Things to Do in Hue, Vietnam in a Weekend

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I spent a weekend in Hue and it was one of my best stops in Vietnam. Hue is probably one of the densest cities filled with old temples and tombs of the past. A vestige everyone needs to see.

Hue was the imperial capital of Vietnam, and its Imperial City and royal tombs are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

It’s a city where you don’t stay for a week, unless you’re an absolute fan of old temples (there’s enough to fill a week). A good long weekend is totally enough.

This guide covers the best things to do in Hue, Vietnam, plus how to get there, where to stay and a two-day plan. You’ll see the Imperial City, three royal tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda. I’ll also share what I’d do differently.

Is Hue Worth Visiting?

Yes, and a weekend is enough. Hue is calm. It’s a classic Vietnamese city with scooters going in every direction, but the pace is slower than in Hanoi or Saigon.

The Hue Imperial City sits in the middle of town. The tombs of the emperors are scattered around it. Together they form the Complex of Hue Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. Two or three days is all you need to see the main sites.

I’ve seen temples in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Angkor Wat is a different style and it’s great. In Vietnam, though, Hue is the city for old temples and royal buildings. I rarely saw buildings this impressive anywhere else in the country.

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How to Get to Hue

Hue has an airport called Phu Bai, about 15 km south of the center. A taxi into town takes 20 to 30 minutes. There are no direct international flights, so you connect through Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City.

Here are your main options.

From Hanoi, a flight takes about 1 hr 20 min and costs roughly $50 to $150. The night train takes 13 to 15 hours, with soft seats from about 480,000 VND.
From Ho Chi Minh City, a flight takes about 1 hr 30 min and costs roughly $35 to $100.
From Da Nang, the train takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
From Hoi An, you take a bus or car to Da Nang and then the train, or a direct minivan.

From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City

Flying is the easiest way to reach Hue from either city. It takes about 1 hr 20 min from Hanoi and 1 hr 30 min from Ho Chi Minh City. Fares run roughly $50 to $150 from Hanoi and $35 to $100 from Ho Chi Minh City, so book early.

If you have the time, take the overnight train from Hanoi. The ride takes 13 to 15 hours, and you wake up in Hue. It’s slower than a flight, but it feels more like real travel.

A train also runs from Ho Chi Minh City on the same North-South line. The trip takes 19 to 22 hours, so almost everyone flies.

If you’re starting in Hanoi, read my Hanoi travel guide. For Ho Chi Minh City, I wrote an ultimate Saigon guide.

When I’m planning my trip, I always check flights on Skyscanner first, since it lets me compare prices and find the best deal, and most of the time I also go on Trip.com afterward, which is another great price comparison tool for flights and hotels.

From Da Nang

This is the route I took, and it’s the best part of getting to Hue. The Heritage Train follows the coast and crosses the Hai Van Pass. I took it going there and coming back.

There are two kinds of train. The regular Reunification Express costs about 80,000 to 150,000 VND for a soft seat. The heritage train costs about 180,000 to 460,000 VND depending on class and day, and it stops for about 10 minutes at Lang Co for photos.

I booked on the official Vietnam Railways site. Foreign cards can fail there, so you can also book on Trip.com or 12Go.

Here’s the mistake I made. The seat diagram on the website was wrong, so on the way to Hue I wasn’t on the sea side. On the way back I got it right and the view was great.

Going from Da Nang to Hue, sit on the right side for the sea. Coming back, sit on the left. Don’t fully trust the diagram on the site.

A private bus is another option. It takes the road over the mountain and stops two or three times for photos. The train is slower, but you should do it at least once, either going or coming back.

For buses, trains and ferries in this region, I always use 12Go.

From Hoi An

Hoi An has no train station, so there’s no direct train. The train only starts from Da Nang, about 30 km north of Hoi An.

Hoi An and Hue are about 130 km apart. You have three options.

A direct bus or minivan takes about 3 to 3.5 hours through the Hai Van Tunnel and costs about 150,000 to 250,000 VND per seat. Many minivans pick you up at your hotel, but check that before you book.
A Grab or taxi to Da Nang station, then the train, is the slowest option. The train ride alone takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and you book each leg separately.
A private car costs about 1.4 million VND for a direct transfer through the tunnel. If you want the Hai Van Pass road with photo stops, expect about $70 to $120 per car and 5 to 7 hours.

Standard buses and vans use the tunnel, so you won’t see the coastline. To see the pass, book a private car “via Hai Van Pass” or take the train.

Leave a buffer before your train, since each leg is a separate booking. The same applies in reverse if you’re planning Hue to Hoi An.

When to Go to Hue

Go on a weekend if you can. The walking street is open in the evening and it’s one of the best parts of the city.

I went in November. That’s rainy season, but I only had a little rain. There were clouds, and I preferred that. Hue is hot and humid, so cloud cover makes the visits much easier.

There weren’t many tourists either. I saw some groups, but it was never packed. I took lots of photos with very few people in them or nobody at all.

Guides don’t agree on the exact high season. Most put the busiest months in the dry season, from February to June, with another bump around December and January.

Hue, Vietnam Weather by Month

Here’s how the year breaks down.

February to April is the best window for weather. It’s dry and mild at about 25 to 28 degrees Celsius, and many guides pick March as the best month.
May to August is hot and dry, with highs of 34 to 35 degrees Celsius or more. Start early and rest in the afternoon.
September to December is the rainy season. October and November are the wettest months, with flood risk, and typhoon season runs until about the second week of December.
January is cool, grey and drizzly, but quiet.

I went in November, so I got lucky with the weather. Don’t count on it. If you can pick your dates, aim for February to April. If you travel in October or November, keep your bookings flexible.

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Where to Stay in Hue

I stayed along the Perfume River in a small homestay called Sweet House Homestay. It was close to the walking street, so I could walk there every night.

Some travelers stay near the Imperial City instead, which is also fine. If you plan to go out at night, stay near the walking street. Visits are long and tiring, so you’ll mostly be resting in the evening anyway.

Here are my picks for hotels in Hue, Vietnam. I haven’t stayed in these, so the ratings come from booking sites.

Luxury

Azerai La Residence Hotel & Spa is a former colonial palace on the river, with a pool and spa. Rooms run about $150 to $220 a night.
Melia Vinpearl Hue is rated 9.5 out of 10 on Trip.com, with an indoor pool. It starts around $60.
Indochine Palace is in the Phu Nhuan area.

Mid-range

White Lotus Hue Hotel is rated 9.5 out of 10 and sits 0.26 km from the walking street. It starts around $42.
TTC Imperial Hotel is rated 9.3 out of 10 on Trip.com and 4.6 out of 5 on Tripadvisor. It starts around $42.
Moonlight Hotel Hue is a 10-minute walk from the Imperial City gate and has a rooftop pool. Rooms cost about $35 to $60.

Whenever I want to book a hotel, I always check both Booking.com and Agoda first, since they usually have the same options but sometimes one has a better price than the other, so it’s worth comparing both, but if I’m looking for something cheaper and I also want to meet other travelers, I go with Hostelworld instead.

Hostels

Kha Hostel is rated 8.7 out of 10 on Hostelworld and sits on Vo Thi Sau street in the walking street area.
Amy 2 Hostel is rated 8.8 out of 10 and is the party hostel next to the bars. Dorms start around $6.
Hue Ancient Town Hostel is rated 8.8 out of 10 and sits next to Vo Thi Sau street. Dorms start around 5.62 euros.

When I’m on a budget, Hostelworld is where I find my hostels.

Tickets for the Imperial City and Tombs

Buy a combo ticket. It saves money and mine was valid for two days. Prices below are for adults and they can change, so check before you go.

Imperial City alone costs 200,000 VND.
Imperial City plus two tombs costs 420,000 VND.
Imperial City plus three tombs (Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh) costs 530,000 VND. Buying separately would cost 650,000 VND.
An all-relics combo costs 580,000 VND and is valid for three days.

Two tombs fit in a single day. If you want all three, split them over two days. I took the big combo.

You can buy tickets at any entrance of the tombs or the imperial city. There’s not really a waiting line there (at least in November). You can also buy online on the official website or the Hue-S app.

Hue Itinerary – Weekend Plan

This two-day plan is what I recommend, and it’s close to what I did. Spend the first day in the city and the second day on the royal tombs.

Day 1 – Imperial City and Dong Ba Market

Start with the Imperial City early in the morning. If you do this schedule, there’s no need to wake up super early and run for it. Take your time.

The site is big and spacious, with beautiful buildings. Treat it as a long walk and take your time. You can spend 2 hours walking through the temples and gardens, and take hundreds of photos.

For lunch, try bún bò Huế, the city’s signature noodle soup.

Then head to Dong Ba Market. It’s a day market like the ones in most big Vietnamese cities, with lots of small shops. Most stalls sell groceries and food.

It’s local, dense and a bit dirty. Nothing about it is polished, and that’s why I liked it.

In the evening, walk along the river or head to the walking street for dinner. It’s full of restaurants and bars, and it’s where the locals go.

Day 2 – Royal Tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda

Spend the second day on the tombs. There are many, but these three are the best known. I visited them in this order.

The tombs are spread out around the city, so you need a way to get between them. Take a Grab, rent a bike or book a tour. I cover the bike option in the next section.

Minh Mang Tomb is the highest of the three. It’s very symmetrical. Temples and buildings are lined up one after another. Because it’s the farthest one, many people decide to skip it. So there are very few people and it’s very pleasing to walk through it.

Khai Dinh Tomb looks plain from the outside. It’s gray, a little baroque, and built with gray stone. Then you step inside the main tomb and the walls are covered in mosaics, with hundreds of dragons on the walls and ceiling. The contrast between the dark exterior and the bright interior is the best thing about it.

Tu Duc Tomb is part of the big combo and it’s the largest. It’s a huge park with pine trees, forest and a small lake. I saw the biggest koi carp of my life there. Small temples are spread around, and you can walk for hours. It’s calm and quiet.

End the day at Thien Mu Pagoda, which is free. It sits on the river and it’s a good spot for sunset. I’d make it your last stop.

Don’t forget to apply HORIZONHUGO5 at checkout on GetYourGuide before you book.

Solo or With a Guide?

I went solo and rented an electric scooter ( e-bike). I didn’t need an international license to rent it, but check what applies to you. It cost 150,000 VND for one day or 300,000 VND for two. I took it for two days, and it was perfect.

I moved when I wanted and stayed longer at some temples. I’m a photographer, so going at my own pace matters. With a group, I’d want to stop for photos while everyone else keeps moving.

The downside is that I missed the history. A guide tells you a lot of stories, and I heard none of them. If you want more information and you only plan to take a few photos, go with a guide. Everything is organized, and you don’t have to think about the bike or where the next tomb is.

If you want to book a tour or an activity without any hassle, Get Your Guide is honestly one of the easiest platforms I use, with a huge range of experiences, flexible cancellation on most bookings, and you can even get 5% off with my code HORIZONHUGO5.

More Things to Do in Hue, Vietnam

If you stay longer than a weekend, there’s more to see in Hue. I only did the water park. For the rest, the prices and times come from local operators and guides, so check them before you book.

Abandoned Water Park (Ho Thuy Tien)

I went on my first evening. It sits in the forest by a lake, with a big dragon statue. The park is closed and falling apart, but you can walk around.

You can climb inside the dragon by a staircase and look at the lake from the top. Many local couples come for the sunset, so I’d go around then and leave before dark. There’s no lighting.

Perfume River Cruise

Dragon boats run on the Perfume River and pass Thien Mu Pagoda. A short private ride lasts about 45 minutes and starts around $19.

A guided sunset cruise lasts about 2.5 hours and costs around $38 per person. Go in the late afternoon if you want the sunset.

Hue Motorbike Tour

On this tour a local driver takes you around the countryside on the back of a bike. You don’t drive. A full-day tour lasts about 8 hours and covers around 40 km.

Typical stops are the Thanh Toan Covered Bridge, a paper painting village and the Thuy Xuan incense village. Some tours add the royal tombs and Perfume River viewpoints. If you follow my plan, you’ll already see the tombs, so pick a countryside route.

Hue Street Food Tour

I had dinner on the walking street, but I didn’t take a food tour. It’s a good option if you don’t know what to order. Tours cost about $35 to $39 per person and last 2 to 4 hours.

Some start at 5:30 p.m. at Dong Ba Market, and you go on foot, by cyclo or on the back of a motorbike. Dishes include bánh khoái (a crispy pancake), bánh bèo, bún bò Huế, nem lụi (grilled pork skewers) and cơm hến (baby clam rice).

Cooking Class

A typical class costs about $38 per person and lasts about 4 hours. It includes a market visit, a hands-on class with a local chef, a full meal and transport from central Hue.

Hai Van Pass

The road between Hue and Da Nang either goes through a tunnel or climbs over the Hai Van Pass. Buses and vans use the tunnel, so you don’t see the view.

The train crosses the pass, and that’s how I did it. A private car or an easy rider on a motorbike also goes over the top. Easy rider tours can stop at Tam Giang Lagoon, Suoi Mo Waterfall, Lang Co Beach and the Marble Mountains.

War Sites and the DMZ

Hue saw heavy fighting during the Vietnam War, in the Battle of Hue in 1968. The big sites are north of the city in the former DMZ, so you need a day tour. A full-day tour from Hue costs around $53 per person.

The main stops are Hien Luong Bridge on the old 17th parallel, the Vinh Moc Tunnels and the Khe Sanh Combat Base. Entrance fees are 50,000 VND for Vinh Moc and 40,000 VND each for Khe Sanh and Hien Luong. Truong Son National Cemetery is free, and you should check whether the tour price includes the fees.

If war history interests you, I also wrote about the Cu Chi tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City.

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Thuan An Beach

Thuan An is about 15 km east of Hue, a 20 to 30 minute trip. It sits near the mouth of the Perfume River, next to Tam Giang Lagoon. A taxi or Grab is the easiest way to get there.

Evenings in Hue – The Walking Street & the River

The walking street is where I ate dinner. I think it’s closed to cars from about 6 to 10 p.m.

It’s made of three or four wide streets, not tiny alleys. They’re full of restaurants and bars. I had dinner and a beer there.

The atmosphere is good. Many locals come out, with some karaoke playing and a few tourists around. It doesn’t feel like a tourist trap.

Many locals also go along the river. It’s beautiful with many lights everywhere. You should have a walk there at least one evening.

Final Thoughts

Hue was a great weekend from Da Nang, and I’d do it again. It’s the Vietnamese city for old temples and royal tombs. I rarely saw buildings this impressive anywhere else in the country.

Two days is enough for the Imperial City, three tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda. Take the train over the Hai Van Pass at least once, and go on a weekend so you can walk the river and the walking street in the evening.

Hue also fits a backpacking route. Stop here for 2 to 3 days before heading south to Hoi An or Da Nang, or break up the trip if you’re coming down from Hanoi.

Hue sits between the north and the south, so you can build a trip around it. In the north, start with my Hanoi travel guide, then read about Tam Coc and Ha Long Bay vs Lan Ha Bay.

In the south, read my Saigon guide, or Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City if you can’t decide where to start. If you’re staying in Da Nang, try Monkey Mountain.

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