Hen Isle( Cồn Hến), located in downstream Perfume River, is famous for specialties such as rice or noodle. With its location, Hen isle brings itself special beauty which is typical for Hue – romantic city.
There are just a few people visiting Hen Isle when they travel to Hue. However, Hen Isle is a special destination for people who have the deep affection to Hue. Despite its fast change, Hen Isle always brings the meditative beauty so it is said that Hen isle is the symbol of Hue city.
Hen isle is located in Huong Luu commune, Vi Da ward. It takes some kilometers from city center to this isle. People called it by “isle” because it is an alluvial ground emerging in Perfume River. In the geographic book, this place was named as “Ta Thanh Long” but local people usually called it as Hen isle. The Perfume River flows through this place with clear water, less silt and alkaline substances. In the morning, this isle is full of white frost. The small road divides the village into two parts and on two river banks are the ranges of green hibiscus. The straight road is bended then blocked by Perfume River. It is said that this small road is the anxiety about ancestor. The path leads the isle to the Perfume River – the river building up this isle.
There is nothing but mussels in Hen isle. Mussel shells cover the entire the streets and ground. Each layer of mussels overlaps one another, which brings the different colors. The bottom layer slowly dissolves in soil. Walking on the path of Hen isle and listen the disturbance of mussel shells on the ground to feel the deposition of time.
In Hen isle, you will feel as if the time would have stopped. There are the white frosts in the morning, the smell of boiled mussels and rice, noodles, mussels in the small villages.
In the sunset, the sun looks like a giant lantern hanging on Hen isle. The red color of the sun and blue color of isle reflect to the Perfume river, which makes an attractive picture.