THE ULTIMATE HUE TRAVEL GUIDE FOR FIRST-TIMERS
Hue Destination
Once the national capital, the political, cultural and religious center of Vietnam under the control of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue has been recognized as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, tourists will undoubtedly have a beautiful and remarkable experience admiring its charming, tranquil scenery, the historic sites along with the cordial hospitality of the locals here. Ready to book your trip? Craft the perfect itinerary using AA Vietnam Travel’s Hue travel guide.
Hue is constantly asserting its stand on the list of the most famous tourist destinations in Vietnam as it welcomes millions of visitors a year.
TRANSPORTATION TO HUE
There is a wide range of transportation options available for tourists:
By bus: From Hanoi, visitors can choose among several automakers such as The Sinh Tourist, Hung Thanh, Hoang Long… The stops to catch these buses can be Giap Bat bus station, Nuoc Ngam bus station or wherever near the car company you have registered. The price may cost up to 250,000 VND/Sleeper car. It will take approximately 10 hours to reach the destination. From Saigon, you can buy tickets at Mien Dong bus station, with the fare starting from 450,000 VND.
By train: If you have a lot of time to spare and wish to enjoy the scenery en route, taking a train is an appropriate choice. In detail, there are trains to Hue both in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. From Hanoi, the fares range among 350,000 – 800,000 VND and from Saigon, the tickets range from 400,000 – 1,200,000 VND depending on the type of seat.
By plane: For time-saving purposes, tourists can choose to travel by plane with airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air or Jetstar… with fares starting from 900,000 VND/way.
TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE CITY
You can rent a motorbike with a reasonable price from 120,000 VND/motorbike/day to explore Hue or go by the car of the travel company you have booked. On the other hand, Cyclo is also an exciting means of transportation for visitors to visit tourist destinations.
Hue is located in the central part of Vietnam. The climate here is divided into two distinct seasons: the dry season and rainy season. The dry season lasts from March to August with hot and sunny weather. In addition, there are even times when the temperature peaks at 38-40 degrees Celsius. In fact, the rainy season continues from August to January of the following year. During this time, there are heavy rains, occasionally accompanied by storms.
So when is the ideal time to visit Hue? It is highly recommended that tourists come to Hue in autumn, which extends through July, August, and September when the weather is glorious and calm, perfect for sightseeing and wandering around. In case you miss the opportunity to visit Hue in autumn, the festival period is likewise felicitous. At the same time, the festival is usually held in April or on holidays such as Reunification Day (April 30th), Labor Day (May 1st) or Death Anniversary of the Hung Kings. On this occasion, there will be various festivals and entertainment activities that will surely grant visitors sheer bliss and unforgettable experience.
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Century Riverside Hotel Hue
Address: 49 Le Loi, Hue, Vietnam
Century Riverside Hotel Hue is located right in the heart of the city, on the banks of the Perfume River, a 20-minute drive from Phu Bai International Airport and within 2 km of the railway station. Moreover, the geographical location of the four-star hotel is quite convenient for tourists in traveling, visiting the major tourist attractions.
It is proud to be one of the most prominent hotels here with a peaceful and poetic beauty. It offers a full range of services with a large number of 135 rooms suitable for all audiences, fully equipped for the essential needs of customers.
Villa Hue
Address: 04 Tran Quang Khai, Hue, Vietnam
Villa Hue is situated in a highly favorable location on Tran Quang Khai Street. With convenient transportation which is very close to the famous destinations in the city, it will be much easier for everyone to experience a perfect trip to discover new land. To be specify, each room of the hotel is relatively expansive and airy, with a large glass window that provides adequate light for the spacious room, which allows you to overlook the whole city easily.
The staff here is professional and hard-working with the most caring, thoughtful and friendly attitude. Beside that, the hotel’s staff works 24/7 to ensure that all customers’ needs are met as instantaneously as possible, without affecting the lives of the visitors during their stay.
Apart from the two hotels above, there are countless other options for accommodation for tourists with different forms. On the one hand, if you fancy high-class services and modern facilities, you can choose among the grander hotels in the city or resorts. On the other side, small hotels or hostels are suitable alternatives if you want to keep it budget-friendly. Nowadays, the homestay business is advancing substantially, and so forth, this is another choice to take into consideration if you’re going to feel like home and self-service.
Hue Citadel
Grand Citadel is the first place to pay a visit to because it was not only the capital, the administrative and political center of the Nguyen court but also the residence of the king and the royal family. Built on an area of more than 500 hectares, the Citadel includes Hoang Thanh and Tu Cam Thanh with sophisticatedly basic architecture and extraordinary gardens. The ancient Citadel has experienced many ups and downs of history and has become an echo of the nation’s glorious past. Hue Citadel is a destination that no visitors can ever neglect.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Thien Mu Pagoda, also known as Linh Mu Pagoda, is an ancient temple located on Ha Khe hill, on the left bank of Huong River, about 5 km to the West of Hue city center. The pagoda was built in the year of 1,600 and has been preserved several times. Thien Mu Pagoda is an iconic attraction of Thua Thien Hue for its ancient, magnificent features and the sacredness of the temple, which attract millions of visitors and Buddhists.
Hue Imperial Tombs
These mausoleums are the burial sites of the seven late emperors of the Nguyen dynasty who chose Hue as the center of power. There are 7 zones with different architectural styles which reflect the thoughts and beliefs of each king: the monumental Tomb of Gia Long, the sacred Tomb of Minh Mang, the serene Tomb of Thieu Tri, the poetic Tomb of Tu Duc Tomb, the minimalist Tomb of Duc Duc, the charming Tomb of Dong Khanh and the sophisticated Tomb of Khai Dinh. Choose for yourself an accommodation in the city center with easy access to these places.
Listening to Ca Tru on the Perfume River
Sitting on a boat floating in the middle of the dreamy, poetic Perfume River and listening to Hue folk songs is an experience you should never miss out when traveling to Hue. In particular, take a boat in a starry night and observe the Trang Tien bridge and the city scenery shimmering and immersed on the surface of the river.
Hai Van Pass
This place is located between Thua Thien Hue province and Da Nang city. The pass is 20 km long, cutting across the Bach Ma mountain range, 500m high compared to the sea level. From there, you can have an overview of Da Nang city.
Bun Bo Hue
Bun bo is one of the local specialties. The locals often add some fermented shrimp paste to the broth in contribution to the particular flavor of Hue’s beef noodle soup. Customers also usually add some chilis and spices to the vermicelli and then eat it with raw vegetables including bean sprouts, herbs, lettuce, banana inflorescence…
Mussel rice
Mussel rice is considered as the soul of the Hue cuisine, which cannot be forgotten to mention in Hue’s specialties. This food is sold everywhere with very reasonable price.
Grilled meat skewers ate with vermicelli or wet rice cakes.
The cooked meat in Hue, which is marinated just right, is tender and juicy with a characteristic flavor, unique compared to other places. They are eaten with vermicelli or wet rice cakes, wrapped with raw vegetables and dipped in a special spicy fish sauce.
Hue cakes: Vietnamese crepe, clear dumpling, and Ramit cake
These side-meal cakes are sold in every corner and market in Hue. Don’t miss out on this specialty during your stay in here!
Nam Pho soup cake
Nam Pho is a village located about 7km away from Hue, where it is famous for its long-standing soup cake. With only 10,000 VND for a bowl of sweet, dense, white and pink soup cake, served with fish sauce and green chili, the particular flavor of this dish will forever remain in the memories of diners.
Being rich in diversity with affordable price, the excellent cuisine of Hue proves to be one of the most critical factors in attracting all of the Globetrotters to explore this land.