Hue best things to do & travel guide
The ancient city of Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty at the beginning of the 19th century and during the Vietnam-US war some of the most intense conflicts took place in this region. One of the main tourist attractions of Hue is the Royal Palace of the imperial city. There are also a number of places of interest left over from the Vietnam War, such as a military base and tunnels in the DMZ.
5 reasons to visit Hue
- Explore the ancient buildings and ruins of the Imperial City
- Sail the Parfum River by boat
- Learn more about the Vietnam War in the DMZ
- Cycle around the city
- Take a day trip to Bach Ma National Park
The city is a beautiful mix of old and new buildings that are mainly separated by the Parfume River. Hue was the imperial capital of Vietnam between 1802 and 1945. Although many beautiful buildings have been lost as a result of the wars, Hue is busy restoring various highlights in the city.
1. Hue Imperial Citadel
Without a doubt, the most impressive and best thing to do in Hue is a visit to the Imperial City. In the walled Hue Imperial City, also known as the Citadel, you will find the Forbidden Purple City, dozens of royal tombs, pagodas, temples, royal rooms, a library and a museum.
You can easily walk around here for 3 hours to visit everything. A guide is not necessary but recommended if you want to learn more about the history and the times when there was fierce fighting here during the Vietnam War.
2. Lang Co beach
One of the best beaches in Vietnam can be found close to the city of Hue. The beach is 10 kilometers long with palm trees, clear water and a number of good resorts. It is still a 60 km drive from the center. You can also choose to stay here for a night, a day trip or a stop on the way between Hue and Da Nang just before the Hai Van Pass.
3. Tombs and temples
Besides the Imperial City, you can find many other tombs, temples and pagodas in and around the city of Hue. The tombs of the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty are scattered on hills south of the city and can be reached by boat or bicycle. In total there are seven tombs: the other emperors died in exile and were buried.
The best known and most impressive are the Minh Mang Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Hon Chen Temple and The To Mieu Temple.
4. Hai Van Pass
The Hai Van Pass is located between Hue and Da Nang and is one of the most stunning coastal roads in Vietnam. It is very popular to drive the road b
y motorbike (or on the back of one), but you can also go by car or an old army jeep. The views along the way are spectacular and you can combine to drive with a visit to some other sights along the way, such as Lang Co beach, fishing villages, the Marble Mountains and a small waterfall.