Da Nang or Hue, which city is better?

Da Nang and Hue are two beautiful cities in Central Vietnam. Da Nang is a famous beach destination, and Hue is best known for its history related to the last imperial of Vietnam.

In this article, I will compare Da Nang and Hue, focusing on their location, accommodations, attractions, beaches, nightlife, shopping, food, and weather.

I’m Vietnamese and I have traveled extensively around the country, visiting many places including Hue and Da Nang. So, I can give you good recommendations based on my first-hand experience.

If you’re searching for whether to visit Da Nang or Hue, keep reading!

Is it better to stay in Da Nang or Hue?

I would recommend Da Nang for first-timers to Vietnam who enjoy beautiful beaches and easy access to a wide range of tourist attractions and amenities. It’s closer to Hoi An, making it an ideal base for those who want to take day trips to the ancient town of Hoi An.

Da Nang is a more popular city than Hue because it’s the tourist hub of central Vietnam. It has a larger international airport than Hue, making it easily accessible. It has a broader selection of nightlife, shopping, attractions, activities, and luxury beachfront resorts.

Hue is a good option for those who want a laid-back atmosphere and are interested in the history of the last Imperial of Vietnam. It was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty, home to the iconic Citadel, royal tombs, and pagodas dating back to the 19th century.

Da Nang already offers a low cost of living, and Hue is even more affordable than Da Nang. If you want a budget-friendly and more local life destination, Hue is a good choice.

The two cities are only a 2-hour drive apart, so you can easily travel between them by bus, taxi, or the heritage train. I highly recommend taking the heritage train, which is one of the best train journeys in Vietnam with stunning views of Hai Van Pass and Lang Co Beach.

If you have time, you can consider visiting both Da Nang and Hue in one single trip. Many visitors stay in Da Nang then take day trips to Hue. Many guided day tours from Hue will cover all major attractions in the city within 7-8 hours.

My recommend hotels in Da Nang:

My top hotel picks in Hue:

Location and How to Get There

Both Da Nang and Hue are located in central Vietnam. Hue is around 90 km north of Da Nang. The journey between the two cities is around 2 hours by driving or taking the train.

Both cities have their own international airport and train station, so you can easily get to these places by air and by train. Da Nang airport is bigger and has more flights than Hue. Many foreign tourists prefer traveling by train.

There are also plenty of long distance buses from other cities to Hue and Da Nang. You can take sleeper buses from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Ha Long, or Ninh Binh… It’s a great way to save on overnight accommodation. Many backpackers do this.

Accommodations

Both cities have good selections of accommodations for all budgets and preferences. Da Nang is a more globally recognized destination, so it has more luxury 5-star beachfront resorts. If you want a luxury beach retreat, Da Nang has more options for you.

To make the best of your visit, make sure to book your accommodations well in advance for the best deals.

Hue is smaller than Da Nang. The hotels are concentrated in the city center, which is the area south of Truong Tien Bridge and Huong River.

In Da Nang, you can find hotels in the city center along Han River, or at the beachfront. The central beachfront is My Khe Beach with a lively atmosphere. For a quieter vibe, you can head to Son Tra peninsula area or down to Non Nuoc Beach.

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Da Nang or Hue for Nightlife

Both Da Nang and Hue have lively nightlife scenes, but Da Nang is a better place to go for nightlife. Of course, they can’t compare to larger cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Da Nang has more large bars, beach clubs, rooftop bars, restaurants, and night markets. The nightlife is centered around the banks of Han River, My Khe beach front, and An Thuong area.

The city also has some night markets to explore including Son Tra Night Market and An Thuong Night Market. If you’re in Da Nang on the weekend, you can check out the fire show at the Dragon Bridge.

Hue’s nightlife is centered around the Hue Night Walking Street and the south bank of Huong River. You can enjoy local beers, people watching, listen to live music, or take a boat ride along the river. The nightlife in Hue is generally more relaxed than in Da Nang.

Da Nang or Hue for Shopping

As the major city in central Vietnam, Da Nang has a better shopping scene. It has a big modern shopping mall and several markets catering for both locals and tourists.

Some popular malls in Da Nang include Vincom Plaza and Lotte Mart. These are good places for shops for some mid-range and luxury international brand goods.

Additionally, you can visit Han Market and Con Market. You can find everything at these markets, including cheap street food, clothes, local produce, and traditional Vietnamese souvenirs.

In Hue, you can check out several independent shops as well as stalls at the Hue Walking Street Night market, and Dong Ba market. Dong Ba Market is primarily a local market, offering an authentic glimpse into daily life.

Da Nang vs Hue Food

Both cities are great destinations for foodies to try regional central Vietnamese dishes. Each city has its own local special dishes.

Da Nang is a coastal city, so you’ll find a lot of fresh seafood restaurants along the beachfront and at the night markets. If you’re a seafood lover, Da Nang has better choices.

Mi Quang is a signature noodle dish of Da nang. You can also try other dishes like Vietnamese savory pancake Banh Xeo, or Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo.

Hue has a rich culinary tradition that reflects its imperial past. There are some restaurants in the city where you can try traditional royal dishes. Some of the iconic dishes of Hue are Bun Bo Hue, Banh Nam, Banh Khoai, and Com Hen.

Historical Influence

Da Nang and Hue are major cities and cultural hubs in Central Vietnam. They share a background of ancient Cham, colonial influences, and Vietnam-American war, they each also have unique historical narratives that have shaped their development over the centuries.

Before 15th century

Both Hue and Da Nang were part of the Champa Kingdom before the 14th century. In 1306, it became part of Dai Viet (now Vietnam) when King Chế Mân of Champa offered the lands of the two provinces Ô and Lý (Rí) as a wedding gift to marry Princess Huyen Tran of Tran Dynasty.

In 1307, King Tran Anh Tong renamed these two provinces Thuận and Hóa. The area of present-day Hue belonged to Hóa province.

Today, you can see many Cham ruins and attractions in Central Vietnam around Da Nang and Hue. The most prominent ruins is the My Son sanctuary, located around 1 hour drive from the city center of Hue.

The Museum of Cham Sculpture and Marble Mountain are also two popular destinations to learn about Cham history in Central Vietnam.

During Nguyen Dynasty

In 1802, Emperor Gia Long, founder of the Nguyen Dynasty, chose Hue as the capital of Vietnam. The city was the main political and cultural center of the country for nearly 2 centuries until 1945.

The Nguyen dynasty built the grand fortification on the north bank of Huong River. This complex is home to imperial palaces, temples, and the Forbidden Purple City. It’s surrounded by moats and thick walls.

Da Nang was an important key port for central Vietnam due to its location near the capital, Hue. When the Thu Bon silt up in the early 19th century, Hoi An no longer the main port town in the region, European ships moved to dock at Da Nang port, making it a trading port in the central region of the country.

Da Nang was also the first site of the French invasion in 1858. The French called Da Nang Tourane, serving as a critical foothold for the French conquest of Vietnam.

French colonial period (1858-1954)

During the French colonial period from late 19th–mid 20th century, Hue remained the ceremonial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty under a French protectorate, while Da Nang (Tourane) was developed into an important port city and trade hub.

The real power belonged to the French administration. The French built buildings, villas, structures, train stations in both Hue and Da Nang.

In Hue, they built the French Quarter on the south side of Huong River, opposite the Hue citadel where the royal family lives. The French built Trang Tien Bridge to connect the two sides of the river.

In Da Nang, they built Da Nang cathedral at the south bank of Han River, and Ba Na Hill, which was the hill station to escape the intense heat, humidity, and tropical diseases of Da Nang.

Today, you can still visit many old buildings with colonial architecture in both Hue and Da Nang. Bana Hill was rebuilt to become an entertainment and hotel complex with European and French architecture.

After the last emperor, Bao Dai stepped down in 1945, ending the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue was no longer the capital of Vietnam. The capital was moved to Hanoi.

The Vietnam- American war (1954-1975)

During the American-Vietnam war, Da Nang was an important military base to Americans with major Army, Air Force, and Navy installations.

The major highlight of Hue during the war time is The Battle of Hue City during Tet Luna New Year in 1968. North Vietnamese forces captured most of Hue, including the Imperial City, then U.S. and South Vietnamese forces retook the city after weeks of intense fighting.

This was one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam-American War, which caused heavy destruction and thousands of civilian deaths.

Today

Today, both Hue and Da Nang are popular tourist destinations in Central Vietnam. Da Nang is the hub of the region while Hue is a good destination for history buffs who want to see royal ruins, royal tombs, and ancient Buddhist temples.

Da Nang becomes one of the most livable cities in Vietnam, known for its clean air, warm hospitality, affordable cost of living, and vibrant beach life.

Cultural Attractions

Both cities have good cultural attractions to explore. Da Nang has an advantage of being close to the ancient city of Hoi An and My Son sanctuary, so you can easily take a day trip from Da Nang to these beautiful historical places from Da Nang.

Hoi An is a short trip away from Da Nang(about 30 minutes). It’s a UNESCO World Heritage town and is famous for its well-preserved ancient architecture, lantern-lit streets, and its history as a former trading port.

Da Nang itself has some beautiful cultural attractions such as Linh Ung Pagoda, Cham Sculpture Museum, Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge.

Hue is the obvious choice if you’re a fan of history and royal culture. You can visit many historical attractions such as The Imperial City, royal tombs, and Buddhist temples, which will take you on a journey through Vietnam’s royal past.

The highlight of the cultural attraction of Hue is the Imperial City, or The Citadel. It was once the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors. Within the complex, you can explore the grand palaces, temples, gates, and courtyards.

Additionally, the city has various royal tombs with beautiful architecture and scenic locations by lush forests, lakes, and gardens. Famous tombs are The Tomb of Tu Duc, Tomb of Khai Dinh, and Tomb of Minh Mang.

Another must see in Hue is Situated Thien Mu Pagoda, on the banks of the Perfume River. This seven-story pagoda is one of Vietnam’s oldest and most iconic pagodas.

Da Nang or Hue for Beaches

Hue is best known to its historical attractions and sites related to the last royal family of Vietnam. It has a coastal area but the closest beach to Hue is Thuan An Beach, around 15km away.

Da Nang is best known for its beaches with white sand, crystal clear water, and beautiful resorts. The closest beach to Da Nang city center is My Khe Beach, located only 2km away from Han River, which is the heart of the city.

If you want a beach holiday, Da Nang is undoubtedly the better place to go. The city has around 20km coast area stretching all the way from Monkey Mountain and Son Tra peninsula to An bang and Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An.

The city beach, My Khe Beach, has a lively atmosphere, with lots of sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars and seafood restaurants along the beachfront and the beach road.

For a quieter atmosphere or something more private, you can choose to stay at luxury resorts on Son Tra peninsula, or along the cluster of the luxury resorts south of Central My Khe Beach.

My Khe Beach is full of life. It’s bustling both day and night with locals, expats, and tourists. People come to the beach for swimming, sunbathing, yoga, exercise, surfing, and people watching.

You can watch local fishermen go fishing in the early morning in the colorful traditional fishing boat. The beach has stunning views of the Big Lady Buddha on the Monkey mountain.

Thuan An beach is sandwiched between the East Sea and Tam Giang/ Thanh Lam lagoon. It’s not the best beach in the area but a good enough spot for swimming near Hue.

If you want to experience a beautiful beach outside Hue, you need to drive around 1 hour to Lang Co beach. This beach has a stretch of white sand with clear blue calm water. The beach is surrounded by breathtaking mountains. Ideal spot for swimming and relaxing.

Outdoor Activities/ Day Trips

Da Nang is known for its beaches, so you can enjoy beach activities such as swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and surfing. My Khe Beach, Non Nuoc, and Bac My An Beach are some of the popular beaches in Da Nang.

Da Nang is home to Son Tra Peninsula, which is a protected area where you can find rare wildlife, like the red-shanked douc langur, hiking, or cycling in a refreshing air environment. This area is home to Ban Co Peak and Linh Ung Pagoda with its famous Lady Buddha statue.

In Hue, you can take a boat ride or kayak along Huong River. You can take a hiking trip in Bach Ma national park with beautiful waterfalls, and lush forests.

From both Da Nang and Hue, you can take a day motorbike or Jeep Tour to Hai Van Pass, which is a scenic mountain road with stunning views of both the mountains and the sea.

Cost of Living – Da Nang or Hue cheaper?

Both Da Nang and Hue have low cost of living, compared to Vietnam’s major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Accommodations, food, and drink in Hue are even cheaper than Da Nang.

Da Nang attracts many expats and digital nomads due to its combination of low cost of living, beautiful beaches, and wide range of modern amenities.

Da Nang vs Hue Weather

Da Nang and Hue share similar weather with 4 seasons but generally warmer weather than North Vietnam. They are both often facing flooding and storms in the rainy season.

The heavy rain period is from September to December. You might want to avoid visiting this region during typhoon season, as outdoor activities will be limited and you may get stuck in one place.

Getting Around

Da Nang is a more developed city, and it has more choices of accommodations. Local taxis and riding shares services such as Grab are widely available at all major tourist attractions, in the city center, and the beach area.

There are taxis and Grab available in Hue, but options are limited if you want to use Grab to reach the more remote tomb areas.

Additionally, you can consider renting a scooter and hiring a private driver for a day. If you’re traveling with family or a group of friends, hiring a private driver can often be a great deal.