Hue, a charming city on the banks of the Perfume River, captivates visitors with its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture.
Known for its ancient tombs, pagodas, and imperial architecture, Hue holds a prestigious place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every two years, the lively Hue Festival attracts both locals and international artists, showcasing the city’s artistic and cultural diversity.
While Hue lacks the hustle of larger cities, it offers its own unique allure, blending historic charm with opportunities for adventure. From hiking in Bach Ma National Park to savouring traditional dishes, Hue promises an unforgettable travel experience.
Things to do in Hue:
1. Huong/Perfume River:
This is an 80-kilometer-long river, flowing from Truong Son Mountain through Hue City Center.
The river got its name 100 years ago because of the scent of the flowers dropped from upriver. In autumn, the floral scent was carried through the river spreading the fragrance in its surroundings.
The fragrance faded away with time due to modernization and a large number of riverboats. Here, you can spend some time at the riverfront and enjoy the fresh air and amazing sunset.
2. Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue:
This pagoda is located at the top of a hill. The feature that makes this pagoda so special is its 21-meter-tall octagonal tower, known as Thap Phuoc Duyen.
This tower was built back in 1844. Here you will find many wooden sculptures of temple guardians, a gold-plated Buddha statue, and a bell of two tonnes.
From this pagoda, you can have a mindblowing view of the Perfume River and Hue Imperial City.
3. Hue Imperial City:
This is about 30 30-minute drive away from Phu Bai International Airport, located on the northern bank of Huong or Perfume River.
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex has a large number of monuments and ruins under it such as the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial City, royal tombs, a flag tower, a pagoda, a temple, a library, and a museum.
To visit this place you have to buy a ticket that costs 150,000 VND or $6 USD. One ticket includes a visit to the imperial city and the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities.
Here, you can also enjoy the cultural performances held daily at 9:00 and 10:00 in the morning and 2:30 and 3:30 in the evening. This place opens daily at 7:00 in the morning and closes at 5:00 in the evening.
4. Thanh Toan Bridge, Hue:
Thanh Toan Bridge is located in Thanh Thuy village, which is 20 20-minute drive away from the Hue City Center.
It was built during the reign of Emperor Li Hein Tong. This bridge is 17 meters long and is built over the Nhu Y River. This bridge resembles Hoi An’s Japanese Covered Bridge because of its tiled roof.
It does not remain open for 24 hours. It opens at & in the morning and closes at % in the evening.
5. Bach Ma National Park:
If you are seeking adventure on your trip to Hue, then this is a must-visit for you. This national park is located 1450 meters above sea level. It is situated in the Phu Loc region in Hue.
On your visit to this national park, you will see many hiking trails, waterfalls, and shabby french villas. This place is a house for more than a thousand rare plants and animals.
You can spend here one or two days hiking, camping, rappelling, swimming, and abseiling over Do Quyen Fall, also known as Rhododendron Fall.
To reach this national park you have to take a bus to Cau Hai Village. From Hue to Cau Hai village will cost you 60,000 VND and from Da Nang to Cau Hai village is 80,000 VND.
This national park opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 5 in the evening.
6. The To Mieu Temple:
This temple comes under the UNESCO-protected Complex of Hue Monuments. It was built by Emperor Ming Mang in 1821 in the commemoration of the former emperors of the Nguyen dynasty.
In this temple, you will find various personal items and portraits of its 10 emperors and 9 dynastic urns. Each urn is 2 meters tall and 2,600 kilograms in weight.
If you want detailed knowledge about this monument you can hire a guide, who will tell you the history behind this temple. This temple opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 5 in the evening.
7. Truong Tien Bridge:
Known by many names such as Thanh Thai, Clemenceau, and Nguyen Hoang, this bridge became the first to connect the two Huong riverbanks.
Measuring 402.60 meters in length and 5.40 meters in width, engineers constructed it using steel. Since 1899, the bridge has collapsed into the Huong River three times.
During the Hue Festival in 2002, organizers installed a vibrant lighting system, enhancing its nighttime beauty and turning it into a major tourist attraction.
Visitors flock to the bridge at night to admire its colourful illumination and captivating views.
Places to eat in Hue:
1. La Parfum Rastaurant at La Rsidence Hue Hotel and Spa:
Here you can enjoy a six-course appetizing menu of French Vietnamese dishes and premium European wines.
The must-try dishes of this restaurant are roasted lamb rack, sesame-crusted seared tuna, and lemongrass-marinated chicken with smoked eggplant.
You can also book a table on the terrace from where you can have a look at the Perfume River behind.
This restaurant opens in two phases, from 6 AM to 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM.
2. Hanh Restaurant Hue:
If you want to try all the Heu’s traditional dishes in one place, then this place is perfect for you.
The specialty of this restaurant is Nem Lui. Other must-try dishes include banh beo, banh koai, banh cuon thit now, and nir ran.
This restaurant is a 10 10-minute drive away from Hue Imperial City. The times are from 10 in the morning to 9 in the night.
3. Nina’s Cafe:
Nina’s Cafe is not only a restaurant and cafe but also offers cooking classes and tours to iconic tourist places.
This place is well known for its authentic and affordable traditional Vietnamese dishes including squid cooked with lemongrass and chili peppers, banana flower salad, and steamed rice cakes.
It also offers some special Hue dishes such as bun thin nuong, nem lui, mein xiao, caramel pudding, ice creams, and desserts.
This restaurant opens at 8 in the morning and closes at 10:30 in the evening.
How to reach:
1. By airways:
Deboard at Phu Bai airport or Da Nang airport. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or a cab to reach the Hue city center.
2. By roadways:
Catch a bus or train from Hanoi to Hue. You can also hire a cab or taxi from Hanoi to Hue. It is a more convenient and adventurous mode to reach Hue.
From the cab or taxi, you will also get a chance to have a look at the Marble Mountains and Cham museum.
