Hue is a city chock-full of fantastical stories and a riveting history. Once upon a time, the Nguyen Dynasty lords built their feudal capital along Hue’s fertile riverbanks and atop its forested hills, but their storied legacy is just one of many reasons to visit. Hue’s refined cuisine is the stuff of national renown, its leafy streets are lined with mossy and mysterious pagodas, charming art déco mansions dot the cityscape, and the endless, bustling markets are great spots for an afternoon adventure . Through the whole scene lazily flows the Perfume River, setting an unhurried pace the rest of the city is happy to follow.