Explore Hue

Hue (Vietnamese: Huế) is in the central region and is the former imperial capital of Vietnam which has been kept almost intact the royal architectural complex of the Nguyen Dynasty. The region is also utterly attractive by hundreds of temples, charming beaches, several buildings built during the French rule, which showcase French architecture in its most elegant and is also a home of Central Vietnamese cuisine.

What is the best time to explore Hue?

Hue is submitted to a tropical monsoon climate divided into 4 distinct seasons: fresh spring, very hot summer, mild autumn, and windy, cold winter. The average annual temperature is 25°C. The rainy season lasts from September to November, there will be downpours during this period of the year. 

The most convenient time to visit the area is from December to August. The weather is perfect for tourists to do all the outdoor activities. Explore Hue from January to April, you will have an opportunity to see the beauty of the city and be immersed in a lively, bustling space of the festival. You will also have the opportunity to understand and to learn more about the cultural beauty of Vietnam.

However, the hottest period in Hue falls from May to August, so if you intend to explore the beaches such as Thuận An Beach, Lăng Cô Beach, etc., then come here at this time. Furthermore, you will also have an opportunity to discover fishers’ lives along the sea and in the lagoon, experience many exciting activities such as catching seafood or enjoying seafood specialties in Hue. In August, the city is in autumn, the most beautiful season of the year. 

In the summer, the citadel has the yellow of scallop flowers and the pink of peach blossoms; the purple color of Lagerstroemia… In August, the city is in autumn, the most beautiful season of the year.

Around September to January next year is the rainy season and it is cold. In particular, from October to November is also the storm season, with heavy rain that seems to never stop.

How to get here and transportations in Hue?

Airplane: Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietjet Air all operate flights to Phu Bai airport. Flight time from Hanoi is about 1 hour 15 minutes, round-trip ticket price from 1,600,000 VND. Flight time from Ho Chi Minh City is about 1 hour 30 minutes, round-trip ticket price from 1,300,000 VND. On arrival Phu Bai Airport which located about 15 km from the city center, there are two ways to get into the city:

• The most convenient way is to take a taxi for about 250,000 VND/trip.
• If you don’t have to carry luggage, the airport shuttle bus is a more economical way to travel with a price of only 40,000 – 50,000 VND/person/trip.

Train: From Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces, visitors can take the train to see the scenery along the way. The train has hard, soft seats and sleeper cabin, with or without air conditioning. For more details about prices, departure times, traveling times, type of trains, departure city/town…you can check in Vietnam railways website: dsvn.vn.

Tourist bus: From Hanoi to Hue, you buy tickets from companies such as Hung Thanh, Camel, Queen, Duc Thinh… The Hanoi – Hue route and return cost from 400,000 VND one way. The bus usually runs from 18:00 p.m the previous day to 6:00 a.m the next morning to Hue, so you just need to book a bed and get some sleep to get there. However, it takes quite long if you takes a bus from Ho Chi Minh to Hue by tourist bus, more than 20 hours to get here. A ticket cost from 700.000VND and can check with some of famous tourist bus companies such as: Phi Long, Tan Quang Dung, Hoang Long…

In Hue, to save money and freely stop while traveling, you should rent a motorbike at your accommodation. The price to rent a motorbike is 80,000 VND a day, a scooter is 150,000 VND a day, not including gasoline.

An interesting means of explore Hue that tourists should try is cyclo. Cyclo drivers will become tour guides, taking tourists to famous places in the city such as Truong Tien bridge, Dong Ba market…

At each location, the cyclo will stop for passengers, free to visit. Tours usually last one hour, priced from 50,000 – 120,000 VND depending on location and travel time.

Tourist attractions in Hue

Complex of Hue Monuments

The Complex of Hue Monuments are historical and cultural relics advocated by the Nguyen Dynasty to be built during the period from the beginning of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century in the area of the ancient Hue. They can be divided into clusters of works including clusters of works outside and inside Hue Citadel.

Hue Imperial City

The construction of the Imperial city in 1805, under the reign of Emperor Gia Long, and was completed in 1832, under the reign of Emperor Minh Mang. The city comprises three sections: the Royal Citadel, the Imperial Enclosure, and the Forbidden Purple City.

• Royal Citadel Enclosure: the outermost boundary has a perimeter of nearly 10 km, a height of 6.6m, and a thickness of 21m, and is accompanied by cannons. There is a system of moats surrounding the outside of the citadel. There are 10 main gates to enter the citadel.
• Imperial Enclosure (Hoàng Thành): is the second rampart that has the function of protecting the most important palaces of the court, the shrines worshiping ancestors of the Nguyễn Dynasty, and protecting the Forbidden Purple City – a place dedicated to the Emperor and his family members. It’s accessible through four gates: Ngọ Môn to the south, Hòa Bình to the north, Hiển Nhơn to the east, and Chương Đức to the east. 
• Forbidden Purple City (Tử Cấm Thành): the third and innermost fort of the royal complex has a perimeter of 1,225m and is accessible seven gates. It was formerly reserved for the private use of the kings and their families, as well as the numerous concubines. The Forbidden Purple City is almost isolated from the outside world.

Located inside the three ramparts and deep moats is a large cluster of smaller structures built along the main axis that runs from south to north. The first structure is Kỳ Đài, followed by Ngọ Môn Gate, Đại Triều Nghi Yard, Thái Hòa Palace, Khôn Thái Palace, Kiến Trung Palace, and Hòa Bình Gate.

• Kỳ Đài (Flag Tower): located in front of the Citadel, Kỳ Đài is one of Hue monument complex. It was constructed in 1807 under Emperor Gia Long’s reign. Kỳ Đài is not only the central location of Huế City but also is a symbol of the city.
• Ngọ Môn Gate: the largest of the four main gates of the Imperial Citadel of Huế which has 58m long, 27.5m wide, 17m high and serves as the main entrance to the Imperial city. Ngọ Môn comprises five gates with the central gate being reserved for the kings only.
• Nine Dynastic Urns: were cast between 1835 – 1837 under the Emperor Minh Mạng. The heaviest urn is about 2.600 kg and the lightest urn is about 1.930 kg in weight. Each urn dedicated to a particular emperor.  In general, Nine Urns have the similarity in shape; however, they are diversified in types and decorative patterns that signify the sun, the moon, clouds, mountains, rivers, and scenes from everyday of life.
• Thái Hòa Palace (The Palace of Supreme Harmony): built in 1805 according to 19th-century architectural design, the Palace is composed of two buildings: the anterior palace and the main palace which join together. This is the location of the golden throne and used for important court ceremonies. 
• Thế Miếu (Dynastic Temple): was built in 2 years (1821-1822), initially only to worship Emperor Gia Long but later became the place to worship the kings and royal members of the Nguyễn Dynasty.
• Hiển Lâm Các (Pavilion of Splendour): was built in 1821 and completed in 1822, under Emperor Minh Mạng. This is the most unique work which made entirely of wood. Hiển Lâm is considered as a memorial the contributions of members of the Nguyễn Dynasty.
• Cung Thất (Royal Residence): was reserved for the private use of kings and their families included several palaces: Cần Chánh Palace (King’s residence), Khôn Thái Palace (Queen’s residence), Diên Thọ Palace (King’s mother’s residence), and Trường Sanh Palace (King’s paternal grandmother’s residence). Unfortunately, most of the palaces were destroyed in the wars, except the Diên Thọ and Trường Sanh Palaces.

Quoc Tu Giam (Imperial Academy)

The Imperial Academy in the old capital city Hue was the first national academy built under the Nguyen Dynasty. After the unification of Vietnam, Emperor Gia Long decided to move the capital from Hanoi to Hue. In 1803, he built a new academy located in An Ninh Thuong area, Huong Tra district, about 5 km to the west of Hue citadel, stood next to a Van Mieu. The first academy was a small block of buildings, called Doc Hoc Duong. In March 1820, Emperor Minh Mang changed its name to Quoc Tu Giam. Students were not only descendants of the royal family or mandarins but also commoners.

In 1908, during the reign of Emperor Duy Tân, the academy was moved to present location – No 1, Hai Mươi Ba Tháng Tám Street, Hue city.

Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts

This building was the Long An Palace built in 1845 under the reign of the Emperor Thieu Tri. Currently, the museum displays more than 300 artifacts of many available materials like gold, silver, glass, stone, jade, leather, fabris, wooden, paper….

In addition, you can admire more than 100 objects of the Cham ethnic minority that were found in XIII century. They are considered the valuable objects of the world in general and the Far East in particular.

The Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts is a located at No. 3, Le Truc, Hue City. 

Thien Mu Pagoda

The Pagoda also known as Linh Mụ Pagoda, is one of the most beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worship in Hue. It was built in 1601 and has two main architectural works: Phuoc Duyen Tower and Dai Hung Palace. Phuoc Duyen tower has 7 floors and is 21m high. Each of its seven stories is dedicated to a Buddha who appeared in human form. Dai Hung Palace is the main temple, with magnificent architecture; In addition to the bronze Buddha statue in the palace, there are countless statues and a bronze statue cast in 1677; a wooden fresco painted with gilded vermilion, donated by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu in 1714.

The pagoda is situated on Ha Khe Hill on the left bank of the Perfume River, about 5 km to the west, in Huong Long Commune, Hue City.

Ho Quyen (Tiger Fighting Arena)

Ho Quyen is built under the Nguyen Dynasty used to organize death battles between elephants and tigers to entertain the kings and high-ranking officials. Ho Quyen was built in 1830, located near Long Tho hill, 4km from the citadel. The last match took place in 1904 under the reign of Emperor Thanh Thai.

Ho Quyen is an open-air arena shaped like a scarf. The diameter of the basin is 44m, the circumference of the outer wall is 140m. Around the wall, there are 5 tiger cages and a large archway for elephants to enter and fight.

Location: 373 Bui Thi Xuan, Duc Ward, Hue city.

Royal Tombs

The Nguyen Dynasty had 13 emperors, but due to economic and political reasons, only 7 tombs were built, all of which remain today with their own architectural styles. These tombs were built when the emperors was still in power, so this is not a sad burial place but has a charming landscape with unique architecture.

• Gia Long Tomb, also known as Thien Tho Mausoleum, located in the Huong Tho commune of Huong Tra district, some 20 kilometers (12 mi) south of the city of Hue, began construction in 1814 and was completed in 1820. The entire mausoleum is a group of mountains with 42 hills and mountains, large and small, of which Dai Thien Tho is the largest mountain chosen as the tombs for Emperor Gia Long’s first wife, Empress Thua Thien after her death in 1814 but later became Gia Long’s and some of his family members’ burial site.
• Minh Mang Tomb, also known as Hieu Tomb, was built by Emperor Thieu Tri from 1840 to 1843, located in an enclosed hilly area of about 20 ha in Cam Khe Village, 12 km from the center of Hue.
• Thieu Tri Tomb, also known as Xuong Lang, is located in Cu Chanh village, Thuy Bang commune, Hue city. Built by Emperor Tu Duc in 1847 to bury his father (Emperor Thieu Tri), this is the only mausoleum facing the Northwest, a direction rarely used in the architecture of palaces and tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty.
• Tomb of Tu Duc was built by Emperor Tu Duc himself while still in reign. It is a complex of architectural works, including the burial place of Emperor Tu Duc located in a narrow valley in Thuong Ba village, Thuy Xuan ward, Hue city. At first, the mausoleum was named Van Nien Co, then he changed its name to Khiem Cung. After Tu Duc died, the mausoleum was renamed, Khiem Lang. The mausoleum has sophisticated architecture, charming landscape and is one of the most beautiful mausoleums of the Nguyen kings.
• Dong Khanh Tomb, also known as Tu Lang, is located in Thuong Hai village, Thuy Xuan ward, Hue city. Formerly, this was Truy Tư Palace built by Dong Khanh to worship his father. However, Dong Khanh got sick and suddenly died. Emperor Thanh Thai (1889-1907) succeeded. The country was facing many difficulties and economic exhaustion, so he could not build a regular mausoleum for his predecessor, so he had to change the Truy Tư Palace to be Ngưng Hy to worship the Emperor Dong Khanh.
• Duc Duc Tomb named An Lang is located in An Cuu ward, Hue city, less than 2 km from the city center; is the burial place of Emperor Duc Duc, Thanh Thai, and Duy Tan. Duc Duc ascended the throne in 1883 was 3 days old when he was deposed and died, later his son – Emperor Thanh Thai (who ascended the throne in 1889) built a mausoleum to worship his father and named it An Lang. In 1954, when Emperor Thanh Thai died, the body was brought back to be buried at the present location in An Lang area and worshiped at the Long An temple. In 1987, Emperor Duy Tan’s remains were brought back to be buried next to Thanh Thai’s mausoleum.
• Khai Dinh Tomb, also known as Ung Lang, is located on the slopes of Chau Chu mountain (also known as Chau E) outside the imperial city of Hue and is the tomb of King Khai Dinh, the 12th king of the Nguyen Dynasty. The mausoleum was built in 1920 right after Khai Dinh ascended the throne. Regarding the architecture of Khai Dinh Tomb, later generations often set it apart from the traditional architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty because of the unusual blend of East-West Kim Co architecture, with unique porcelain mosaic artworks.

Huong River (Perfume River)

This 80 km-long flows through many forests of aromatic plants before crossing the capital city of Hue, bringing with it a pure and fresh aroma.

A trip to explore Hue would not be complete without a boat excursion on this gentle river. The boats take visitors to every corner of the city: under Da Vien, Phu Xuan, Dong Ba market and Truong Tien Bridges, to the tomb of Minh Mạng, Hon Chen Shrine, Thien Mi Pagoda, and finally to Thuan An Beach.

Especially, when the night comes, the surface of the river glistens under the moonlight, and the songs of the boat rowers can be heard breaking the silence.   

Ngu Binh Mountain

Ngu Binh Mountain is also known as Ngu Mountain or Hon Mo or Bang mountain with 103 meters height and located 3 km from Hue. Combine with Hương River, Ngu Binh Mountain is the gift of the nature and have become the symbol of the city.

Ngu Binh Mountain has a trapezoid shape, a flat top, looking from afar like a screen protecting the ancient capital. 

On the nice day, from the Ngu Binh Mountain, tourist can contemplate the spectacular scenery of the whole city, ancient pagodas, Huong River, white sand-bank of Thuan An beach along with the blue of sea creates the beautiful picture that make unforgettable impression.

Mineral Stream of My An

My An is located in Phu Duong Commune, Phu Vang District, 7km east of Hue, on the way to Thuan An Beach.

In June 1979, geological and meteorological expedition No79 discovered this natural stream. After multiple scientific studies and experiments, the project “Studying medical qualities of the mineral stream in My An” came to the conclusion that the mineral water in My An includes every micro-element necessary for the human body. The water of this stream can be used to successfully treat several skin and venereal diseases, rheumatism, digestion, mental, respiratory, and other chronic diseases that have been attract many people come to self treatment.

​Bach Ma National park

Bach Ma National Park is approximately 50km south of Hue with a cool temperature and break-taking natural landscapes such as Hai Vong Dai – the highest peak (1,450m) where people can have a panoramic view of immense sea and surrounding scenery, Do Quyen Water Fall – a 300m high and 20 – 30m wide, five lakes – a system of large lakes created by the block of black granite…

The Bach Ma National park is also a home of more than 931 species of animals of which 83 wildlife species, 333-odd species of birds known to inhabit Viet Nam. More than 1,406 species of plants have also been identified. The best time to visit Bach Ma is from February to September.

Beaches in Hue

Coastal beaches are a specialty of the Central region, and when traveling to Hue, don’t forget to visit the beautiful, fairy-like beaches of this land. The beaches on the list of Hue tourist attractions that Traveloka wants to introduce to you include:

Thuan An Beach

Thuận An beach is located right next to Thuan An estuary. It take about 20 minutes by taxi, half an hour by motorbike or 45 minutes by bicycle from the city center to the beach. Along with Lang Co beach, Tam Giang lagoon, Thuan An beach is also a masterpiece of nature in Hue attracting tourists from all over the world.

This is where the Hương River flows down the direction of Tam Giang Lagoon and then empties into the East Sea, merging with the vast ocean. Therefore, Thuan An beach has its own beauty between the light of the gentle river and the vast sea. ​Coming here, tourists not only have the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, have fun bathing but also have the opportunity to explore the fishing village, experience the fisherman’s life at night..

Lang Co Beach

Lang Co beach is about 10km long, located along with the National Highway 1A, near Hai Van pass and 24km from Bach Ma National Park. Lang Co Beach is a natural scenic spot of Hue.

The beach has long been famous for white sand and clean, shallow water which are suitable for the type of beach tourism. Especially, it is an ideal place for luxury resorts along the beach for decades.

Canh Duong Beach

Located in Loc Vinh commune, Phu Loc district, about 65 km from Hue city center with an arc-shaped beach, gentle slope, fine white sand and clear blue sea water. Coming here, you will feel the wild beauty, welcome the golden sunlight and enjoy posing because the beach is considered a fairyland of the Central region.

Tam Giang lagoon

The Tam Giang – Cau Hai lagoon system has an area of more than 22,000 hectares stretching 68 km in Phong Dien, Quang Dien, Phu Vang, Phu Loc districts and Huong Tra town. This is the largest brackish water lagoon in Southeast Asia. The vast lagoon area, along with the Thai Duong Ha fishing village, which is like a lonely oasis in the middle of the water, will attract you at first sight.

To watch the sunrise at Tam Giang lagoon, you need to depart at 5:30 a.m., travel about 45 minutes for a distance of about 20 km. Don’t forget to try the specialties from fish and shrimp, including orca fish cakes. This type of fish is caught from the lagoon and sold at the nearby market. Very sweet orca meat eaten with local cakes and salty fish sauce will make visitors remember it forever.

Location: Belongs to 4 districts of Phong Dien, Quang Dien, Huong Tra, Phu Vang of Thua Thien – Hue.

Hon Chen Palace

This is a temple that has an important position in the spiritual life of the people of Hue, and is also the only temple in Hue that has a harmonious combination of royal rituals and cultural and folk beliefs. As the most sacred shrine in Hue, Hon Chen Palace is also associated with many historical anecdotes.

Initially, this was the place to worship the goddess Po Nagar according to Cham beliefs and was also the goddess revered by the Nguyen Dynasty as a superior deity.

What makes visitors excited when coming to Hon Chen Palace are details inside this building has eye-catching and sophisticated decorative art architecture. Coming here, visitors can both admire the unique landscape and worship and pray for peace, health, and wealth.

Hon Chen Palace is located on Ngoc Tran mountain, in Ngoc Ho village, Huong Tra town. To get to Hon Chen Palace, many visitors prefer to take a boat from the wharf in Cu Chanh village, Thuy Bang commune; or take a dragon boat from Toa Kham wharf, up the Perfume River.

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

Going about 30 km away from the city center, you will reach Truoi land, go to Truoi Dam, go over the gentle slope on the back of the hill, you will see Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery reflecting on Truoi Lake. Sitting on small boats across the lake, you will reach the monastery. To get to the three gates, you have to climb 172 steps. The architecture of the monastery is in harmony with the mountains and water.

There are 3 main areas in Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery: the outer courtyard (the main shrine, worshiping Buddha, behind the main shrine is the area to worship Patriarch Dat Ma), the monastic hall (the place of practice for  monks and male Buddhists followers), nunneries (specialized places for nuns and female Buddhists followers).

Coming to a beautiful Hue tourist destination like Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, visitors can admire the ancient beauty of the pagoda, with elegant patterns and motifs, enjoying the peaceful space, gives a feeling of relaxation, lightness, and freedom from all worries.
Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery is located in Loc Hoa commune, Phu Loc district, located right in the middle of Truoi Lake.

Dong Ba Market

Connecting from Gia Hoi bridge to Truong Tien bridge, it occupies a large building along the northern bank of Perfume River, Dong Ba Market is the biggest commercial center of Thua Thien – Hue province and the adjacent regions. Formed in 1899, Dong Ba market is one of the symbols of the city.

Similar to most of Vietnamese markets, Dong Ba is divided into many different sections, depending on the types of products. The 3rd floor is the main trading area for fabrics and clothes. Down to the 2nd and 1st floors is the convergence of art items, delicately depicted from famous traditional craft villages of Hue. And the 1st floor is the place specializing in famous Hue specialties. The market is open from 7:00 a.m. to late afternoon, so visitors can visit any time they like. However, after 16pm, more snack shops open.

Phu Cam Cathedral

Phu Cam Cathedral is one of the big, famous and long-standing churches in Hue. The construction started in early 1963 has been rebuilt more than 10 times. It was designed by the architect Ngô Viết Thụ, who also designed Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City.

Inside of the Cathedral was built following classical Roman Catholic tradition which can accommodate up to 3,000 people at a time in spacious area. There is a cross made of steel and concrete on a round pillar. The building has two wings extending to the right and left. In front of the building are two statues: Saint Paulo is on the left and Saint Phero is on the right.

Location: 1 Doan Huu Trung, Phuoc Vinh, Hue city.

Hai Van Gate

Hai Van Gate relic was built in 1826, was a military fortress guarded at the top of Hai Van pass, right on the border between Hue and Danang city.

Hai Van Gate is located at the top of the pass across a mountain range that extends horizontally into the sea from the Truong Son range, known as the “throat” of the Imperial City of Hue.

This is a project contains many cultural and historical values and is also a famous landscape, contributing to the tourism development of the two localities. The relic was also ranked as a National relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017.

At an altitude of nearly 500m above sea level, looking down from the top of Hai Van Gate, visitors are completely “captivated” by the majestic natural scenery embracing the beautiful city of Da Nang. The winding mountain passes, with the blue sea and sunny sky in the distance will definitely become a scene that you will never forget.

Hue specialties

To find Hue-style restaurants, try looking for places located in corners or alleys with signs that are old, rustic or without a sign, the better. If the restaurant’s name starts with “Mu”, “Me”, “O”, “Be”, most of the chefs are from Hue, so the dishes are the most authentic. In particular, the older the shop owner is, the better the food he sells. Dishes you must try when traveling to Hue:

Hue Beef Noodle Soup

When you arrive in Hue, you must try the famous Hue beef noodle soup here. The white vermicelli noodles are larger than normal vermicelli noodles, served with beef, beef patties, boiled blood, rare, encrusted, beef tendon… The highlight of this dish is the broth cooked with many spices to enhance the taste. the sweetness and characteristic flavor of the dish.

Serve with Hue beef noodle soup with a little crunchy raw vegetables, add a little satay and lemon and you’ll have a delicious and attractive bowl of beef noodle soup.

Hue cakes

Coming to Hue and not once eating Hue cakes is a serious deficiency. There are dozens of delicious cakes that you should try, such as Banh Beo (Steamed Rice Cakes), Loc Goi (Tapioca Dumplings), Ram It (Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings), Khoai cake (Vietnamese Crepe)…and especially the Bot Loc (Clear Shrimp and Pork Dumplings).

Va Tron (Hue Fig Salad) 

Fig salad is a dish in Hue that is quite popular with many people. Fig is a tree species that is widely grown in Hue and is used to make an extremely attractive mixed salad. Figs mixed with shrimp, meat, herbs, and sweet and sour sauce create an attractive flavor and stimulate the taste buds.

To accompany this dish, people often use rice paper. This is considered an appetizer or snack on hot summer days.

Sweet soups

It’s not necessarily that Hue sweet soup is better than other regions, but when you come here to enjoy Hue sweet soup, you will feel the “poetry” in the dish. Che dishes are sold quite a lot at sidewalk shops… In Hue, you can enjoy many types of sweet soup such as: lotus sweet soup, mixed sweet soup, bean sweet soup, grapefruit sweet soup…

The unique features of sweet soup dishes in the ancient capital are created from the flavor, color and talented way of processing of Hue people. In the summer, you can enjoy cold iced tea, and in the winter, you can enjoy hot tea, both of which bring an unforgettable feeling.

Warmest Greetings To All from Viet Dream Travel! We offer tour daily and package tours, visa services, and transfer services to explore Hue and other famous destinations in Vietnam. If you have any questions about Vietnam tourism, do not hesitate to contact us at: Office number: (028) 3838 8322 – Hotline/SMS/WhatsApp/Viber/Zalo – (+84) 918 709 338 Or info@vietdreamtravel.vn 

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