Coming to Hue for a Healing Life

Peacefulness

Peacefulness

After visiting several traditional garden houses in Hue, Doan Nhu, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, boarded a boat to enjoy the scenic Perfume River. The beautiful sunlight made the river even more poetic and green. Sitting on the boat, the girl could clearly hear the lively sounds of the city echoing onto the river. At that moment, Nhu perceive the vibrancy surrounding her, which, nonetheless, could not conceal the gentle and peaceful essence of the ancient capital.

The tour guide gently invited the visitors to take part in the releasing fish into the river activity, which is not only considered a merit-making ritual but also a contributor to the restoration of aquatic life in the Hương River. Following that, they joined a mindfulness meditation practice called the "bowl of water" meditation. Holding a cup full of water in their hands, Doan Nhu and other tourists walked around the boat in a circle before sitting down for a mindfulness meditation session. While taking deep breath, she felt her worries melt away, experiencing a sense of harmony between body, mind, and soul in this land.

Having visited Hue a few times, Doan Nhu found that whether in sunshine or rain, every moment spent here was a healing experience, easing the burdens of life. She shared, “Whenever I feel exhausted, I come to Hue. Once, I was guided through a meditation session in a traditional garden house. Another time, I sat on a dragon boat during a light drizzle, gazing at the river and the scenery on both banks. During these moments, Hue gives me a feeling of extraordinary tranquility - a kind of peace that healed my soul. It’s incredible how all my worries seem to be soothed and dissolved when I'm here.”

After the COVID-19 pandemic, "healing tourism" has become a common keyword that many people search for. Among the countless searching results, Hue usually stands out as a top choice for many tourists - not only because of its tranquil lifestyle and ancient charm but also because of every aspect the city fostering a sense of renewal and peaceful living, making visitors feel like they’ve found a place to return to.

This summer, I had the opportunity to meet a travel photographer and blogger, Mr. Ngo Tran Hai An, also known as “Quy Coc Tu.” Having traveled to all 63 provinces of Vietnam and over 40 countries worldwide, he is a well-known travel blogger with a considerable number of followers on Facebook and TikTok. Despite his extensive travels, Hai An holds a special love for the peaceful and healing atmosphere of Hue. He said, “Many elements complete the picture of Hue’s tourism, but what truly makes people fall in love with Hue is its tranquility, blending seamlessly with nature. Hue is poetic, and Hue people are deeply affectionate. Everything here helps visitors release their worries.”

Healing Tourism

Typically, healing destinations of “healing tours” involve escaping from bustling cities to remote natural landscapes - mountains, forests, and quiet spaces - to enjoy the fresh air and immerse in the “nature’s breath”. However, in Hue, people do not need to climb mountains or cross rivers; right in the heart of the city, the Perfume River flows peacefully, offering moments of healing in every scene.

A few years ago, when attending a tourism event in Hue, Mr. Nguyen Le Phuc, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration, highlighted Hue’s great potential for wellness and healing tourism. Alongside the Hue Imperial Complex, its numerous pagodas, temples, serene landscapes, vast lagoons, and beautiful beaches, Hue is home to seven hot mineral springs (two of which have already been exploited for wellness tourism). Additionally, the city offers a variety of luxury resorts and hotels, built along hillsides, riverbanks, and coastal areas - perfectly integrating with nature, making them ideal for relaxation and healing experiences.

In fact, Hue’s healing tourism is gradually being developed into specialized travel experiences. Some tour operators have created itineraries that invite visitors to ancient pagodas for tea ceremonies and spiritual talks with monks, guiding them to listen to their hearts in a peaceful atmosphere. At Alba Thanh Tan, besides traditional wellness services, the focus is shifting towards more specialized healing tourism tailored to different travelers' needs. Visitors can also experience unique healing journeys such as Moon River Cruises, meditative tea ceremonies on the Perfume River, sound healing with temple bells, or savoring healing vegetarian cuisine at An Nhien Garden. These are all must-try healing tourism products for tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An, Director of Connect Travel, shared that not only domestic travelers but also international visitors come to Hue for healing experiences. Two popular healing tours - meditative tea sessions in Hue’s pagodas and nature immersion in Bach Ma National Park - are particularly favored by European tourists. At Duc Son Pagoda, visitors could enjoy tea, practice meditation, listen to monks’ talks, visit and talk with orphaned children. In Bach Ma, they immerse themselves in pristine nature, breathing in the fresh air while meditating amidst the mountains. Many tourists, after leaving Hue, could feel deeply rejuvenated, returning to their daily lives with a renewed sense of joy and vitality.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Former Director of the Department of Tourism of Thua Thien Hue (now Hue City), is very interested in healing tourism. He stated that the city's tourism industry has determined to develop health care tourism as a complementary product line to heritage - cultural tourism products in order to increase the attractiveness and novelty of destinations in Hue. Healing tourism is a part of the broader wellness tourism sector. Hue, after “healing” the wounded souls, focuses on tourism products aiming at improving overall well-being. The city’s tourism orientation is to connect various elements, from cuisine to immersive experiences, to create rich product chains meeting the needs of the visitors.