My two weeks in Vietnam in February 2024 were fast-paced and jam-packed with cities, planes and sights. Most travellers do the typical north-to-south or south-to-north itinerary. I decided to begin my Vietnam adventure in the north in Hanoi and work my way down to Ho Chi Minh City for my departure flight. Most first-timers will do the same plan in Vietnam, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Da Nang and perhaps Hue. Hue can sometimes be overlooked on a busy first visit to Vietnam and I’m here to tell you why that is a huge mistake.
Two weeks into a Southeast Asia trip, I flew to Vietnam and planned to spend the most time there. It was really high on my list of places to visit and probably the place I most looked forward to on the trip. However, my first week I didn’t feel the same excitement I had expected to feel. Vietnam is a beautiful and incredibly interesting country to see. That was clear. The people are nice and the food is amazing – what’s not to love? As much as a country can have all the right things, sometimes you just don’t feel it. And that’s where I was when I arrived in Hue.
Hue is a city in central Vietnam that was previously the site of the old Imperial city. It has a population of around 700,00 people and is much smaller compared to cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. You can arrive in Hue via train from Hanoi (although it takes 14 hours). I decided to take the hour-long flight to save time on my trip. The airport is about a 30-minute drive to the centre.
What to do in Hue, Vietnam
- The Imperial City
The Imperial City is one of the most popular things to do in Hue and you can easily spend a day there. I took a guided tour with Matthew (find him on Airbnb experiences here, you won’t regret it!) and ended up being the only one on the tour. Matthew went ahead with the itinerary and gave the best tour I had in Vietnam. The Imperial City has so much history to reveal and a guide can really help you understand that and tell you some fascinating stories. After the tour finishes, there is still lots to see and explore so you can hang back and get the most out of your ticket!
2. Visit the tombs
This was a really fascinating thing to do in Hue and one of my favourites. There are many royal tombs scattered around Hue, mostly out of the city centre. For this reason, you need to hire some sort of transport or tour. You can take a local rider (bike) which is a very popular option. I’m not a fan of motorbikes so I hired a driver with a car who also happened to be very knowledgeable about the tombs so he gave me the low down on each one before I went inside. We went to three of the most well-known tombs.
Tu Duc: This tomb is one of the most popular ones and you can see why. It’s located in what feels like a big park with a lake in the middle. It’s an example of pure serenity not too far from the city limits. Not a big place to spend eternity at all.
Khai Dinh: This was probably my favourite tomb. You have to go up a lot of steps to reach the top, but you really feel a sense of majesticness making this climb. The tomb incorporates many architectural influences and also has stone figures and animals guarding it.
Minh Mang: This was my least favourite, but still interesting to visit. You need to walk through a series of temples and around lakes to reach the tomb, which is locked behind big, red gates. Apparently, they only open it once a year, not the day that I went for sure!
There are more tombs in Hue so it’s good to do some research if you want to visit a specific one. Otherwise, guides/riders will mostly take you to these three.
3. Walk along the river at night
Vietnam isn’t short on the electric budget at night and goes all out to light up its cities. The main bridge in Hue is beautifully lit, and you’ll find other lights and statues along the way. Lots of people are out and about walking or running, so take a stroll and be part of the city!
4. Explore the market
Dong Ba market is one of the most famous markets in Hue. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s good to take a wander around and take in all the energy of the locals. You can buy almost anything here! There are also other markets you can explore too!
5. Thien Mu Pagoda
This can be added to your tomb tour if you ask the driver as it’s not far away from the city. You get a nice view of the river and it’s free to visit. It can be quite busy as lots of people go and you’ll find monks praying there too.
Tips for visiting Hue
Download Grab. If you don’t feel like walking around then you can download this app. It works like Uber and is cheap to use. You can get a ride with a car or with a motorbike if you want the real Vietnam experience! This app works in many countries in Southeast Asia and also does food delivery. It’s very useful to have if you’re travelling in this part of the world.
Get the combined ticket. If you’re going to visit the Tombs and the Imperial City then get the combo ticket for your entry. You can get different combinations depending on which tombs you want to visit and can use it over two or even three days. I got the Imperial City and the three tombs I mentioned above for around 500,000 Vietnamese Dong which is about 18 euros.
Prepare for the heat. Hue was the hottest place I visited in Vietnam (in February 2024, it was nearly 40 degrees) and you could really feel the difference between the heat there and cooler Hanoi. Be prepared for the sun if you’re visiting at a warm time of year, as you’ll be outside a lot visiting the sights. It can get pretty humid so hydration is key! Using Grab to cut out long walks in the midday sun is a better idea.
Sleep. There are lots of nice hotels and hostels in Hue but I stayed at Soleil Boutique which was perfect. It is right next to the Imperial City. The aesthetic of the place was beautiful, the staff were really helpful and the breakfast was great and made fresh for you based on your choice of a menu each morning. It also had aircon in the rooms (this was needed!).
Eat. Hue has a lot of great food and also has a lot of places that blend Vietnam with other cultures. One of my favourite places was Nook Eatery which is hidden away down an alley but has a lovely terrace. If you’re working remotely, it’s a great place to do this from too!
Travel. Hue isn’t far from Da Nang or Hoi An, which are popular spots on the Vietnam tourist itinerary. You can get a shuttle or transfer which also does some stops along the way for you to see some sights. It’s the best way to travel to these cities (or vice-versa to Hue) as you get to see some things along the way. My transfer was a slight disaster as the things I chose to stop and see were dependent on the weather, and it was pouring down with rain, but c’est la vie!
I didn’t spend too long in Hue, just two days but I got to see a lot and learn a lot. You could add more days and see more. I am really glad I decided to include it on my itinerary as it ended up being one of my favourite places in Vietnam and then it changed my mindset about the country and left me feeling more positive for the next stops and the final week. I felt like it was something different to everything else I saw in Vietnam and definitely has a lot to offer, so don’t miss out!