Hué is a special city in central Vietnam. From 1802 to 1945, Hué served as the imperial capital of Vietnam under the rule of the Nguyen Dynasty. The city, located on the Hu’o’ng River, was built in the model of the Forbidden City in Beijing. In 1949, Hué was permanently replaced by Saigon(Ho Chi Minh City) as the capital of Vietnam. Today, you will find mostly history in Hué. In this article we cover all things to do in Hué.
Content of this blog:
1. Visit the abandoned water park in Hué
The abandoned water park in Hué is a great activity for the adventurous traveler. The water park has been abandoned and overgrown by nature for decades. When you walk around here, you immediately feel that it is creepy and spooky. The abandoned water park is easy to visit from downtown Hué. Read all the information about the abandoned water park and its various Google Maps locations here.
2. Visit the citadel and forbidden city of Hué
Hué’s citadel used to be used by the emperor. He hosted national occasions here but also lived and worked here. This is reflected in the paintings and buildings of the citadel and the forbidden city. You can choose to take an audio tour to get a better idea of the history of the citadel and the forbidden city. This will make your visit a lot more interesting. Furthermore, when visiting the citadel and the forbidden city, you must wear appropriate clothing: as a woman, your shoulders and knees must be covered; as a man, it is important to at least cover your shoulders.
Admission to the citadel and forbidden city is 200,000 dong (€8) per person. The citadel and forbidden city in Hué are open daily from 07:00. We also recommend going this early because it can get very hot in Hué later in the day.
Besides the citadel and the forbidden city, there are more temples, ruins and tombs you can visit in Hué. Because it has such an important strategic location in Vietnam, you will find a lot of history in Hué.
3. Visit the demilitarized zone from Hué
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is located in central Vietnam, near Hué. The DMZ used to be the dividing line between North and South Vietnam. The DMZ is home to a number of famous monuments, pieces of tanks and bunkers as reminders of the Vietnam War. Residents in the DMZ can tell a good story about this. You can tell from everything that they have experienced this themselves and that it will always stay with them. You can scoot yourself to the DMZ (1.5 hours from Hué). The downside is that you get little of the history and events. We therefore recommend taking a day tour to the DMZ from Hué.
4. Central Vietnam’s largest market: Dong ba market
Hué is home to the largest market Central Vietnam. As with all markets in Asia, you will find mostly vegetables, fruits, meat and fish. Still, it is fun to walk around this giant market. The locals almost never see travelers so you will be a sight to behold. Buy a delicious pineapple, coconut or watermelon here and enjoy a delicious fruit breakfast.
5. Running or walking along the perfume river
The Perfume River runs right through Hué and is crowded with locals in the afternoon. Around sunset, many people are exercising or walking here. Be here around 5 p.m. for a beautiful sunset and a nice temperature for running or walking.
6. The Hai Van Pass
The Hai Van Pass connects the cities of Da Nang and Hoi An with Hué. The Hai Van Pass is a 21-kilometer road through the mountains and along the coast. Along the way, you have insane views of the beautiful surroundings. This Pass is a popular route among travelers to travel from Hoi An to Hué (or vice versa) by motorcycle by themselves. Read all the information about the Hai Van Pass here.
The best accommodations in Hué
Hué has insanely good hotels and homestays under €20 a night. Our favorite is Tâm Homestay with a tremendously friendly owner. Every time you arrive there is nice tea or water waiting for you. The location is very good, right in the center. Breakfast is included and you can make your choice the night before. Tâm Homestay is truly a great stay in Hué, that is why it scores a 9.7 average on booking.com!
Furthermore, Hué Sweethouse 1 is also a wonderful accommodation in Hué with nice rooms and bathrooms and a good location.
The tastiest restaurants in Hué
- Nook eatery. At Nook Eatery, the evening is always busy. Fortunately, they also have nice dining spots upstairs and you will often still find a table. The menu is full of tasty dishes. Many healthy and vegan choices can be found. Especially the gado gado, smoothie bowls and churros are insanely delicious.
- Maison Trang. The food here is insanely cheap and deliciously prepared. The portions are large and really very flavorful.
How to get to Hué?
From Hoi An and Da Nang, you will go to Hué via the Hai Van Pass. You can choose to drive yourself or take the train or bus. Are you coming from North Vietnam? Then you are probably coming from Phong Nga, you can take a 3.5-hour train to Hué or a bus that takes 4 hours. Find all public transport tickets in Vietnam at 12GO.Asia.
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