Hue is located in central Vietnam near the east coast of the South China Sea. The city was heavily damaged during the Vietnam War and does not seem to have fully recovered. There are several historic attractions worth visiting such as Thai Hoa Palace and Tombs of the Emperors. Among the most interesting is Dong Ba Market along the Perfume River. It is enormous at 52,500 square feet. Most of the vendor stalls are housed in a gray building that bustles with activity. Other merchants huddle outside under makeshift canopies and the mud. Life in Hue is rudimentary.