Hue travel guide: best time, what to see, what to eat, 2-day itinerary

Hue was the capital of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–1945). The Complex of Hue Monuments became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and Hue royal court music is recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Hue is only about 100 km from Da Nang, so it fits easily into any central Vietnam trip.

When is the best time to visit Hue?

• January – April: mild and fairly dry – the best time for the Imperial City and the tombs.
• May – August: hot and sunny; sightsee early or late in the day. Great for Tam Giang lagoon and Lang Co beach.
• September – December: rainy season, with possible floods around October – November. Bring a raincoat and check the forecast.

How to get to Hue

• From Da Nang: about 2 – 2.5 hours by car through the Hai Van tunnel (or over the scenic Hai Van Pass). The Da Nang – Hue train along the coast is beautiful too. For a day trip, take our Hue day tour from Da Nang.
• By air: Phu Bai airport is about 15 km from the city centre.
• Getting around: taxis, rental motorbikes and cyclos in the centre. The royal tombs are spread around the outskirts, so a tour or private car is easier.

Top things to see

• Imperial City (Dai Noi): Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, The Mieu temple, Hien Lam Pavilion… allow at least 2 – 3 hours.
• Thien Mu Pagoda: Hue’s iconic pagoda on the Perfume River, with the Phuoc Duyen tower.
• Royal tombs: majestic Minh Mang, poetic Tu Duc, and the ornate East-meets-West Khai Dinh.
• Perfume River & Hon Chen Temple: dragon-boat rides and traditional Hue singing on the river at night.
• Tam Giang lagoon & Chuon lagoon: one of the largest lagoon systems in Southeast Asia, with stunning sunsets.
• Dong Ba Market, Hue garden houses, Thuy Xuan incense village, Sinh painting village.

What to eat in Hue

• Bun bo Hue – the city’s famous spicy beef noodle soup with lemongrass.
• Com hen / bun hen – rice or noodles with baby clams, a true local classic.
• Banh beo, nam, loc, ram it – order a tray of Hue cakes to try them all.
• Che Hue – dozens of sweet soups; try the tapioca dumplings with roast pork.
• Souvenirs: me xung sesame candy, sour shrimp, royal tea, conical hats.

Suggested 2-day Hue itinerary

• Day 1: Imperial City and Dong Ba Market in the morning; Thien Mu Pagoda and Tu Duc Tomb in the afternoon; dragon boat and Hue singing at night. Save time with the Hue City Tour or the Deluxe version.
• Day 2: Minh Mang and Khai Dinh tombs in the morning; sunset at Tam Giang lagoon with the Tam Giang – Chuon lagoon tour.

Got an extra day? Try the DMZ day tour or continue north to Phong Nha – see our Phong Nha travel guide.