TRAVEL HUE, VIETNAM: 4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi – Hue – Chuon Lagoon

Morning:

Departure from Hanoi.

Means of transportation: Airplane. Flights from Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) to Phu Bai Airport (Hue) are usually in the morning, please arrange time to the airport to avoid rush hour.

Check-in at Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel at noon. Rest and have lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon:

Embark on a journey to Chuon Lagoon (Đầm Chuồn), part of Vietnam’s expansive Tam Giang Lagoon system. The tranquil scene features picturesque waves, bathed in sunlight, dotted with fishing and shrimp boats, huts, nets, wooden stakes, and boat-dwelling fishermen’s families. Experience breathtaking sunsets and explore attractions like Thai Duong Ha fishing village, Ru Cha mangrove forest, and a local floating market. Indulge in the lagoon’s specialty dish: Orca Fish Pancake.

• Ticket price: Free

Day 2: Dai Noi – Dong Ba Market – Thien Mu Pagoda – An Hien Garden House – Perfume River dragon boat

Morning:

Explore the Citadel, the historic royal palace of the Nguyen Dynasty. This architectural marvel is part of the Hue Monuments complex, featuring the Imperial Citadel, Forbidden City, and notable structures like Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Dien Tho Palace, Can Chanh Dien, Thai Binh Lau, Dien Tho Palace & more.

• Opening hours:
  • Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
  • Winter: 7:00 – 17:00

• Ticket price:
  • Vietnamese visitors: VND 150,000/ adult, VND 30,000/ child
  • International visitors: VND 200,000/ adult, VND 40,000/ child

Stop for lunch and savor street food delights at Dong Ba Market, the bustling shopping and culinary haven in the ancient capital. Situated along the Perfume River, near Truong Tien Bridge and the Citadel relic, Dong Ba Market comprises four areas: the first floor offering specialties and dry goods, the second floor showcasing handicrafts and fine arts, and the third floor dedicated to fabrics and garments. Surrounding the market, stalls and tempting food trucks offer treats like beef vermicelli, mussel rice, cakes, and sweet soups.

Afternoon:

Explore Thien Mu Pagoda, the Most Ancient Temple of Hue. Erected in 1601, this pagoda is the soul of the Ancient Capital, featuring the iconic 7-story, 21m-high tower. Each floor is dedicated to worshipping Buddha, adorned with countless statues, diaphragms, couplets, bronze bells, and stone steles—testaments to a golden age both historically and culturally.

• Opening hours: 8:00 – 18:00
• Ticket price: Free

Visit and savor afternoon tea at An Hien Garden House—one of the ancient capital’s most beautiful, well-preserved old garden houses. Owned by generations of renowned families and intellectuals, it once served as the residence of a Nguyen Dynasty princess and aristocrats. Steeped in history, An Hien has witnessed unique stories and secrets, surrounded by lush rare flowers and fruit trees. A long path from the gate leads through the garden to a distinctive screen, a rarity in other ancient structures.

• Opening hours: 7:00 – 18:00
• Ticket price: VND 50,000/ person

Evening:

Embark on a dragon boat cruise along the Huong River to explore the city at sunset. This 3-in-1 experience includes enjoying the river, discovering royal cuisine, and immersing yourself in Hue folk songs.

• Opening hours:
  • Monday – Thursday: 8:00 – 21:00                       
  • Friday – Sunday: 8:00 – 22:00

• Ticket price: From VND 250,000/ person/ hour

Day 3: Tomb of Tu Duc – Tomb of Minh Mang – Tomb of Khai Dinh – Thuy Tien Lake – Thuy Xuan incense village

Morning:

Have breakfast at the hotel. Get on the bus to visit three prominent mausoleums of the Nguyen Dynasty including Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb.

Tu Duc Tomb (Khiem Lang) stands out as the most enchanting mausoleum complex, distinguished by its unique ancient theatre among the Nguyen Dynasty tombs. King Tu Duc, known for his literary pursuits and love for romance, selected this picturesque location abundant with diverse bird species and trees. During his reign, the king frequented this mausoleum for fishing, sightseeing, poetry recitation, and musical enjoyment. Notably, all the structures within bear the name “Khiem,” such as Cua Vu Khiem, Khiem Cung Mon, Chi Khiem Duong, and Hoa Khiem Palace.

• Opening hours:
  • Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
  • Winter: 7:00 – 17:00

• Ticket price:
  • 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) forms a mountainous mausoleum complex situated atop Cam Ke mountain, meticulously planned and overseen by King Minh Mang. Comprising 40 structures symmetrically arranged along the 700m-long Than Dao road, the ensemble features magnificent palaces and communal houses adorned in standard Confucian hues. Embraced by mountains and rivers, this setting exudes both grandeur and romance.

• Opening hours:
  • Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
  • Winter: 7:00 – 17:00

• Ticket price:
  • 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) represents the final architectural endeavor of the Nguyen Dynasty, featuring a “modern” aesthetic aligned with the king’s opulent taste. This mausoleum seamlessly blends various foreign design influences, incorporating elements from Buddhist, Hindu, and Roman Gothic styles. Renowned for its employment of cutting-edge and costly materials—iron, steel, cement, Ardoise tile, imported porcelain, and glass—the Tomb stands as a testament to intricate craftsmanship. Thien Dinh Palace, where King Khai Dinh rests, showcases timeless artistic imprints, including the masterpiece “Cuu Long An Van,” crafted from crockery and rare stones sourced from China and Japan. The gold-plated altar statue, meticulously forged in France at a 1:1 scale, adds to the mausoleum’s unparalleled grandeur.

• Opening hours:
  • Summer: 6:30 – 17:30
  • Winter: 7:00 – 17:00

• Ticket price:
  • Vietnamese guests: VND 100,000/adult, VND 20,000/child
  • International guests: VND 150,000/adult, VND 30,000/child

Afternoon:

Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park

Discover the ‘photo haven’ of young people: Thuy Tien Lake located on the poetic Thien An hill, the lake has a completely opposite beauty, which is one of the most famous abandoned place with the surrounding scenery belongs to an old water park system, mixed with creepy cinematic gothic, attracting many tourist to “be bold”.

• Opening hours: Daytime
• Ticket price: Free (Guests should tip the security guard)

Visiting the Thuy Xuan incense village, an ancient village with more than 500 years of age, attracts people’s eyes by the colorful fragrant incense bursting like flowers. In addition to taking pictures and buying souvenirs, you can directly learn how to make incense from the artisans.

• Opening hours: Daytime
• Ticket price: Free

Day 4:  Silk Path Grand Hue – Hanoi

Morning:

Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy the hotel’s famous tea set (all day service) with signature dishes made from butterfly pea flowers and nearly 20 kinds of delicious fresh tapas, pastries, finger-foods. Take souvenir photos, stroll around the streets.

Afternoon: Gather your luggage, check out and fly back to Hanoi.