That's how I fell in love with Hue!

I had never been to Hue, but the lyrics, "I've been to dreamy Hue several times. I cherish a sweet love for it," kept echoing in my ears, like a heartfelt invitation. I couldn't explain why that place held such a strange allure for me. I only knew that one day, I absolutely had to set foot there. And then, I did go to Hue, fell in love with Hue, and before I knew it, it had become a close friend in my life.

Royal court music performance at the Imperial Citadel.

My first visit to Hue was on a scorching summer day. Despite the sweltering heat, because we didn't have much time, my friend and I wandered everywhere, from the ancient tombs in the suburbs, across the Trang Tien Bridge, visiting the Imperial Citadel, and finally stopping at Thien Mu Pagoda. Taking refuge in the shade of the pagoda and the cool green trees, I silently lamented, "Hue, why is it so hot?!" But when night fell, Hue donned a gentle, dreamy beauty, a beauty unlike anywhere else. That moment etched in my heart my first love for Hue.

Perhaps Hue is most beautiful and fragrant at night. At that time, crowds flock to the boat docks to listen to the melodious court music echoing from the boats drifting leisurely along the Perfume River. Speaking of court music, how could I forget that afternoon, in a corner of the Imperial Citadel, where the orchestra and singers in pink ao dai dresses and headscarves performed melodies that were both unique and captivating? That scene, that sound, like two halves of a circle, fit together perfectly and harmoniously.

Then one afternoon in Hue, I encountered a beauty that overwhelmed me. Along a tree-lined path by the Perfume River, a long line of Hue girls in flowing, elegant purple ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) strolled gracefully, seemingly practicing for some ceremony. I couldn't take my eyes off them, even glancing back as they passed: "How can Hue girls be so gently beautiful!" That moment, that image, has lingered in my heart ever since. Could it be... I've fallen in love with Hue?

Perhaps it's because of love that I keep returning to Hue. I seek out a different Hue, one marked by time, hidden amidst the cool, refreshing mountains and forests. Driving over 20 kilometers along the winding mountain road, I reached the summit of Bach Ma Mountain, where ancient stone castles still stand silently in the vast wilderness. From the observation deck high above, I took in Hue completely. Hue, seen from here, was truly unique; it was still Hue, but interspersed among the rooftops were endless stretches of green, a meandering river, and golden sunlight that stretched like honey. I suddenly thought, nature has been there for generations, Bach Ma Mountain standing tall, the Perfume River flowing endlessly, witnessing Hue's transformation through countless changes. These changes may be significant in a lifetime, but before the enduring nature of time, nature, and the land, everything becomes insignificant.

LE NGOC SON