Where to stay in Hue: Best areas & hotels

Hue is a popular destination in Central Vietnam, close to Da Nang and Hoi An. I had experience staying in several hotels in Hue, so in this article, I will share with you my opinion about where to stay in Hue – best areas for first-timers and tourists.

I will give you some personal tips and an informative video that I think will be helpful for your holiday. As a Vietnamese who has traveled extensively across the country, I’ve seen it all, so when I share insights, they come from real experience.

Hue was the capital of Vietnam for nearly 150 years during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). It is the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam before the Ho Chi Minh period.

You can choose to stay in Hue for a couple of nights to explore the city with attractions such as the Imperial Citadel, ancient pagodas, and royal tombs. From Hue, you can take day trips to Bach Ma national park, DMZ, or Phong Nha Cave.

Hue is easily accessible by bus, train, or airplane. Hue train station is located in the city center, making it convenient to take a train ride to Da Nang or Dong Hoi. It has an international airport located 30 minutes drive from the city center (around 200,000 VND for Grab taxi).

Where to stay in Hue?

Hue has two main areas, the downtown/city center in the south bank of Perfume River and the Old Town in the north bank of the river. The Old Town is the location of the historic Imperial Citadel, and now a large residential area.

The city center is formerly the French Quarter, and now the tourist center of Hue. It is packed with restaurants, bars, travel agencies, banks, and hotels. The two main areas of Hue are connected by three bridges on the Perfume River, which include Truong Tien, Phu Xuan, and Da Vien Bridge.

The city center, particularly Phu Hoi ward, is undoubtedly the best area to stay in Hue for first-time visitors. You will find a high concentration of hotels and homestays on streets like Nguyen Cong Tru, Hung Vuong, and Tran Cao Van. Many small guest houses nestle among the little laneways of Nguyen Cong Tru street.

In addition to Phu Hoi, Vinh Ninh and Phu Nhuan ward are also good neighborhoods to stay in the city center of Hue. These areas have several accommodations and offer good locations for easy access to major sights.

Hue downtown is relatively small, you can easily walk around this area if you are an active walker. I walk all the way from the new town to the old town by crossing the Huong River via Truong Tien bridge.

You can consider staying in the immediate areas of the Imperial Citadel for easy access to this iconic sight. There aren’t big chain hotels in this part of Hue, but you can find several backpacker hostels and homestays.

For a more local atmosphere, you can book your hotels or guest houses in Vy Da ward which is located north of Phu Hoi. This area offers eateries, restaurants and cafes that cater for locals so you will have cheaper prices.

The downside of staying in Vy Da is that it’s further away from the city center, so you’ll need to travel to get to the heart of the action. It’s best suited for those who rent a bike.

My top hotel picks in Hue:

Other Best Hotels in Hue

I personally stayed in 4 different hotels and guest houses in Hue with different budgets. I would stay again in most places, but I had an uncomfortable feeling at one homestay and I don’t recommend staying in this place.

My favorite place to stay in Hue is 4-star mid-range White Lotus Hotel. It has central location, which is ideal to explore the city. I stayed in a superior mountain view room on the 12th floor. It was compact but clean and well-equipped with quality bed and pillows. I slept very well.

The hotel also has stunning views of the city. You can choose rooms with river views but it can be more expensive. There is a nice outdoor pool on the 5th floor.

The breakfast area has both an indoor and outdoor area. Breakfast has lots of dishes including western food and local Hue cuisine.

I also stayed at the mid-range Jade Scene Hotel. I booked a Superior room with a balcony but they upgraded me to a bigger room. The staff at Jade Scene are very welcoming. I arrived around 8am, just wanted to drop my luggage and start exploring, but they gave me the room.

My room at Jade Scene was clean and spacious with a big balcony. They have a nice rooftop area with an outdoor pool and stunning views of the city. Jade Scene located in a small alley on Nguyen Cong Tru street.

This alley has lots of other accommodations and tour agencies. I booked a guided group tour to Bach Ma national park and all members are from hotels in this alley.

With a smaller budget, I think Hue Four Seasons is a good choice. Like many other homestays in Hue, it is located at the end of a small alley on Nguyen Cong Tru street. The owner was friendly and helpful, showing me places to eat and visit.

My room at Four Seasons was a deluxe double with a balcony ( I always room with a balcony or window, so I can breathe!). I had some good views of the river from my room and had a good sleep. I recommend this place for budget travelers.

While I have good experience staying in White Lotus, Jade Scene, and Four Seasons, I had a bad experience staying at Hue Nino Hotel. Their address was a bit confusing to find. I booked a Standard double room with a clearly described outdoor view, but when I arrived they gave me a different room without window.

When I realized I was put in the wrong room, I questioned the owner, he put me into a bigger room with a window. I woke up to find the new room flooded because of a leaking air conditioner. I don’t recommend this place due to the dishonest owner.

If you are traveling as a family, you can read the section below, otherwise you can scroll down or click to details of each area and hotels.

Where to stay in Hue with kids?

In my opinion, Hue city center is the most convenient area in Hue for those traveling with kids. It has a central location, so your family will have easy access to family-friendly amenities and attractions. The city center also has lots of family-friendly accommodations for all budgets.

I stayed in White Lotus as a solo traveler, and I think it is also one of the best places to stay in Hue with your kids. They have spacious family suits and Two Connecting Double Rooms that are great for families of 4. The family suits have 1 living room, 2 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The Two Connecting Double Rooms have 2 twin beds and one queen bed.

As I mentioned above, White lotus also has a nice swimming pool area and delicious buffet breakfast with lots of choices for both Vietnamese and Western food.

For families with a lower budget, Jade Scene Hotel is a good option. They have a Family Room with Balcony with options of 2 twin beds, 1-2 queen beds. The staff here are very helpful and friendly. Again they do have a nice rooftop area with a pool and stunning views of the city.

Best Family Hotels in Hue

The best areas to stay in Hue for tourists

1. Hue city center, the best area for first-time visitors

Hue City Center, or Downtown Hue, is the overall best area to stay in Hue for the first time and repeat travelers. This area is located on the southern bank of Perfume River, and is connected with the Imperial Citadel via Truong Tien Bridge.

Hue City Center has a wide range of accommodations for all budgets, including luxury brand hotels, to budget-friendly hostels and homestays. You can pay a little bit more if you want to stay along the river for river views. A handful of hotels in the city center date back to the French colonial periods.

There are lovely parks scattered along the 2.5km long where you can relax, take leisure walks, and enjoy the views of the river and the bridge. The waterfront wooden walking streets are also great places to check out in the evening.

The downtown of Hue is home to many tour agencies where you can book Hue city tours (visiting royal citadel, royal tombs, Thien Mu pagoda), day trips to Bach Ma national park, Phong Nha, or DMZ.

Many popular restaurants of Hue are located in the city center. Some of the famous dishes to try in Hue include Bun Bo Hue, Bun Thit Nuong, as well as Hue cakes like Banh Beo, Banh Nam, and Banh Loc.

Hue City Center encompasses several wards including Phu Hoi, Vinh Ninh, and Phu Nhuan. Phu Hoi is the most popular area where you can find the night walking street, while Vinh Ninh and Phu Nhuan also offer some good value for money hotels.

1.1. The Phu Hoi area

Phu Hoi is the tourist center of Hue. The area has a high concentration of hotels and guest houses, especially on Nguyen Cong Tru street and its small alleyways.

Additionally, this area has lively nightlife with walking streets packed with restaurants, beer bars, and night clubs. Popular streets to go at night include Vo Thi Sau, Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An, Le Loi and Nguyen Dinh Chieu.

This area is home to Truong Tien Bridge (aka Trang Tien Bridge). It’s an iconic symbol of Hue, and was built by the famous French architect Gustav Eiffel, 1897-1899 during the French colonial period.

The bridge collapsed a few times due to storms and wars, and went under major restoration from 1991-1995. It is a 400m long bridge with 6 arches, made of steel and concrete. At night, it is beautifully illuminated with colorful lights, making it a popular spot for photography.

The Nguyen Dynasty ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, living and working at the Forbidden City in the north of the Perfume River. The Nguyễn emperors remained on the throne after Vietnam became part of French Indochina in the late 19th century, but the real power increasingly shifted to the French.

The bridge was built to connect Old City on the north bank of Perfume River to the new French Quarter on south of the Perfume River. The bridge has both pedestrian and vehicle lanes. You can walk on the bridge and have stunning views of the river and the city.

Along the south bank of the Perfume River, you can see the early 20th century Hotel Saigon Morin with French colonial style buildings. It was built in 1901 by Monsieur Morin and hosted famous guests such as Charlie Chaplin.

Along the riverfront of Phu Hoi, you can check out the popular Starbucks – Song Huong. The coffee shop has stunning views of the Huong River and the Truong Tien Bridge, especially beautiful when the bridge lights up at night.

You can walk along Nguyen Dinh Chieu pedestrian street, explore outdoor exhibits along the way, observe local life, and watch the street performers playing traditional instruments.

Best hotels in Phu Hoi, Hue City Center:

1.2. The Vinh Ninh area

Vinh Ninh is located along Huong River, next to Phu Hoi ward. This area has less hotel options compared to Phu Hoi but you can find some good ones here. Vinh Ninh offers more local experience.

You can find a cluster of hotels on Hai Ba Trung street and near Hue university. There are some great 5-star hotels located at the end of Le Loi street in Vinh Ninh, close to Hue railway station and Perfume River.

Vinh Ninh has several universities located, so it has a student and youth atmosphere. The area is home to a Hai Ba Trung walking street that has a more local atmosphere and is less crowded than the Night Walking Street along Vo Thi Sau street in Phu Hoi ward.

Vinh Ninh is closer to Hue Railway station. From the train station, you can take the heritage train ride to Da Nang as well as the unification train to all major cities in Vietnam like Hanoi or Saigon.

The area is part of the French Quarter during the French colonial period, so you can still feel several buildings in this area that have colonial French architecture.

The Hue railway station was built in 1906 by the French with 20th-century French architecture with distinctive high archways and classic tiled roofs. The art deco building at 5 Le Loi street was built in 1930 as the guest house of colonial French governor of India, now used as the La Residence Hotel.

The Quoc Hoc High school is also an attraction in Vinh Ninh. It is where famous people such as Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem studied. Today, it’s still one of the top high schools in Vietnam, beside Chu Van An in Hanoi and Le Hong Phong in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the foot of Phu Xuan bridge, you can check out the riverfront Le Cercle Hue restaurant which has lovely colonial French art deco architecture dating back to 1940. The restaurant has a good mix of traditional Vietnamese, Chinese, and French dishes.

Along the riverfront, you can walk along the Lim Wood Pedestrian Bridge, linking Nguyen Dinh Chieu pedestrian street with Ly Tu Trong Park. It’s a good spot for taking photos and enjoying the breeze from the river.

Best hotels in Vinh Ninh, Hue City Center:

Luxury: Azerai La Residence
Luxury: Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel
Mid-range: Thanh Lich Royal Boutique

1.3. The Phu Nhuan area

Phu Nhuan, located between Vinh Ninh and Phu Hoi, also has a range of accommodations, especially on Hung Vuong street, one of the city’s main streets.

Hung Vuong Street is a major street in the city, linking Truong Tien Bridge and Huong River with the downtown. This 2km long wide street was known as 1er Colonial Street during the colonial period. Some nice 5-star and colonial style hotels are located on this street including Saigon Morin Hotel.

This area is home to TTTM Vincom Plaza, located between the intersection of Hung Vuong and Dong Da Street. It’s a good modern shopping destination with air conditioning, eateries, and supermarkets.

Best hotels in Phu Nhuan, Hue City Center:

2. Around Hue Imperial Citadel, good area in the old town

The Imperial Citadel area is located on the northern bank of the Perfume River, opposite the City Center. This area has a quieter vibe and more local atmosphere compared to the downtown area. It also offers a good range of budget and mid-range hotels and homestays than luxury options.

If you want to stay next to the old citadel, you can choose to stay in one of the various hotels and homestay around the citadel. You are still within walking distance to the old town via Truong Tien Bridge.

In addition to the Imperial Citadel, this area is home to the local Dong Ba market. It’s the most famous market in the city, where you can observe local life, try local food, and buy some souvenirs.

This old part of Hue has an interesting history. Hue was part of the ancient Champa Kingdom before being gradually incorporated into Vietnamese territory during the southward expansion of the Vietnamese people in the 14th-16th centuries.

The Imperial Citadel was built along the bank of Huong River in the early 19th century by Emperor Gia Long, the first first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. The citadel served as the capital city, political, cultural, and religious center of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.

The Imperial Citadel is a vast complex, covering an area of approximately 520 ha. It is organized into three concentric defensive layers, the Imperial Citadel (Kinh Thanh), the Imperial Enclosure (Hoang Thanh), and the Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh).

The Imperial Citadel has a square layout and is protected by fortified walls and a moat. It is home to beautiful palaces, temples, pavilions, and gates. These structures have a great combination of Vietnamese, Chinese, and French colonial architecture.

Each side features city gates and watchtowers for observation. Cannons and ammunition depots are evenly distributed for defense.

The Citadel has ten main gates, among which Ngo Mon is often regarded as the symbol of Hue. The Imperial Enclosure is the second enclosure within the Citadel, serving as the was the residence and working space of the emperor and the royal family.

Within the Imperial City stands Điện Thái Hòa, where the emperor held official court ceremonies, along with the Forbidden Purple City, the private living quarters of the royal family.

The Nguyen dynasty ruled from Hue until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated following the August Revolution. Vietnam became colonized by the French from the late 19th century to early 20th century, Huế remained the imperial capital but under colonial oversight.

The city suffered extensive damage during the Vietnam American war, particularly in 1968, during the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War.

Due to its massive size, I recommend select several key highlights within the citadel complex to explore, such as Flag Tower, The Imperial City /The Inner City, Thai Hoa Palace, and Duyệt Thị Đường.

The north bank of the Perfume River is also home to the ancient Thien Mu Pagoda, which is the symbol of Hue. This early 17th century pagoda is located around 3km west of Hue Citadel. The pagoda has a serene atmosphere with the seven-story pagoda, and tranquil gardens.

Within a 20km radius outside of the Imperial City, you can visit a handful of beautiful royal tombs. These tombs have beautiful architecture and are often surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Famous tombs are the Minh Mang Tomb, Khai Dinh Tomb, Tu Duc, and Gia Long Tomb.

Minh Mang Tomb was built between 1840 and 1843 by Emperor Thieu Tri to honor and bury his father, Emperor Minh Mang. The tomb is located 13km south of the Imperial Citadel, on Cam Khe Mountain, at the intersection of the Huu Trach, Ta Trach, and Perfume rivers.

Tu Duc Tomb is located 7km south of the Imperial Citadel. It was built by Emperor Tu Duc during his lifetime and is considered one of the most beautiful royal tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Khai Dinh Tomb is located 10km south of the Imperial Citadel, on Chau Chu Mountain. It was built in 1920 after Emperor Khai Dinh ascended the throne. The tomb has a unique blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles.

Here are some of my recommended hotels and homestays near the imperial citadel:

3. Vy Da, best neighborhood for local atmosphere

Vy Da is a ward located just north of Phu Hoi and is a good base for the local atmosphere. It is a bit distance from the downtown so it is best suited for those who have a bike during their stay.

Con Hen island, Part of Vy Da, is a popular area to try local dishes that are made from baby clams. You can eat it with rice or noodles. I tried it but it doesn’t fit my taste. You can give it a try too.

As this area is for locals, everything here is super cheap compared to the city center. The rice with baby clams only cost 10k to 15k.

Here are the best places to stay in Vy Da:

Some personal notes from me when visiting Hue:

If you have little time in Hue, 1-2 days is enough to see the city’s major sights like the imperial palace, royal tombs, and pagoda. You can check my article here: How many days in Hue is enough?

My favorite things to do in Hue include wandering around the walking streets, the banks of Huong River, visiting The Royal Palace, tombs, Thien Mu pagoda, and day trips to Bach Ma national park. I also like Hue cakes and Bun Bo Hue. If you are not sure what to do in Hue, you can check: 12 Best Things to Do & See in Hue.

You can watch my youtube video about Hue’s neighborhoods:

See more:

Hue city center is very small and you can easily see all major attractions within the city in one full day. You can take a guided tour, using private drivers, or a combination of walking, Grab bike, and taxi. It is very difficult to get Grab in Several remote tombs and pagodas such as Minh Mang tomb and Thien Mu pagoda.

Hue city center is the best base to stay in Hue for tourists and first-time visitors. Many wards in the city center such as Phu Hoi, Vinh Ninh, and Phu Nhuan are both excellent neighborhoods to book your accommodations. For a more local atmosphere, Vy Da and the area around the old citadel are great options for staying in Hue.