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Coordinates: 16°28′N 107°36′E / 16.467°N 107.600°E / 16.467; 107.600
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'''From a geographical standpoint'''
'''From a geographical standpoint'''

Located in the center of Vietnam, Hue is famous for its severe weather with boiling hot days in the summer and ceaseless raining weeks in the winter. Hue people, therefore, have formed their own culture to overcome geographical and climatic difficulties. This culture, seen through food, characteristics, and other aspects in daily life, reflects the typical feature of Hue people.
Located in the center of Vietnam, Hue is famous for its severe weather with boiling hot days in the summer and ceaseless raining weeks in the winter. Hue people, therefore, have formed their own culture to overcome geographical and climatic difficulties. This culture, seen through food, characteristics, and other aspects in daily life, reflects the typical feature of Hue people.


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'''From a historical standpoint'''
'''From a historical standpoint'''

Being the capital city of Vietnam for approximately 150 years during feudal time (1882-1945), the royal lifestyle and customs have had a predominant impact on the characteristics of Hue people, even long after these monarchical periods are over.
Being the capital city of Vietnam for approximately 150 years during feudal time (1882-1945), the royal lifestyle and customs have had a predominant impact on the characteristics of Hue people, even long after these monarchical periods are over.


Line 270: Line 272:


One interesting fact, moreover, is these personality traits not only apply to those who share blood ties in many ways with the royal family, but their influence seems to have spread out of the walls of the citadel and reached common people, many of whom also pick up a royal-like character. One typical example of this spread of the royal character has to do with the charming traditional dress of Vietnamese women – the ao dai. It is said that back in the 1970s, ao dai, which, previously, used to be worn daily by the royal family members and yet only on special occasions by ordinary people, became an everyday outfit of almost all Hue women, from office workers and school girls to sellers in markets, even street vendors. Given the subtlety and delicacy of the ao dai, the people who wear it frequently have been seen to invariably develop the same characteristics. This is also one of the reasons why until now, the image of an innocent-looking Hue girl in her charming ao dai has become a unanimous human symbol of Hue.
One interesting fact, moreover, is these personality traits not only apply to those who share blood ties in many ways with the royal family, but their influence seems to have spread out of the walls of the citadel and reached common people, many of whom also pick up a royal-like character. One typical example of this spread of the royal character has to do with the charming traditional dress of Vietnamese women – the ao dai. It is said that back in the 1970s, ao dai, which, previously, used to be worn daily by the royal family members and yet only on special occasions by ordinary people, became an everyday outfit of almost all Hue women, from office workers and school girls to sellers in markets, even street vendors. Given the subtlety and delicacy of the ao dai, the people who wear it frequently have been seen to invariably develop the same characteristics. This is also one of the reasons why until now, the image of an innocent-looking Hue girl in her charming ao dai has become a unanimous human symbol of Hue.
From an internal standpoint


==Cuisine==
==Cuisine==

Revision as of 00:43, 2 May 2011

Hue
Country Vietnam
ProvinceThua Thien-Hue Province
Population
 ([citation needed])
 • Total
340,000

Huếⓘ (化 in chữ Nôm) is the capital city of Thừa Thiên - Huế province, Vietnam. Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyễn Dynasty. It is well known for its monuments and architecture. Its population stands at about 340,000 people.

History

See also: Phú Xuân

Huế originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguyễn Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trịnh Sâm captured it, it was known as Phú Xuân. In 1802, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Huế the national capital.[1]

Huế was the national capital until 1945, when Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated and a communist government was established in Hà Nội (Hanoi), in the north.[2] While Bảo Đại was briefly proclaimed "Head of State" with the help of the returning French colonialists in 1949 (although not with recognition from the communists and the full acceptance of the Vietnamese people), his new capital was Sài Gòn (Saigon), in the south.[3]

In the Vietnam War, Huế’s central position placed it very near the border between North Vietnam and South Vietnam; however, the city was located in South Vietnam. In the Tết Offensive of 1968, during the Battle of Huế, the city suffered considerable damage not only to its physical features, but its reputation as well, most of it from American firepower and bombings on the historical buildings as well as the massacre at Huế committed by the communist forces. After the war’s conclusion, many of the historic features of Huế were neglected because they were seen by the victorious regime and some other Vietnamese as "relics from the feudal regime"; the Vietnamese Communist Party doctrine officially described the Nguyễn Dynasty as "feudal" and "reactionary." There has since been a change of policy, however, and many historical areas of the city are currently being restored.

Geography and climate

The city is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Sông Hương (Perfume River), just a few miles inland from the Biển Đông. It is about 700 km (438 mi.) south of the national capital of Hanoi and about 1100 km (690 mi.) north of Hồ Chí Minh City, the country’s largest city, formerly known as Saigon.

Dry season from March to August, the heat of hot temperatures as up to 35-40 degrees C. August to January is the rainy season, which from October onwards the flood season, the average temperature of 20 degrees C, sometimes down to 9 degrees C. Spring lasts from January to late February.[4]

Huế
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
181
 
 
24
21
 
 
91
 
 
25
21
 
 
68
 
 
27
23
 
 
62
 
 
31
26
 
 
93
 
 
33
28
 
 
97
 
 
34
29
 
 
53
 
 
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34
28
 
 
469
 
 
31
26
 
 
706
 
 
29
25
 
 
655
 
 
26
23
 
 
391
 
 
23
21
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
7.1
 
 
75
70
 
 
3.6
 
 
77
70
 
 
2.7
 
 
81
73
 
 
2.4
 
 
88
79
 
 
3.7
 
 
91
82
 
 
3.8
 
 
93
84
 
 
2.1
 
 
93
84
 
 
5.8
 
 
93
82
 
 
18
 
 
88
79
 
 
28
 
 
84
77
 
 
26
 
 
79
73
 
 
15
 
 
73
70
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Religion

In Huế, Buddhism is taken a bit more seriously than elsewhere in Vietnam, with more monasteries than anywhere else and the nation's most famous monks. Famously in 1963, Thích Quảng Đức drove to Saigon to protest anti-Buddhist policies of the South Vietnamese government and set himself on fire on a Saigon street. [5]

Historic monuments

The citadel in Huế with flag tower

Huế is well known for its historic monuments, which have earned it a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.[6] The seat of the Nguyễn emperors was the Citadel, which occupies a large, walled area on the north side of the Perfume River. Inside the citadel was a forbidden city where only the emperors, concubines, and those close enough to them were granted access; the punishment for trespassing was death. Today, little of the forbidden city remains, though reconstruction efforts are in progress to maintain it as a historic tourist attraction.

Roughly along the Perfume River from Huế lie myriad other monuments, including the tombs of several emperors, including Minh Mạng, Khải Định, and Tự Đức. Also notable is the Thiên Mụ Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Huế and the official symbol of the city.[7]

A number of French-style buildings lie along the south bank of the Perfume River. Among them are Quốc Học High School, the oldest high school in Vietnam, and Hai Ba Trung High School.

The Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts on 3 Le Truc Street also maintains a collection of various artifacts from the city.

Administrative divisions

Complex of Huế Monuments
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Khải Định tomb
CriteriaCultural: iv
Reference678
Inscription1993 (17th Session)

Huế comprises 27 administrative divisions, including 27 phường (urban wards)

Urban wards

People

"...Giữ chút gì rất Huế trang đài Nón nghiêng, bóng nắng dáng thơ ngây Gặp anh nón hỡi đừng nghiêng xuống Cho anh trông mắt ngọc mày ngài

Giữ chút gì rất Huế mặn mà Dạ thưa, ngọt lịm ai mê say Em đi gót nhẹ xanh hôn cỏ Và hơi thở mềm sương khói bay..."

Reserve something very Hue – noble. Your conical leaf hat tilts, and the sun shades your innocent figure When seeing me, dear hat, don’t tilt down. Let me see the beautiful face

Reserve something very Hue – alluring. Your sweet “yes” enchants someone When you walk, your steps are as gentle as the soul of green grass and your breath is as soft as flying dew

(Translated by Ms Tran Quang Ngoc Thuy - used by kind permission of the translator)

The answers to the question of “How to describe Hue people?”, as with many other popular regional places all around the world, vary to a very big extent, as much as a vocabulary stock of characteristics can go. Still, the popular responses can be narrowed down to the letters that build the word “Hue”: H - Hearty, harmonious U - United, unique E - Elegant, esthetic

To provide more clarification, these typical Hue characteristics are accordingly examined.

From a geographical standpoint

Located in the center of Vietnam, Hue is famous for its severe weather with boiling hot days in the summer and ceaseless raining weeks in the winter. Hue people, therefore, have formed their own culture to overcome geographical and climatic difficulties. This culture, seen through food, characteristics, and other aspects in daily life, reflects the typical feature of Hue people.

To begin with, Hue is famous for various kinds of food, but more importantly, people remember Hue’s food because of the arts and the hidden meaning which each dish conveys. Undeniably, in such harsh weather conditions, every Hue woman must be very dexterous and attentive to create suitable food and help her family enjoy delicious meals in spite of the heat or the cold. Moreover, unpredictable weather leads to that every family must always think of different ways of storing food, and try not to waste food. In a broader perspective, this has established a well-known personality trait: Hue people always save everything for a rainy day.

Secondly, familiar with difficulties and challenges, Hue people do not often complain or cry over things. In stead, they keep their troubles for themselves and if possible, find a way to get over it on their own. Deep inside their souls is a whole world of feelings, of all the ups and downs, of all the smiles and tears. Therefore, it is widely known in Vietnam that Hue people are thoughtful and contemplative. Apparently, the geography has some effects on this trait.

From a historical standpoint

Being the capital city of Vietnam for approximately 150 years during feudal time (1882-1945), the royal lifestyle and customs have had a predominant impact on the characteristics of Hue people, even long after these monarchical periods are over.

Back in the old day, members of the royal family were brought up in a very well-disciplined manner. That is to say, they were taught by their seniors to purposefully act and look elegant, gentle, thoughtful, and sometimes even a little distant from others, all of which somehow created an aura of reservedness about them. Historically, these features were reflected in the name-giving custom of the royal family. As a rule, royal family members were named after a poem written by Minh Mang, the second king of Nguyen Dynasty. The poem, "Đế Hệ Thi", has been set as a standard frame to name every generation of the royal family, through which people can know the family order as well as the relationship between royal members. More importantly, the names nicely reflect the essential personality traits that the royal regime would like their offspring to uphold. The 'name-giving' poem Miên, Hồng, Ưng, Bửu, Vĩnh Bảo, Quý, Định, Long Trường Hiền, Năng, Kham, Kế, Thuật Thế, Thoại, Quốc, Gia, Xương

The meaning of each name is sketchily translated into English as follow: 1. Miên : trường cửu phước duyên trên hết (respecting above all the rules of life, such as meeting and parting, life and death) 2. Hồng : oai hùng đúc kết thế gia (building a harmonious family) 3. Ưng : nên danh xây dựng sơn hà (establishing a prosperous country) 4. Bửu : bối bâu lợi tha quần chúng (being helpful and caring toward the common people) 5. Vĩnh : bền khí hùng ca anh tụng (having a good reputation) 6. Bảo : ôm lòng khí dũng bình sanh (being courageous) 7. Quý : cao sang vinh hạnh công thành (being elegant) 8. Định : tiền quyết thi hành oanh liệt (being decisive) 9. Long : vương tướng rồng tiên nối nghiệp (having a typically royal appearance) 10. Trường : Vĩnh cửu nối nghiệp nối dòng (being long-lasting) 11. Hiền : tài đức phúc âm soi sáng (being humane) 12. Năng : gương soi khuôn phép bờ cõi (being talented) 13. Kham : đảm đương mọi cơ cấu giỏi (being hard-working and versatile) 14. Kế : hoạch sách mây khói cân phân (being well-organized) 15. Thuật : biên chép lời đúng ý dân (being truthful in speech) 16. Thế : mãi thọ cận thân gia tộc (being faithful to the family) 17. Thoại : ngọc quý tha hồ phước tộc (being wealthy) 19. Gia : muôn nhà Nguyễn vẫn huy hoàng (being well-established) 20. Xương : Phồn thịnh bình an thiên hạ. (bringing prosperity to the world)

This name-giving tradition is proudly kept alive and nowadays people from Hue royal family branches (normally considered 'pure' Hue) still have their names taken from the words in the poem.

One interesting fact, moreover, is these personality traits not only apply to those who share blood ties in many ways with the royal family, but their influence seems to have spread out of the walls of the citadel and reached common people, many of whom also pick up a royal-like character. One typical example of this spread of the royal character has to do with the charming traditional dress of Vietnamese women – the ao dai. It is said that back in the 1970s, ao dai, which, previously, used to be worn daily by the royal family members and yet only on special occasions by ordinary people, became an everyday outfit of almost all Hue women, from office workers and school girls to sellers in markets, even street vendors. Given the subtlety and delicacy of the ao dai, the people who wear it frequently have been seen to invariably develop the same characteristics. This is also one of the reasons why until now, the image of an innocent-looking Hue girl in her charming ao dai has become a unanimous human symbol of Hue.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Huế draws from throughout Vietnam, but one of the most striking differences is the prominence of vegetarianism in the city. Several all-vegetarian restaurants are scattered in various corners of the city to serve the locals who have a strong tradition of eating vegetarian twice a month, as part of their Buddhist beliefs. Another feature of Huế dishes that sets them apart from other regional cuisines in Vietnam is the relatively small serving size with refined presentation, a vestige of its royal cuisine. Finally, another feature of Huế cuisine is that it is often very spicy.[8] Nowadays, cuisine tourism is attracting people from all over the country and the world.

Pictures

See also

References

  1. ^ Woodside, Alexander (1988). Vietnam and the Chinese model: a comparative study of Vietnamese and Chinese government in the first half of the nineteenth century. Harvard Univ Asia Center. p. 127. ISBN 978-0674937215.
  2. ^ Boobbyer, Claire; Spooner, Andrew; O'Tailan, Jock (2008). Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos. Footprint Travel Guides. p. 122. ISBN 978-1906098094.
  3. ^ Stearns, Peter N.; Langer, William Leonard (2001). The Encyclopedia of world history: ancient, medieval, and modern, chronologically arranged. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 1036.
  4. ^ Ishizawa, Yoshiaki; Kōno, Yasushi; Rojpojchanarat, Vira; Daigaku, Jōchi; Kenkyūjo, Ajia Bunka (1988). Study on Sukhothai: research report. Institute of Asian Cultures, Sophia University. p. 68.
  5. ^ http://www.gonomad.com/market/0711/hue-food.html.
  6. ^ Along the world heritage path: Hue. Thanh Nien News. December 12, 2005.
  7. ^ Pham, Sherrise; Emmons, Ron; Eveland, Jennifer; Lin-Liu, Jen (2009). Frommer's Southeast Asia. Frommer's. p. 318. ISBN 978-0470447215.
  8. ^ Ngoc, Huu; Borton, Lady (2006). Am Thuc Xu Hue: Hue Cuisine. Vietnam.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Huế.

16°28′N 107°36′E / 16.467°N 107.600°E / 16.467; 107.600

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