How to get to Hue?
To get to Hue, you have many transportation options depending on your starting point. Here are the most popular ways to travel to Hue:
By air: Airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air all provide services for flights to Phu Bai airport, Hue. Flight time from Hanoi to Hue only takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, with round-trip ticket prices from 78 USD/person. Meanwhile, from Ho Chi Minh City, flight time is about 1 hour 30 minutes, with round-trip ticket prices from 80 USD/person.
By train: From Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces, visitors can take the train to see the panorama of Vietnam along the way. The train has hard seats, soft seats, beds, with or without air conditioning and 5-star luxury trains. Ticket price is about 16 - 100 USD per person. If you go far in the hot season, choose train SE3, SE1 to shorten travel time.
You can refer to 4-star or 5-star train services from shipping companies, with luxurious cabins and attentive service during the 13-hour journey for only from 80 USD.
Book Livitrans 4-star train tickets: When choosing New Livitrains' service, you will experience all the best services: enthusiastic and attentive staff, served delicious and diverse dishes, wifi , air conditioning and many other amenities for only 66 USD.
By car: You can also rent a private car from other locations such as Da Nang, Hoi An, Dong Hoi to Hue for about 40 USD - 80 USD. This service will help you flexibly explore the surrounding area in its own way.
Means of transportation in Hue
Traveling in Hue is also quite easy. You can choose the following means of transport for your Hue trip:
Taxi: Taxis are very popular and convenient for tourists, especially those traveling in groups or when the weather is not good.
Motorbike: To actively travel to Hue and explore local cuisine, you should rent a motorbike. The rental price is not too expensive, from 4 to 8 USD/day.
Cyclo: You can try the experience of traveling by cyclo to enjoy the fresh, peaceful air here. Prices range from 2 to 3 USD/trip depending on the schedule.
When should you travel to Hue?
If you intend to travel to Hue, you need to find out which season is best. In Hue, there are many scenic spots and delicious dishes that you should try. Therefore, if you travel to Hue in good weather, you will easily explore the beautiful ancient capital without fear of being interrupted by sudden rains.
Summer in Hue is hot, lasting from March to August. The rainy season in Hue often has storms and floods from October to January. Winter is cold, sometimes the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius. Spring in Hue is the most pleasant climate, from January to the end of March. You should go to Hue in spring to enjoy the cool air and can enjoy the beautiful scenery here most comfortably. The Hue Festival season is held in April.
Popular destinations when coming to Hue
Hue Imperial Citadel
The first destination not to be missed in Hue is Hue Imperial City, the center of Vietnam's ancient capital under the Nguyen Dynasty. This is the most meaningful feat in the Hue Monuments Complex recognized by UNESCO in 1993.
Hue Citadel is a large area of land used as a living place for the Nguyen royal family. It includes hundreds of architectural works intended for rituals, worship, work, daily life, entertainment.
Opening hours: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
Entrance fee: about 8 USD/person
Address: North bank of Perfume River, Hue city
Khai Dinh Tomb
Khai Dinh Tomb, located on Chau Chu mountainside, Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy town, is the resting place of King Khai Dinh (1885 - 1925). The architecture of Khai Dinh tomb combines East and West cultures, reflecting King Khai Dinh's taste for luxury and luxury.
To visit Khai Dinh mausoleum, the ticket price here is about 6 USD/person.
Address: National Highway 49, Thuy Bang Commune, Huong Thuy Town, Thua Thien Hue City
Minh Mang tomb
It is one of the important highlights in the cultural picture of Hue. This is the resting place of the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, Minh Mang, and is famous for its traditional architectural style and influence of Confucian philosophy.
Minh Mang Tomb is open from 07:00 to 17:00
Entrance fee is 6 USD/person.
Address: National Highway 49, Huong Tho Commune, Huong Tra Town, Thua Thien Hue City
Hue Museum
This is a destination not to be missed when you visit the ancient city of Hue. Located on the old campus of Hue Quoc Hoc High School, this museum displays thousands of artifacts, objects and documents related to the history and culture of Hue and the surrounding region.
To visit Hue Museum, you need to buy an entrance ticket. Ticket price is about 6 USD/person.
Dong Ba Market
Dong Ba Market is a symbol of Hue, famous for its excitement and variety of goods. Visitors can explore delicious dishes and shop from 7am to late evening. After 4:00 p.m., many restaurants open to serve food. You should bargain when shopping here.
Address: Tran Hung Dao, Phu Hoa Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
Thien Mu Pagoda
Existing for more than 400 years and still preserving precious values and meanings. An interesting way to visit Thien Mu Pagoda is to take a Hue dragon boat ride on the Perfume River, Hue's famous river.
Working hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance fee: Free
Address: An Ninh Tuong village, Kim Long district, Hue city (5km from the city center)
Huong Thuy Xuan Village
Thuy Xuan Hue Incense Village is also a tourist attraction that has attracted a large number of tourists to Hue recently. It appears colorful thanks to the local incense making profession that has a history of 700 hundred years. Therefore, it brings visitors a vibrant scene and a cultural feature of Hue city.
Opening hours: 07:00-19:00
Entrance fee: free
Address: 62 Huyen Tran Cong Chua, Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City (6km from the city center)
Hue National Historical Site
Including works such as Truong Tien Bridge, Trang Tien Bridge and city gate, Hue National Historical Site is a place where you can visit for free and explore history and culture of the city.
Where to stay when coming to Hue?
Resort
Banyan Tree Lang Co
Located in Lang Co Bay, on the road connecting two famous heritage cities of Hue and Hoi An, about 42 km from Phu Bai airport. Honored as Asia's leading luxury beach resort at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2021, and was ranked in the top 30 best resorts in Asia by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in 2020.
Each villa has a private swimming pool, wonderful views of the bay, beach or mountains. With prices ranging from $300 to $620 per night, this is the ideal destination for luxurious and relaxing experiences.
Vedana Lagoon
Located in Phu Loc town, Phu Loc district, about 38 km from Hue city center. This resort is large, spanning an area of 27 hectares and includes 29 villas and bungalows.
Natural design and high-class amenities, each room has a sunbathing yard and balcony overlooking Tam Giang lagoon or green garden. Spa services, yoga, cooking classes and other extracurricular activities are highlights. Room rates range from 80 USD to 500 USD per night
Homestay
Hachi
Located in the middle of a romantic grapefruit garden in the ancient village of Thuy Bieu, about 7 km from Truong Tien bridge. With appearances in many foreign newspapers such as Inhabitat, ArchiDiaries, Designboom, this homestay is famous for its unique and sophisticated architecture.
Hachi's minimalist, quiet space is the ideal choice for those who want to relax. Reasonable prices, from 7 USD/person for dormitory room, 38 USD for double room and 110 USD for bungalow per night. Hachi brings a unique and friendly experience, leaving memorable memories when visitors visit Hue.
Sahi
Located on Bui Thi Xuan Street, less than 4 km from Truong Tien Bridge, attracting attention from many famous architectural magazines. The architecture uses recycled wood and natural materials, creating a naturally bright space. Each room has outdoor space, creating an interesting highlight. With prices starting from 8 USD/person for dormitory rooms, 36 USD for large double rooms and 75 USD for family studio rooms per night, Sahi brings savings and comfort to tourists when visiting Hue.
Dishes you should try when coming to Hue
Bun Bo Hue
Beef noodle soup is a famous specialty of Hue. When traveling to Hue, you definitely have to wake up early and eat a delicious bowl of beef noodle soup here. The broth is carefully simmered from beef bones, onions, and other traditional spices to create a delicious, attractive flavor. Hue beef noodle soup is large and soft, served with pork patties and a little blood and fatty pork hoof. Before eating, add some fresh lemon, a few pieces of chili and raw vegetables and mix well. The delicious taste of beef noodle soup in Hue is hard to compare anywhere else.
Refer to delicious restaurants:
My Tam Hue beef noodle shop (1 USD - 2 USD): 5 Tran Cao Van, Hue City
Ba Tuyet Hue beef noodle shop (1 USD - 2 USD): 47 Nguyen Cong Tru, Hue City
Mu Roi Hue beef noodle shop (1 USD – 2 USD): 40 Nguyen Chi Dieu, Hue City
Banh beo Hue
A hot cup of banh beo with sweet and fragrant filling comes with a bowl of slightly spicy dipping sauce. When eating, pour fish sauce over a bowl of banh beo, enjoy the soft, flexible taste of the dough, the aroma of fried onions, and the sweetness of the shrimp and meat filling.
Refer to delicious restaurants:
O Lé cake shop: (1 USD - 2 USD): 104/17/9 Kim Long, Hue City
Chi cake shop (from 1 USD): 65 Nguyen Trai, Thuan Hoa, Hue City
Nam Pho soup cake
A delicious bowl of Nam Pho noodle soup, mixed with rich shrimp and meat filling and green green onions, sprinkled with a little green chili sauce, who can refuse this unique dish when traveling to Hue.
Refer to delicious restaurants:
Nam Pho O Thu Banh Canh Shop (0.5 USD – 1 USD): 374 Chi Lang, Hue City
Nam Pho Thuy Banh Canh Shop (0.5 USD - 1 USD): No. 16 Pham Hong Thai, Hue City
Nam Pho noodle soup at Dong Ba market (0.5 USD - 1 USD): Tran Hung Dao street, Hue City
Hue tea
Hue is famous for many types of sweet soup, each with its own delicious taste such as lotus seed sweet soup, floating sweet soup, taro sweet soup, roasted meat sweet soup. No need to go to big restaurants, just sit next to street vendors or small alleys, order a cup of sweet soup, and you can enjoy the sophistication of Hue's snacks.
Refer to delicious restaurants:
Ong Lac tea shop (0.2 USD – 0.5 USD): 36 Thanh Tinh, Hue City
Mother Ton Dich's Sweet Soup (0.2 USD - 0.7 USD): No. 20 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hue City
Hue tapioca cake
Inside the layer of leaves are flexible cakes, the filling can be seen through. When eaten, the cake dough feels chewy and sweet, mixed with the rich flavor of shrimp and meat filling, dipped in a little sweet and spicy fish sauce, which will definitely make Hue tourists unable to put down their chopsticks.
Refer to delicious restaurants:
Ba Cu Restaurant (0.7 USD – 1.5 USD): 23/177 Phan Dinh Phung, Hue City
O Giau tapioca cake (from 0.7 USD): 109 Le Huan, Hue City
What to buy as a gift when coming to Hue?
Traveling to Hue, you will probably want to buy typical gifts from the ancient capital to give to friends and relatives. Take a look at the specialties that tourists from all over love.
Specialties
Sesame candy
Sesame candy has become a symbol of Hue culture. Anyone who comes to Hue also buys sesame seeds as gifts.
Address to buy: Thien Huong sesame, Tai Ky sesame are the most famous.
Price: 0.1 USD – 2 USD/package
Sour shrimp paste
Sour shrimp paste is a rustic dish of Hue. The fish sauce has the sour taste of shrimp and the spicy taste of spices. Used to dip boiled dishes, extremely delicious.
Address to buy: Trong Tin sour shrimp, Co Ri sour shrimp, Tan Loc sour shrimp
Price: 2 USD - 4 USD/jar of 500gr
Fish sauce
Fish sauce is a popular spice in Hue, creating a special flavor for the dish.
Address to buy: Ba Due shrimp paste, Di Can shrimp paste
Price: 1.5 USD/jar
Hue royal tea
This was originally a type of tea served in the Nguyen Dynasty royal court with precious herbs, delicious taste, and good for health.
Purchase address: Nguyen Hue Street
Price: 1.5 USD/package
Souvenir
Melaleuca oil
Melaleuca oil is extracted from 100% Melaleuca leaves, used to keep the body warm for adults and children.
Address to buy: Cung Dinh Vy Da Store, Thien An Dan Vien
Price: 3 USD – 4 USD/100ml
Hue hat
The hat's white color is elegant, each needle and thread is meticulously crafted.
Address to buy: Da Le Market
Price: 3 USD/piece
Notes when traveling to Hue
When traveling to Hue, we should note the following:
Weather: Hue has a tropical monsoon climate, with the rainy season from September to December. Foreign visitors need to prepare uniforms suitable for the weather and high humidity, especially during the rainy season.
Traffic: Traffic in Hue can be chaotic, especially during rush hour. Foreign visitors need to be careful when walking and always pay attention to traffic safety.
Food hygiene and safety: When enjoying street food and in restaurants, foreign visitors should pay attention to food hygiene and safety to avoid health problems.
Communication: Although many Hue residents may not be fluent in English, they are often very enthusiastic and friendly. Learning a few basic Vietnamese phrases can help foreign guests communicate more easily.
Clothing when visiting religious and historical sites: When visiting places such as temples and pagodas, foreign visitors should wear discreet and polite clothing, respecting local culture and religion.
Tickets and tour guide: Before visiting tourist attractions, foreign visitors should buy tickets in advance or hire a tour guide to better understand local history and culture.