The Perfume River is a river that crosses the city of Huế, in the central Vietnamese province of Thừa Thiên Huế.The Perfume River has two sources, both of which begin in the Dãy Trường Sơn mountain range and meet at Bang Lang Fork. The Ta Trach (Left Tributary) originates in the Truong Dong mountains and flows northwest towards Bang Lang Fork. The shorter Huu Trach (Right Tributary) flows past the Tuan ferry landing towards Bang Lang Fork.
The 105m Ngu Binh Mountain has a striking and symmetric figure. On both sides of the Even Mount (Bang Son) are 2 small mounts called Ta Bat Son (Left Mount) and Huu Bat Son (Right Mount). After observing that Bang Son resembled a screen, the Nguyễn Dynasty decided to build up Huế which became known as their “Forbidden Purple City.” Emperor Gia Long approved the design of geomancers which chose this mount as a front altar of the imposing and solid defending wall system, and renamed it Ngu Binh.
The locals who live beside the river in Huế are often very poor and wash their clothes and bathe in the water. Also, they earn money by dredging the river bed for sand. This sand is collected and then sold to cement manufacturers for a tiny price.
