Hue in Vietnam has been named among five must-visit places in Southeast Asia which are underrated, according to a list released by Discovery DCODE, a website from US Television Discovery Channel.

Thua Thien-Hue.

“The former imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue is still a bustling city but decidedly less so than Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Located centrally along Vietnam’s coastline, Hue is home to the glories of Vietnam’s imperial past boasting attractions like the Tombs of the Emperors and the Imperial City,” Discovery DCODE wrote.

Discovery DCODE advises travelers that after soaking in the culture, they can enjoy an authentic Vietnamese dinner while cruising down the Perfume River which flows through the city. The chilly winter weather can also be a pleasant break from the usual sweltering Southeast Asian heat.

Hsipaw in Myanmar tops the list, followed by Hue in Vietnam, Camiguin in Philippines, Sihanoukville in Cambodia and Nan in Thailand.

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue received 3.7 million visitors in the first ten months of 2018, a year-on-year surge of 21%, according to the Thua Thien-Hue Department of Tourism.

Of the total, there were 1.55 million foreigners, up 29.7% from the same time last year and equal to the number of international arrivals in 2017. Visitors from South Korea made up the largest group, accounting for one third of the total foreign visitors. Most of them flied to Hue for sightseeing, enjoying local dishes, and shopping. The locality also saw stable growth in number of tourists from France, Germany and the UK.

Hanoitimes