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Top Things To Do In Hue Vietnam That You Shouldn't Miss
Vietnam Travel Guide
Ha Truong
With ancient architecture and idyllic natural scenes, Hue brings a pleasant, calm, and quiet feeling to those who visit Vietnam's former capital.
What are the best things to do in Hue?
This article is a detailed travel guide to Hue Vietnam, with tips on the best things that you should try out on your trip.
Explore the abandoned water park in Hue
About 10 km from Hue city center to the Southwest, located on Thien An hill, Thuy Tien Lake abandoned water park has become a spectacular destination for adventure seekers in Hue.
Due to being no longer in use, the park evokes a feeling of ghostliness like stepping out of a horror film.
Cross the fantastic Hai Van Pass
If you're traveling from Da Nang to Hue, you should not miss the chance to conquer Hai Van Mountain Pass, one of the most impressive passes in Vietnam.
The pass is located on the Bach Ma mountain range and is the natural boundary between Thua Thien – Hue province and Da Nang city.
While crossing Hai Van Pass, you can admire the poetic view that it brings.
One side offers a beautiful coastal view while the other one brings a breathtaking mountain view creating extremely spectacular scenery.
Be amazed at Lap An Lagoon
About 70 km south of Hue, at the foot of Hai Van pass, Lap An lagoon is a fairylike area.
This place is surrounded by the Bach Ma mountain range.
When visiting here in the early morning or evening, you will witness a charming and somewhat mysterious scenery with hazy mist and sparkling water.
Especially when the sunset disappears after the majestic Bach Ma mountain range, the sky turns into a vibrant orange-yellow color mixed with the deep blue color of the lagoon's water, creating an extraordinarily fanciful and vivid painting.
Moreover, the villagers are famous for farming oysters, so in addition to admiring the beautiful lyrical nature, you also have the opportunity to enjoy delicious dishes made from oysters.
Fill your belly with tasty Vietnamese dishes
Visiting Hue without trying Hue cakes once is a huge miss.
There are dozens of delicious cakes that you should try, from crispy golden delicacies (Banh Xeo) to a thin rice-flower cake on the tray with shrimps (Banh Beo).
Walking along the Perfume River in the night market in the evening to enjoy local dishes or eating a hot bowl of beef noodle soup in the morning is a great idea.
Trying traditional Vietnamese dishes in Hue is a must!
Explore the Imperial City of Hue
The Imperial City of Hue is a must-visit place on your bucket list.
Located on the bank of Perfume River, Hue Citadel is recognized as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
The complex includes the Imperial Citadel, the Forbidden City, and the surrounding area of the Imperial City, which was the place to live, work, and reign of the ancient Kings.
Despite many renovations, this place still retains the unique architectural features from ancient times.
Visiting the complex of Hue Citadel, you can admire the magnificent palaces, temples, and shrines while learning about Vietnamese history during the Nguyen Dynasty.
As the Imperial City of Hue has different areas to visit, you should spend an entire morning to explore!
Get on the boat on Perfume River
As a symbol and the pride of the people of Hue, the Perfume River is gentle as a long, soft silk strip in the middle of the dreamland.
Relax at Lang Co beach
Not only famous for the ancient historical and cultural relics, but Hue city also owns beautiful beaches that fascinate many visitors.
Lang Co Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam with sandy beaches stretching for more than 10 kilometers embracing the crystal clear blue beach.
Near the coast is majestic green forests with majestic mountains in the background, creating a stunning picture for your relaxation.
Visit the tomb of Minh Mang
Minh Mang tomb is one of the most impressive monuments of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Located about 12km from the center of Hue city, the tomb of Minh Mang is located on Cam Khe Mountain and has an area of up to 26ha.
As soon as you arrive here, you will undoubtedly feel an airy atmosphere with rivers, mountains, and lakes.
In front of the mausoleum, there are three main gates, and in the middle is Dai Hong Mon, which only opened once when the body of King Minh Mang was carried into the mausoleum.
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Admire the architecture of the tomb of Khai Dinh
Another monument that you should visit on your trip to Hue is Khai Dinh's tomb.
Despite its modest size compared to the tombs of its predecessors, the Khai Dinh tomb was built very elaborately and sophisticatedly for up to 11 years.
Also, Khai Dinh Mausoleum is the only monumental structure with the architecture of the East-West cultures.
In specific, the building process involved many famous craftsmen and artisans, with a large scale of foreign materials.
You can see the stele houses, and arches were inspired by Roman architecture, while the towering pillars were from Indian architecture.
Visit Pagoda of the Celestial Lady (Thien Mu Pagoda)
The pagoda of the Celestial Lady is located on Ha Khe hill, about 5km from the center of Hue city, right on Kim Long street.
Built in the 1600s and preserved through times, Thien Mu Pagoda attracts many visitors by the magnificent and serene, poetic beauty.
With the temple bell echoing, admittedly, this is the ideal place for your heart to feel more peaceful and gentle before returning to the chaotic and vibrant life.
This tower is over 21m high and designed in the shape of an octagon of 7 floors, with each level has a different Buddha.
Have a fun night in Hue
Similar to Bui Vien in Saigon or Ta Hien in Hanoi, there is also a party area in Hue at night that is loved by many people.
The late-night service street in Hue is quite many, but the most prominent is to go to three routes Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An, and Vo Thi Sau, also known as "Western Quarter."
Although it's not as bustling as in Saigon, Western Quarter in Hue is very clean and fun.
Go shopping at Dong Ba market
With thousands of stalls stretching from Gia Hoi bridge to Truong Tien bridge, Dong Ba market is the largest and the oldest shopping place in Hue city.
The market is associated with the hundred-year history of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Today, it is not only a shopping place for urban residents but also a great place to buy souvenirs for your relatives and friends.
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Ha is an avid traveler and writer with a background in marketing & hospitality. She's lived in 3 countries and traveled to more than 30. When she's not traveling or writing, Ha loves trying new recipes.
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