KR
JP
VN
Hue, once the capital of Vietnam, is home to an unlimited number of things to do. This 3-day itinerary will share everything you need to know to plan the best trip to Hue, including the best things to do and see, what to eat, where to stay and more.
Hue has always been an endless source of poetic and artistic inspiration for those who fall in love with this ancient capital of Vietnam. Here, you can not only admire the ancient and majestic beauty of the cultural and historical destinations, but also old imprints, the rhythm of life, the breath of Hue!
ITINERARY: Best things to do in Hue
DAY 1: An Hien Garden House – Thien Mu Pagoda – Hue Citadel – Folk songs performance
Morning:
Start your first morning in the ancient capital with a visit to An Hien Garden House, one of the most beautiful garden houses in Hue. Imprinted the Vietnamese traditional architecture style, colored by untold historical stories, with a touch of Fengshui traits, An Hien Garden House is a graceful intersection of astounding culture and poetic landscape for visitors to indulge in. In modern days, two unique principles of An Hien are well-kept, the fascinating four-season garden and its originality in a Hue garden house.
- Opening hours: Daily, 08:00 – 17:00
- Entrance fee: VND 50,000/ person
Visit our blog to find out more about An Hien Garden House!
Visit Thien Mu Pagoda – the most ancient temple in Hue. Built in 1601, Thien Mu Pagoda is the soul of the Ancient Capital which had been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, National Historical-Cultural Relic in 1996.
The most iconic architecture of the pagoda is Phuoc Duyen tower – a 7-story 21m-high tower with each floor dedicated to worshipping Buddha. The pagoda is also the home of countless statues, diaphragms, couplets, bronze bells, stone stele – evidence of a golden age both historically and culturally of Hue.
- Opening hours: Daily, 8:00 – 18:00
- Entrance fee: Free
Afternoon:
Explore the Imperial Citadel, the old royal palace of the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue Citadel is a one-of-a-kind architectural work in the complex of Hue Monuments, including the Imperial Citadel, the Forbidden City and many impressive well-maintained relics: Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Dien Tho Palace, Can Chanh Palace, Hien Lam pavilion…
- Opening hours:
- Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
- Winter: 7:00 – 17:00
- Entrance fee:
- Vietnamese guests: VND 150,000/adult, VND 30,000/child
- International guests: VND 200,000/adult, VND 40,000/child
Read more about the Imperial Citadel of Hue on Silk Path’s journal.
Evening:
Have dinner and explore the city at night at Nguyen Dinh Chieu pedestrian zone located next to Truong Tien Bridge. Enjoy Hue folk songs on a dragon boat cruise along the Huong River.
Dragon boat ticket price:
- Strolling on the Huong River: From VND 250,000 / hour
- Listen to Hue songs (1 hour): From VND 100,000
DAY 2: Tombs of Nguyen Dynasty – Thuan An Beach
Morning:
Your trip to Hue cannot be completed without visiting three prominent mausoleums of the Nguyen Dynasty including Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb.
Tu Duc Tomb (Khiem Lang) is the most beautiful mausoleum complex, the only place with an ancient theatre in the system of tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb architecture reflects the king’s romantic personality and profound knowledge of philosophy, oriental history, and literature.
Hence, people often refer to the tomb as a picturesque park packed with frangipani and pine trees. The complex consists of nearly 50 large and small buildings scattered in clusters on the land.
During his lifetime, this was the place where King Tu Duc used to go fishing, sightseeing, recite poetry, and enjoy music. A very special thing, the king included the word ‘Khiem’, which means modesty, in the name of all the constructions in the complex: Cua Vu Khiem, Khiem Cung Mon, Chi Khiem Duong, Hoa Khiem palace…
- Opening hours:
- Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
- Winter: 7:00 – 17:00
- Entrance fee:
- Vietnamese guests: VND 100,000/adult, VND 20,000/child
- International guests: VND 150,000/adult, VND 30,000/child
Minh Mang Tomb (Hieu Lang) is located on Cam Ke mountain. The location to build the tomb was surveyed and supervised by King Minh Mang himself. Set along the Perfume River, the burial site comprises 40 structures, including a building for the emperor’s clothes, pavilions for mourners, and the tomb itself. The bright colors, elaborate ornamentation, and lacquered finishes on the buildings contribute to the site’s elegance and beauty.
- Opening hours:
- Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
- Winter: 7:00 – 17:00
- Entrance fee:
- Vietnamese guests: VND 100,000/adult, VND 20,000/child
- International guests: VND 150,000/adult, VND 30,000/child
Khai Dinh Tomb (Ung Lang) is the last tomb of the Nguyen Dynasty, with a “modern” look in accordance with the king’s lavish preferences. The architecture of the tomb is a blend of Western architecture and Vietnamese traditional art. It is also a mixture of Buddhist, Hindu and Roman Gothic styles.
The tomb had the most advanced and expensive construction materials among the tombs in Hue, including iron, steel, cement, Ardoise tile, imported porcelain, glass… Thien Dinh Palace – where Khai Dinh king is resting in peace, bearing many timeless artistic imprints including “Cuu Long An Van” – the painting made of crockery and rare stones from China and Japan and the gold-plated statue of the king on the altar with a scale of 1:1 forged in France.
- Opening hours:
- Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
- Winter: 7:00 – 17:00
- Entrance fee:
- Vietnamese guests: VND 100,000/adult, VND 20,000/child
- International guests: VND 150,000/adult, VND 30,000/child
Afternoon:
After taking a break for lunch, move to Thuan An beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Hue, featuring the wild and attractive beauty of the clear blue water and smooth white sand. Do not forget to visit the interesting experiences such as visiting the fisherman’s fishing port, enjoying the sticky rice wine of Chuon village, eating Con Hen rice, walking in Vi Da village or walking on the street named after talented poet Han Mac Tu.
- Opening hours: Not limited (It is recommended to go in the afternoon to watch the sunset over the sea)
- Entrance fee: Free
DAY 3: Dong Ba market
Morning:
Have a light breakfast at the hotel and spend half of the day strolling around the city, visiting Dong Ba market, experiencing street food and buying souvenirs for friends and relatives.
Located in a prime location on the banks of the Huong River, near Truong Tien Bridge and the Citadel, Dong Ba Market is known as the busiest street food and shopping paradise in town. This place consists of 4 areas: 1st floor with Hue specialties, dry food, and different kinds of sauce, the 2nd floor displays handicrafts and fine arts, the 3rd floor sells fabrics and garments. Around the market are stalls and attractive food trucks such as beef vermicelli, mussel rice, cakes, sweet soups, …
- Opening hours: 6:00 – 18:00
- Entrance fee: free
Afternoon:
For the rest of your trip, you can spend time strolling around the city center, feel the vibe and lifestyle of the ancient capital of Vietnam and enjoy the local specialties such as banh nam, banh loc… and the Hue-style sweet soups.
Things to do in Hue: SILK PATH’S TRAVEL TIPS:
- You can buy combo tickets of 280,000 VND/ adult (Imperial City, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh) or 360,000 VND/ adult (Imperial City, Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, Tu Duc)
- It’s best to wear something full-length (skirt or trousers), not shorts or sleeveless shirts when visiting pagodas, tombs and imperial citadel.
Things to do in Hue: WHERE TO STAY
One of the first tasks in planning your trip to the imperial capital is figuring out where to stay, and reserving the accommodation in Hue that is most suitable for both the budget and traveling plan.
Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel & Spa located on the bank of An Cuu river will be the best hotel in Hue for travelers who want to enjoy five-star experiences with reasonable rates in the city center.
The hotel offers several inspired dining experiences from authentic Hue, Mediterranean and international cuisine. A variety of recreational facilities are available for guests of all ages to relax and rejuvenate their body, mind and soul: swimming pool, spa, gym & kids’ club.
Things to do in Hue: WHAT TO EAT
Hue is a foody paradise – many Vietnamese will tell you that here is where you’ll find the best cuisine in the country. Must-try dishes are bun bo Hue (beef noodle soup) and the specialty savory cakes that were once prepared for the kings. Here are some of Silk Path’s recommendations:
BUN BO HUE (Hue-style beef noodle soup) Where to savor: |
COM HEN (Baby clam rice) Where to savor: |
BANH LOC, NAM, RAM IT… (Hue traditional cakes) Where to savor: |
CHE (Hue-style sweet soup) Where to savor: |
