Con Hen (Hen Islet)

Con Hen (Hen Islet) is a small alluvial islet in the Perfume River in Vy Da Ward, Hue City, Hue Municipality, central Vietnam. Formed by river sediment, it is known as the origin of Hue's famous clam-based dishes such as com hen and bun hen. The islet hosts a traditional fishing village where residents harvest freshwater clams, offering visitors a quiet riverside setting, local food experiences, and views of the Perfume River near central Hue.

Visitors can expect a small, flat river island with a quiet residential fishing village, narrow lanes, and simple houses along the Perfume River. The islet is known for numerous small eateries serving com hen (clam rice), bun hen (clam noodles) and other clam dishes. There are river views, bridge access from Vy Da, and opportunities to walk around the islet, observe daily local life and clam harvesting activities, and photograph the river landscape.

Con Hen was formed by alluvial deposits of the Perfume River and has long been inhabited as a fishing settlement. Residents traditionally harvested freshwater clams (hen) from the river, a livelihood that shaped the islet's development and contributed to the creation of Hue's distinctive clam-based cuisine during the Nguyen Dynasty period.

The islet is culturally significant as the culinary heart of Hue's com hen, bun hen, and related clam dishes, which are considered iconic Hue specialties. It represents a traditional riverine fishing community and local food culture that remains an important part of Hue's intangible cultural heritage and daily life.