12 Best Things to Do & See in Hue

I recently had a wonderful 4 nights in Hue and was able to check out most of the must-see attractions in this beautiful city. So, in this article, I will share with you the top things to do and see in Hue based on my experiences.

Hue is one of the most popular tourist destinations in central Vietnam along with Da Nang and Hoi An. It was the ancient capital of Vietnam for more than a hundred years. The Nguyen Dynasty, the last royal dynastic family of Vietnam, lived in The Hue Citadel from 1802 to 1945.

There are so many things to do and see in Hue. You can explore cultural and historical attractions such as the old citadel, royal tombs, pagodas, temples, Perfume River, and Dong Ba Market. You can try local cuisines such as Bun Bo Hue and many kinds of “Hue cake (Banh Hue)”. You can enjoy the lively nightlife at the walking streets on Phu Hoi ward.

In addition to Hue City’s attractions, Hue is a great base to explore central Vietnam. You can take day trips to DMZ, Phong Nha, Hai Van Pass, Da Nang, or Bach Ma National Park.

Hue is easily accessible by air and by road. It has an airport called Phu Bai airport, located 30 minutes Taxi/ Grab drive to the city center. Taking flights are sometimes the cheapest and fastest ways to get to Hue from major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. There are daily flights from/ to Hue operated by Vietnam Airline and Vietjet air.

Hue also has a train station, located in the city center, offering trains to other cities in Vietnam like Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Hanoi, or Ho Chi Minh City. Trains are slower options but it is safer than taking a bus in a far distance.

I recommend taking one of the heritage trains (HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4) between Da Nang and Hue. It is one of the most beautiful train rides in Vietnam, passing Hai Van pass and has breathtaking views of the sea and the ocean.

Getting around Hue city is easy by walking, cycling, guided tour, and taking a Grab taxi/bike. Taking a cyclo tour around the city is also a popular activity for tourists. You can rent a motorbike to explore at your own pace (probably the best and cheapest way to get around). You can consider having a private driver, who can wait for you when you explore the attractions.

Grab is easy to find in Hue city center but very hard to find in remote areas such as Minh Mang tomb. But, it is a pretty popular tourist destination, so you can sit at cafes outside of the tombs and wait for a taxi to drop off their passengers, and ask them to take you.

1. Hue Imperial City

Visiting Hue Imperial City is one of the top things to do in Hue. You can explore this complex by yourself or consider taking a guided tour (often combined with a tour to royal tombs) for more insight into its history.

The Imperial Citadel was built by Emperor Gia Long in 1805 and served as royal palace until 1945. It is a large complex where you can see various gates, walls, temples, buildings, and a Flag Tower. You can spend 2-3 hours wandering around this complex.

Hue Imperial City is open daily from 7.30 am to 5pm. You can buy a ticket at the entrance. The ticket is 200, 000 VND/ adults. You can consider buying a combo ticket to other royal tombs which save you some money. I bought a combo ticket for the palace, and 3 other tombs which cost 530,000VND.

Hue Citadel is located on the banks of Perfume River and is easily reachable by walking or taking Grab taxi/ motorbike. Most visitors stay in the city center of Hue in Phu Hoi ward. From this location, you can walk along the Huong River, across the Trang Tien/ Phu Xuan Bridge, turn left at Tran Hung Dao street, and follow the signs on the road.

2. Royal Tombs (Minh Mang tomb, Khai Dinh tomb, and Tu Duc tomb)

Visiting royal tombs is one of my favorite things to do in Hue. I bought the combo ticket at the Hue Citadel that included tickets to Minh Mang tomb, Khai Dinh tomb, and Tu Duc tomb.

Minh Mang tomb is the furthest tomb from the city center, so I decided to visit this tomb first, then Khai Dinh tomb, and Tu Duc tomb. Minh Mang tomb is located in a rural area in Huong Tho Commune, 30 minutes drive from Phu Hoi ward. You can easily get a Grab taxi to this tomb from the city center.

Minh Mang King is the second ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty. You can spend a couple of hours here exploring different places, temples, and pavilions.

It was hard for me to get a Grab from Minh Mang tomb. I tried a few requests from Grab App but there were no available drivers. I had a drink at a cafe outside of the gate and waited for a free taxi driver who just dropped off his passenger and asked him to drive me to Khai Dinh tomb.

Khai Dinh tomb is located 10 minutes drive from Minh Mang tomb and 20 minutes drive from Hue City center. Khai Dinh was the 12th King of the Nguyen Dynasty and was the last king to build a mausoleum for himself. This tomb is located on a small hill in Thuy Bang commune overlooking Huong River.

You will need to climb a number of steps to explore different buildings. I recommend avoiding visiting this place at midday during the hot season. It’ll take a couple of hours to explore this complex.

The last tomb in this royal tomb tour is Tu Duc tomb, located only 15 minutes drive from Khai Dinh tomb and the city center. You can easily order a Grab taxi from Khai Dinh tomb. I didn’t see any Grab bike drivers available on the App. I saw a driver wearing a Grab’s uniform, but maybe just a fake one? I booked a Grab taxi as it was available from its official App.

Tu Duc is the 4th King of the Nguyen Dynasty. You can spend at least one hour here exploring different palaces, temples, and a lake. Outside of the tomb, you can explore many shops in Thuy Xuan Incense Village where locals sell and make incense sticks. It is a great place to take photos with many colorful incense sticks.

3. Thien Mu pagoda

Thien Mu pagoda is one of the top must-see pagodas in Hue. It is located on the bank of Huong River, a 15 minutes ride from the city center. Remember to dress respectfully, covering your knees and shoulders, as you do when visiting any temples in Vietnam.

The pagoda is free to visit. It is open daily from morning to late afternoon. You can spend hours here exploring the tower, halls, gardens, and shrines.

4. Huong River, Trang Tien Bridge

Huong River is a popular attraction in Hue. It is a huge river running through the heart of Hue City. You can explore the River by taking a stroll along its bank, or take a river cruise during sunset. If you are an active traveler, you can consider kayaking along the river.

Trang Tien Bridge is known as the symbol of Hue, connecting two banks of the Huong River. It has pedestrian and vehicle paths. You can take a walk on this bridge and have stunning views of the city.

5. Dong Ba market

Dong Ba market is a bustling market in Hue City. It is located very close to Hue Citadel, so you can combine your visit to the citadel with the market. The market has many colorful stalls selling a wide range of goods.

You can try local food here or buy some local delicacies. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything here, it is still a good place to visit to experience local daily life.

6. Enjoy nightlife at Walking Street in Phu Hoi ward

Phu Hoi ward is the central neighborhood in Hue where many visitors choose to stay. This area has a wide range of hotels, guest houses, and homestays for all budgets. It is also a lively area with many restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops.

The night walking street around Vo Thi Sau, Chu Van An, and Pham Ngu Lao Street, is a great place to go out for food and drinks. You can sit at many Vietnamese style bars with streetside seating, grab a Bia Hoi (fresh beer) and people watching.

The Hue night walking street is more relaxed and less crowded compared to Ta Hien Beer Street in Hanoi and Bui Vien in Ho Chi Minh City. You can find some reasonably-priced souvenirs here.

7. Local food: Bun Bo Hue, and combo “Banh Hue”

Hue is not only a great destination for history buffs but also for foodies. The city is known for its local regional dishes such as Bun Bo Hue, Hue cake, or Com Hen.

Bun Bo Hue is a spicy beef noodle soup made with beef; Com Hen is a rice dish with clams. Hue Cake, or Banh Hue, includes many kinds but the main ingredients are rice flour and shrimp. You can also order combo Banh Hue to try popular types such as Banh Khoai, Banh Nam, Banh Bot Loc, and Banh Beo.

You can watch my video about must-see things in Hue:

8. Hue Salty Coffee

Vietnam is known for its wonderful coffee culture. You can try delicious coffee all around the country. Vietnamese iced-coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee, or salty coffee are special Vietnamese drinks.

If you love coffee, you must try Salty coffee in Hue, which is a specialty from Hue. As the name suggests, it includes cafe, salt, and condensed milk.

9. Full Day or half day trip to DMZ

Taking a half or full day trip to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) from Hue is a popular activity for many visitors, especially those who are interested in the history of the Vietnam War.

The DMZ was a dividing line between North and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The DMZ area was one of the heaviest bombarded regions in the Vietnam-American War. It is located around 100 km north of Hue.

In the tour, you will visit historical places such as Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, Khe Sanh Combat Base, Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River.

10. Day trip to Bach Ma National Park

Bach Ma National Park is one of my favorite day trips from Hue. It is a great place for a day out in nature, hiking, and meeting new friends. I booked a guided tour from my hotel Jade Scene Hotel. The tour included pick up/drop off from the hotel and the lunch box.

Bach Ma National park is a beautiful natural area located 40 km from Hue. It used to be the home of rich French citizens in the 20th century. Along the park, you can still see the ruins of French architectural villas.

From the top of the park, you can enjoy stunning views of the Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, Tam Giang Lagoon, and Hue City. We took a long hike along Ngu Ho Lake, stopped at a nice swimming spot for swimming and lunch, then headed to Do Quyen Waterfall.

I highly recommend this day trip from Hue, especially if you are a nature lover. The hiking wasn’t difficult but it has some slippery and rocky paths. You’ll need to be very careful to avoid falling down. Remember to bring a good pair of hiking shoes.

11. Day trip Hai Van Pass, Da Nang

Hai Van pass is a scenic road connecting Hue and Da Nang. The best way to explore this pass is perhaps taking a motorbike ride. The road is windy and dangerous, so only drive yourself if you have experience driving on mountainous roads in Vietnam.

You can consider taking an easy riders tour, where you can sit back at a local experienced motorbike driver and enjoy the views. The open jeep tours are also a popular option to explore Hai Van pass.

You can also consider taking the heritage train connecting Hue and Da Nang. There are two trains from Hue to Da Nang, and two trains from Da Nang to Hue each day. They are HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4.

You can check the schedule from its official website dsvn.vn. You can buy a ticket at the train station if you don’t want to book online.

The train has beautiful views of Hai Van pass, Lang Co Beach, the mountain, and the valleys. The best seats are window seats with full views. They are 32, 40, 41, 49 (for Da Nang – Hue direction) and 8, 16, 17, 25 ( for Hue – Da Nang direction).

12. Chill at Lang Co Beach or Thuan An Beach

If you get bored with places and tombs, you can check out the beaches. Some popular beaches nearby Hue include Lang Co Beach and Thuan An Beach. Lang Co Beach is an hour drive from Hue, Thuan An Beach is closer only 20 minutes away.

Lang Co Beach is one of the best beaches in Vietnam, known for its clean water with soft fine and white sand. It is a great place for swimming and relaxing.

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These are my recommendations for the must-see attractions and top things to do in Hue. My favorite things to do in Hue are the Hue Citadel, royal tombs, and Thien Mu pagoda, as well as taking day trips to Bach Ma National Park and heritage trains to Da Nang. I also like taking a walk along the Perfume River, exploring the night walking streets, and trying local dishes such as Bun Bo Hue and combo Hue cake.