About Hue

The capital of Vietnam during the decadent 19th-century Nguyen Dynasty, Hue is still an important literary and cultural center. The city was dramatically affected during both wars with the French in the 1940s and later with the Americans in the 1960s and '70s: Most of the structures in the centuries-old citadel were severely damaged. Some of those royal buildings have been repaired and rebuilt, including the Forbidden Purple City, the emperor's private residence.

The city is bisected by the Song Huong, or Perfume River (named after a scented shrub that grows there), and along its banks south of Hue lie the many tombs of the Nguyen emperors. You can visit them by bicycle or boat. We recommend having your hotel arrange a longboat for you. The driver will take you to the riverbank nearest a tomb or interesting pagoda, show you around or wait while you explore, and then take you to the next one. Be sure to arrange stops at Tu Duc (an extensive site with lots of character), Minh Mang (a large and very well-preserved site), Khai Dinh (modest in scale but quite ostentatious) and the Thien Mu Pagoda (a lovely seven-tiered structure surrounded by gardens).

It is not possible to walk all of Hue, but much can be seen on foot. Always carry an umbrella, as the city has a reputation for bad weather. Hue makes a good base for exploring the Demilitarized Zone. It's best to see the area's historical sites (including the U.S. base at Khe Sanh, the Vinh Moc tunnels, the Ho Chi Minh trails and the Truong Son National Cemetery) with a guide. Various travel agencies in Hue can set you up with one. Hue is 340 mi/545 km southeast of Hanoi.

Hue
Telephone Code: 054

660 km from Hanoi and 1080 km from Saigon, lies the city of Hue. The former capital of the emperors of Vietnam, yet despite a tumultuous history it retains much of its cultural identity and is currently undergoing restoration efforts.

When to go

March and August will be the best time to travel to Hue, when the weather is comfortable.

Where to stay

Hotels in Hue

Over 30 Hotels in Hue selected with hotel details, images, maps and reviews from fellow travelers.
www.VietnamTripAdvisor.com

Getting there

Flights: Vietnam airlines operates daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Hue arrive at Phu Bai Airport and it takes about 30 minutes to get to downtown by taxi.

Train: Thong Nhat Express runs several journeys a day from Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City to Hue. See the Vietnam Railway Corporation website at http://www.vetau-sapa.com/ for more details.

Bus or Car: Tourists can get to Hue (Ben Xe Hue – Hue bus station) by public bus or open tour bus from most major cities in Vietnam. And of course, it is possible to reach Hue by private cars from Danang or Hoi an.

Must do:

Take a boat down the Perfume River to visit tombs, pagodas and temples, and a number of relics of former Imperial Capital.
Discover the former Citadel, home to successions of imperial dynasties.
Enjoy Nha nhac cung dinh Hue , one of the few intangible values recognized by UNESSCO.
Buy a cone hat