Ancient and recent history coexist in modern Hue. History left its mark in the city's landscape and every sign is worth a question or a reflection about politics, national identity and international relations.

After the region was part of the Nam Viet Empire before Christ and under the kingdom of Champa for seventeen centuries, in the 1300's the king of Champa gave the region to the Vietnamese. Hue was the capital of the Nguyen dinasty in the 19th century (the most beautiful buildings in the city included the Citadel are from this period). The region was under French protectorate since 1883. 

In 1945, Hue was the center of the August Revolution when Communist and National forces overthrew the last Nguyen king. As part of South Vietnam after the division of the country and due its strategic position, Hue was a central battleground during Vietnam War (the marks can be seen today in the historical buildings and temples, many of which were seriously damaged by the bombing). 

The city was the center of the fierce figthing between American, South and North Vietnamese troops during the Tet offensive. The Northerner' Army attacked Hue right on Vietnamese New Year Eve, thousand of civiliation were killed and now, if you visit Hue on Vietnamese New Year, you'll see most of Hue's family will have remember anniversary of their loves one who died on Tet 1968.