out of everything here. It's so pretty. -[Mike] Yeah.

[Mike] Nature's kind of reclaiming this Ancient City.

Yeah.

I actually found out what this gate is for. It's actually the entrance to the Queen Mother and the emperor's grandmother's living quarters.

Now at one time, this place consisted of about 10 buildings, and it included everything from a Buddhist temple to a storehouse

and even a pleasure pavilion.

[Mike] What's a pleasure pavilion?

Uh, it's like where she went to read and just, like, look at beautiful things.

[Mike] Oh, so like a playroom.

Yeah, basically.

[Mike] Okay.

It's not what it sounds like.

[Mike] Alright.

[Mike] Let's go.

Cool!

[Mike] I love your little speed walk.

[peaceful music]

Huế might be one of my favorite destinations in all of Vietnam so far.

I know we've got a lot of beauty to see up north, but out of the places we've been, it's really, really tough.

Huế is up there, though. Top three, for sure.

[peaceful music]

[Mike] After a fully-packed 24 hours in Huế, we can confidently say this has been one of the highlights of our adventures in Vietnam.

From delicious food and coffee to one of the most impressive archaeological sites we've ever visited,

Huế should be on everyone's Vietnam itinerary. -[Tourist] Hello!

[Mike] Hello!

[Ashley] We hope you enjoyed this video. If you did, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe,

because the next time you see us, we'll be in Hanoi.