Hue'll love it

An hour from the Lang Co resort lies Hue, the former capital of Vietnam.

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My tour guide takes me to the impressive walled Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Built in 1804, it boasts palaces that housed the rulers of the last royal dynasty. I walk over a lily-covered moat and through the guard gate that towers ahead.

The palace is adorned with dragons externally, but the interior is even more spectacular.

Gold-leafed walls and pillars surround a glistening gold throne where the monarch used to sit.

This grandeur is juxtaposed with bullet holes that are still visible on the city’s walls — a tragic reminder of the site’s significance in the Vietnam War's bloodiest battle.

Another conflict Hue residents have overcome is occupation by the French, which ended in 1954.

And this clash of cultures is reflected by the region's delicious diverse food scene. I head to a traditional Hue restaurant called Les Jardins De La Carambole, which translates as 'the starfruit gardens' in French.

But instead of the escargots and entrecote you'd expect to guzzle down in Paris, Bun Bo Hue is on the menu. The spicy beef noodle soup is served with Hue-style crispy pancakes known as Banh Khoai.

There's also a tingly green mango salad, as well as grilled beef in banana leaves. It's undoubtedly one of my favourite meals of the entire trip.

Heading out of the Imperial city, belly full, I reach the final pitstop on my Hue tour - Dong Ba market.