Hue

Recently updated on August 11th, 2022 at 11:12 am

Hue is one of the three major tourist areas of Vietnam. It is a city of long-standing culture, beautiful natural scenery, and a world-recognized historical monument complex.

Best time to travel to Hue

In this city, there are mainly 2 distinct seasons: dry and rainy seasons. The dry season lasts from March to August, at which time it is hot and high in temperature.

The rainy season will last from August to November, at this time, often appear sudden rains and there are prolonged periods of rain that can cause floods.

The weather is quite cold. If you intend to travel to this city at this time, you should consider and update the weather forecast regularly to have a suitable schedule.

The period from December to February, the time is very comfortable, and this is also a good time for the plan to explore the heritage city of the world.

How to get to Hue

Come to Hue

Plane

Hue has Phu Bai International Airport (IATA: HUI, ICAO: VVPB) daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Hue with many airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, VietjetAir, and Jetstar ticket prices from 900,000 VND /ticket.

From Phu Bai Airport to the center of the city is about 40 Km, you can use the bus service from the airport to the city center with a fare of about 50k /1 person or can also call a taxi.

Train

If you have a lot of time and want to enjoy the scenery on the road, the train is an appropriate choice. From Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, there are trains to Hue. Ticket prices are from 350,000 to 800,000 VND depending on the type of seats and your departure station.

You can see the list of Thong Nhat trains and the times from Hanoi and Saigon stations below:

Read more:

• Vietnam Sleeper Train: What to expect & Some Handy Tips before Traveling by Overnight train in Vietnam

Moving around

Cyclo

There are many cyclo to serve tourists. Cyclo prices are relatively cheap, for a tour around the city.

Note:

• You should negotiate a price before boarding.

Motobike/bicycle

As a tourist city, you will easily rent yourself a bike or motorbike that is affordable. Bicycle and motorbike rental locations are concentrated in Hung Vuong street, on the way from Truong Tien bridge to Hung Vuong intersection and Nguyen Tri Phuong.

The second area is Le Loi Street, the Western Quarter opposite Huong Giang Hotel, the streets like Pham Ngu Lao and Chu Van An all have motorbike/bicycle rental shops.

However, the tourist attractions are quite far from the city center, so motorbikes will be the most suitable means, while bicycles are only suitable for short rides around in the city area.

The rental fare is from 100,000 – 150,000 VND/motorbike/day.

Boat trip to Huong River

Sitting on the boat, floating on the river, enjoying Hue music and flower garlands. If you want to rent a boat to go on the Huong River, you can contact the boat station. Prices depend on which boat you choose.

Notes:

• If you rent a motorbike to travel, research your route carefully, bring a travel map, or have an internet connection to use Google Maps. And strictly adhere to the road traffic safety law.
• Do price negotiation before using the services here.

Where to stay? Nice and good Homestay & Hotels in Hue

In Hue from the homestay to the high-end hotel, there are many options for you. If you go on holiday, you are recommended to book accommodation 2-3 weeks before to avoid room unavailability or high prices.

Right in the city center, there are many homestays and hotels at very reasonable prices and you can book directly or through the travel company so you get better prices a lot more than you book directly with that hotel.

This is an experience when traveling to Hue you should pay attention.

In addition, Booking.com is a very reasonable choice we would like to advise you with information and photos, very detailed service, as well as reviews of the people who have booked here.

Places to visit in Hue

The Imperial Citadel

The complex of Hue’s ancient ruins is the most typical relic of architecture, sculpture, and aesthetics of the ancient Vietnamese people.

This complex of monuments is divided into different building clusters including those outside Imperial City and inside Imperial City.

This relic complex was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site in 1993. Currently, the ancient capital of Hue has been included in the list of 62 national special important relics of the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

Flag pole

The flagpole is located in the middle of the south side of the citadel facing the Ngo Mon Gate and this is also where the flag of the old government dynasties was hung.

Historically, the flagpole was often the place to mark important events and changes in the government in this city. Today this flagpole is considered one of the symbols of Hue city

The Nine Holy Cannons

It is the place where 9 cannons were created by local artisans under Gia Long king. These cannons were made from the spoils of weapons and bronze items used in the battle against the Tay Son dynasty as evidence of their victory.

The Nine Tripod Cauldrons

In the southwest of Imperial City, there are 9 cauldrons made from bronze and completed in 1837. Each one has its own name corresponding to an emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, they have different weights and shapes. Exterior carvings are also different.

Ngo Mon Gate

This is the main gate of Hoang Thanh (Imperial Citadel) built during the reign of King Minh Mang, only for the king’s path.

This place used to take place in the most important ceremonies of the Nguyen Dynasty and also took place in many important historical landmarks.

Hien Nhon Gate

Located in the east of the Imperial City and only accessible to men, this is considered the most beautiful of the 13 gates – because of the many intricate carvings and patterns.

Today, with the purpose of contributing to the improvement of the landscape of this city in the evening as well as highlighting the architectural value of the works to attract the attention of tourists, Hien Nhon gate is lit every night and attracts the attention of many people and visitors to the ancient capital.

Chuong Duc Gate

Chuong Duc Gate, located in the west of the Imperial Citadel, was reserved for women to enter and leave

Imperial Citadel

It is the second city within Hue citadel – also known as the Forbidden City, the residence of the king as well as the workplace of the old feudal government. In addition, Imperial Citadel is also a place of worship for the ancestors and kings of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The citadel began to be built in 1804 with more than 100 different constructions until 1833. The Imperial Citadel has 4 gates arranged on 4 sides in the direction of East-West-South-North, of which the main door is located in the South named Ngo Mon.

There are also many other monuments in the process of reconstruction, we will continue to update more information about these historic sites here.

Imperial Tombs of Hue

Gia Long Tomb

Located in the territory of Huong Tho commune, Huong Tra town, the tomb of King Gia Long or Thien Tho Lang is the tomb of Nguyen The To Cao Hoang De (1762-1820), the founder of the Nguyen dynasty.

Minh Mang Tomb

Minh Mang Tomb belongs to Cam Ke Mountain, Huong Tho Commune, Huong Tra District, about 12 km from the city center, including 40 large and small buildings.

Thieu Tri Tomb

Thieu Tri Tomb is located in Cu Chanh Village, Thuy Bang Commune, Huong Thuy Town. It is the resting place of Emperor Thieu Tri built by Emperor Tu Duc in 1847.

Compared to the tombs of other kings, Thieu Tri’s tomb has its own architectural features.

Tu Duc Tomb

Tomb of Tự Đức (Vietnamese: Lăng Tự Đức), officially Khiêm Tomb (Khiêm Lăng), is located in Thuong Ba Hamlet, Thuy Xuan Ward.

It is built for the Nguyễn Emperor Tự Đức and took three years to build from 1864–1867. It is divided into a Temple Area and a Tomb Area.

The tomb has very delicate architecture, and charming scenery and is one of the most beautiful tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Khai Dinh Tomb

Khai Dinh’s tomb was built in 11 years (1920 – 1931), spanning two Nguyen kings, Khai Dinh and his son Bao Dai. Although this tomb has the smallest area, it is the most effort-consuming and money-making work among the tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Khai Dinh’s tomb is built based on the architecture of the combination of East and West. When coming here, visitors will feel overwhelmed by the process here that brings a lot of different schools of architecture from India, Buddhism, Roman Gothic…

Hue Fine Arts Museum

At No. 3, Le Truc. It is a place to display more than 300 artifacts made of wood by many different materials such as gold, crockery, porcelain, and all kinds of costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts gives visitors an overview of royal life.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda is an ancient pagoda located on Ha Khe Hill, about 5 km west of the city center.

The pagoda was built in the 1600s and is preserved over time, Thien Mu Pagoda is a tourist destination that can not be ignored when coming here.

The ancient, magnificent, and sacred features of the temple attract many visitors and Buddhists.

Vong Canh Hill

Vong Canh hill is located 7km from the city center. Standing on Vong Canh hill, you can see the scenery of the city, especially the tombs of the Nguyen Kings.

The best time to get the views is at sunset or dawn.

Bach Ma National Park

This area is a nature lovers’ paradise, as by coming here, you will be surrounded by all kinds of plants, trees, and wild animals. If you want to live with nature, this is one of the best tourist destinations for you.

The Beach

Lang Co Beach

Lang Co beach is located about 70km south of the city center, it is a beautiful sand beach, with clear water, and green, with many resorts.

With over 10 km of long white sand, vast blue waters of beautiful, and the vast rainforest on the mountains undulating, Lang Co Beach attracts many tourists here.

Thuan An Beach

Thuan An beach is located 15 km east of Hue city, and has long been famous as an ideal holiday resort. The beach here is still wild because tourism services are not much developed.

Canh Duong Beach

Located about 60km from the city center, this is a beautiful beach to attract tourists with a length of 8km. The beach has blue seawater and fine white sand.

Chuoi Beach

Located in northern Hai Van, Lang Co. Chuoi beach is attractive to visitors of the wild, mysterious nature.

The Lagoon

Lap An Lagoon

Lap An Lagoon is located near Highway 1A, the section passing Lang Co Town, Phu Loc District on the road linking Da Nang to Hue.

The lagoon is located in a quite nice position when located at the foot of the Phu Gia Pass with a radius of 15 km2.

Surrounding the lagoon is the majestic Bach Ma mountain range, in front of the lagoon is Lang Co bay.

Chuon Lagoon

Chuon Lagoon in Phu Vang district has an area of more than 100ha, located nearly 15 km east of the city center. This is one of the best places to watch the sunset and the sunrise.

Tam Giang Lagoon

Tam Giang Lagoon is known as the largest surface wetland in Southeast Asia. Like Chuon Lagoon, Tam Giang Lagoon is also one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunrise and sunset in Hue.

The best time of the day to come here is from 5:30 am to 5:30 pm. In addition, there are also huts that serve some very local food of the people here for very cheap prices to serve tourists.

Truong Tien Bridge

Truong Tien Bridge (also known as Trang Tien Bridge) is located in the center of the city and is a place not to be missed when visiting Hue.

The romantic and poetic scene will surely bring you impressive pictures of the historic bridge.

Thanh Toan Bridge

Thanh Toan Bridge is a bridge made of wood with a tile roof across a ditch in Thanh Thuy Chanh village, in Thuy Thanh commune, Huong Thuy Town, about 8 km southeast of the city center.

This is a wooden bridge classified as rare and has high artistic value among the ancient bridges in Vietnam.

Hai Van Pass

Hai Van Pass between Thua Thien Hue Province and Da Nang city. The pass is 20km long, crossing the Bach Ma Mountain, 500m above sea level.

If you choose to travel to Hue by train it will be a beautiful sight from the past.

Hai Van Quan

Located at the top of Hai Van Pass, it is a place of great military and road traffic at the southern gateway connecting to the citadel of Thang Long.

Hai Van Quan is an attraction attracting domestic and foreign tourists to visit and admire the majestic beauty of the mountains and the sea here.