Hue

Hue tourist map

The most attractive destinations in Hue

Whether you are a lover of nature, mountains, or great architecture, the ancient capital always meets your expectations. We divide the list of destinations into two parts: Imperial Citadel of Hue and attractive destinations in Hue.

The Imperial Citadel of Hue

The Imperial City of Hue (Hoang Thanh Hue) is the place that you must explore first. This was the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty for 143 years, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. With a total area of 520 hectares, the Imperial City of Hue is divided into two parts: one is mandarins and commoners, the other is the living and working place of the emperor. Here are some important monuments inside Hue Imperial City.

Entrance fee: 150.000 VND

The Flag Tower is located in front of the Ngo Mon Gate, consisting of 3 floors stacked in order from big to small, built entirely of bricks. Along with the ups and downs of Hue Citadel, the Flag Tower also witnessed many important milestones of the country. In the Nguyen Dynasty, it was used to signal in all occasions. Today, the Flag Tower is considered a symbol of the ancient capital of Hue.

Ngo Mon is the main gate of the Imperial City, it was built during the reign of King Minh Mang, which only reserved for the King and ambassadors from other countries. Ngo Mon was not only the place where King Bao Dai proclaimed his abdication (in 1945) but also was the place for many other important ceremonies. Coming to Ngo Mon, you will once again recall the residence of the feudal court, living in a space imbued with the majestic history of Vietnam.

Thai Hoa Palace is considered as the heart of the Imperial City because it was where the seat of the throne – a symbol of the power of the Nguyen Dynasty put in. It was also the venue for important ceremonies such as coronation, the king’s birthday, and envoys.

The To Mieu is often called The Mieu, located in the southwest of the Imperial Citadel, which was the place to worship the Nguyen Kings, women in the court (including the Queens) were not allowed to attend these ceremonies.

Hung To Mieu, also known as Hung Mieu, is a temple to worship the parents of King Gia Long (the King who established the Nguyen Dynasty) – Mr. Nguyen Phuc Luan (or Nguyen Phuc Con) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoan, which is located in the southwest of the Imperial Citadel (about 50 meters from The Mieu to the North).

Long An Palace

Long An Palace was built in 1845, used as a resting place for the Emperors. This is an architectural work of art that combines architecture and elegant art decoration. Long An Palace is now Hue Imperial Antiques, preserving royal artifacts. Come here; you will have a closer look at the golden life in the past.

Phung Tien Palace

Phung Tien Palace is a temple located near Chuong Duc Gate, in front of Cung Dien Tho which was built by King Gia Long and King Minh Mang to worship Nguyen Kings. Unlike The Mieu, this palace also worshipped Nguyen Kings and Queens, but women in the court were allowed to come here.

Hien Lam Cac

Hien Lam Cac was built in 1821 and completed in 1822 during the reign of King Minh Mang, which is the tallest building in the Imperial Citadel. This is considered a memorial to remember the merits of the Nguyen Kings and the great ministers of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Attractive destinations in Hue

In the downtown area, besides the Imperial City, there are still many famous tourist destinations. Let’s explore each in turn.

Besides the Imperial City, Hue is also known as a land with many sacred temples, Thien Mu Pagoda is one of them. Thien Mu Pagoda is located on Ha Khe hill, right on Kinh Long street, about 5 km from the center of Hue city. The temple with ancient beauty, reflecting on the poetic Huong River, creates a very lyrical picture. Visiting Thien Mu, besides enjoying the scenery, you also have the opportunity to hear people retell the legendary stories about the history of temple building, and stories of love.

After the Imperial City of Hue, the tombs of the Nguyen Kings are places you should not miss. Currently, Hue has a total of 7 tombs: Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb, Khai Dinh Tomb, Gia Long Tomb, Duc Duc Tomb, Thieu Tri Tomb and Dong Khanh Tomb. Each building has its own architecture with intricate carvings. But of which Khai Dinh Tomb (image) and Tu Duc Tomb are the most prominent.

Khai Dinh Tomb

Khai Dinh Tomb or Ung Lang is the resting place of the 12th King of the Nguyen Dynasty, which is located in the Hue Monuments complex and was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1993.

Khai Dinh Tomb was built on September 4, 1920, by Le Van Ba, the pre-Admiral of the Army, who spent 11 years to complete it. Khai Dinh Tomb was built extremely featurely with the total length of such construction from 1920 to 1923. The entire tomb architecture was influenced by many schools such as Hinduism (tower-shaped pillar gate), Buddhism (stupa-shaped pillar), Roman Gothic architecture (octagonal columns, wide high arches).

The main work is harmoniously combined but still unique and separate. King Khai Dinh has traveled to many places to learn about new architectures and brought them in to build his tomb.

This famous tomb area was built with materials such as iron, steel, cement, and especially Ardoise tile, which were imported from France. All interior details in the three-nave in the palace, most of which was decorated with reliefs made of beautiful porcelain and glass pieces imported from Asian countries such as China, Korea, Japan.

Visiting the tomb of Khai Dinh, besides admiring the unique features of architecture and art of the Nguyen Dynasty, you also hear more historical stories, and immerse yourself in the cultural and historical space.

Address: Khai Dinh, Huong Thuy District.

Entrance fee: 100.000 VND

Tu Duc Tomb

If you only have time to visit a tomb in Hue, come to Tu Duc Tomb, which is 7 km from the center of Hue city. Come here; you will feel like you have just traveled back in time to the 19th century because this architectural complex of nearly 475 hectares is preserved intact.

Among 13 Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, King Tu Duc was the most profound man in the Oriental educational background, and especially enjoyed poetry. When he died in 1883, the King left 600 essays, 4.000 Chinese poems, and about 100 Nom poems.

Tomb of Tu Duc, also known as Khiem Lang, was built when the King was still alive. This was where King Tu Duc rested, recited poetry, and enjoyed tea when he was tired, so the whole scene of Tu Duc Tomb is like a large park with nearly 50 buildings both in the impregnated area and the tomb. The architecture intertwines harmoniously with the lake, the mountains, and nature.

Tomb of Tu Duc was completed in 1867. With charming scenery, it is considered one of the most beautiful architectural works of the Nguyen Dynasty. Every day, Hue Traditional Art Theater organizes Ca Hue (Hue royal music) performance at Xung Nghiem Ta, part of Tu Duc Tomb. So come here, you not only admire this amazing work, but you also experience listening to Hue royal music.

Address: Thuong Ba village, Hue

Entrance fee: 100.000 VND

Perfume River (Huong River) is one of the five most attractive destinations in Vietnam voted by the Vietnam Record Organization. The poetic Huong River is considered as the symbol of Hue. Coming here, you can enjoy the peaceful scenery by boat. Especially at night, you can listen to the folk songs of Hue and watch the shimmering city light.

When you come to the Perfume River, do not forget to take photos at Trang Tien Bridge – also a symbol of the city and pride of the people. The bridge was built over 200 years ago and has become a panoramic view of the romantic city. The most wonderful time of Trang Tien Bridge is in the summer when the brilliant phoenix flowers bloom next to the bridge.

From Trang Tien Bridge, you walk 100 meters to the busiest market in Hue. The market sells a full range of goods, from food to everyday appliances. You can walk around the market, choose to buy some souvenirs such as conical hats, jewelry of Ke Mon village, and enjoy the specialties of this land.

Hue has long been famous for its beautiful beaches, especially Lang Co Beach, which is one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.

Lang Co Bay

Traveling Hue does not forget to visit Lang Co Bay – one of the most beautiful bays of the world. Situated between the ancient capital of Hue and the prosperous city of Da Nang, embraced by the stunning Hai Van Pass, Lang Co is truly a tourist paradise with pristine natural beauty. Lang Co Bay is also one of the rare places with mountains, rivers, seas, islands, and lagoons. Many luxurious resorts here will give you a dream vacation, away from busy streets.

Thuan An beach

Thuan An is an ideal place for those who want to escape the heat of summer. The beach is about 12 km in length, famous for its gentle waves and fresh air. Coming to Thuan An beach, you can immerse yourself in the pure blue water or admire the surrounding scenery on the white sand. Catching the sunrise and watching the sunset in Thuan An beach are experiences you should not miss in Hue.

Canh Duong Beach

Canh Duong Beach is located in Canh Duong village, Loc Vinh commune, Phu Loc district, about 50km from Hue city center. Unlike Thuan An, this beach is so vast, suitable for camping overnight and holding barbecue parties with the freshest seafood here. If you intend to travel to Hue for a long time, you should try once to visit Canh Duong Beach.

Hue is a land with many beautiful lagoons such as Tam Giang lagoon, Chuon lagoon and Lap An lagoon, each lagoon here has its own characteristics.

Tam Giang Lagoon

Tam Giang is the confluence of O Lau river, Bo river, and Huong river before flowing into the East Sea. Therefore, Tam Giang Lagoon is a symbol of the ecological environment in Hue.

Tam Giang Lagoon is the largest mangrove area in Southeast Asia, the water surface is 248.7 km2 wide, starting from O Lau estuary to Huong river mouth. Tam Giang lagoon has many aquatic animals, most of which are in Thuan An and O Lau, Bo, and Thuy Tu estuaries. Currently, 163 species of fish have been identified, many rare species such as sea bass, eel.

Chuon Lagoon

Chuon Lagoon in Phu Vang district has an area of over 100ha, located nearly 15 km to the East of Hue city center. It is a part of Tam Giang lagoon system with a fresh and peaceful atmosphere. The nature of Chuon lagoon is more beautiful in the early mornings and afternoons with colorful arrays.

Lap An Lagoon

Right next to Lang Co Bay is Lap An lagoon. Lap An lagoon, also known as An Cu lagoon, is surrounded by the great Bach Ma mountain range and the blue Lang Co beach. Coming here, you will not only be fascinated by the tranquility of mountains and rivers, but you will also enjoy the beautiful water diversion as in Nha Trang.

In addition to palaces, tombs, and lagoons, Hue is full of other interesting things waiting for you, maybe an abandoned water park, a majestic mountain and a famous poet’s village.

Thien An Hill – Thuy Tien Lake

Thuy Tien Lake is a place visited by many tourists, especially young recently. It is located near Thien An hill which is covered with a pine forest. Thuy Tien Lake is essentially an abandoned park. The entire campus is engulfed in desolation, covered with moss.

But the abandoned mystery of Ho Thuy Tien attracts many young people to visit and take photos.

Thuy Xuan Incense Village

Thuy Xuan Incense Village has located about 7 km from the city center. It is the largest incense village of Hue. People here live by making incense, providing incense to the whole city. Currently, this place has become one of the tourist attractions.

Visiting this village, you will have the opportunity to admire the colorful incense sticks. The craftsmen neatly arrange the incenses into bunches, radiating like beautiful flowers. Besides, you are also facilitated by people to learn and directly participate in making incense.

Phuoc Tich pottery village

Like Hoi An with Thanh Ha pottery village, Hue also has Phuoc Tich ceramic village. Phuoc Tich pottery village is located about 45 km north of the Hue center. It is famous for its many beautiful traditional ceramic products. Today, Phuoc Tich ceramic products have been present in the lives of the people of the homeland and the regions of the land of Thuan Hoa. The special thing that makes this village attractive and famous is thanks to its unique architectural art from sculpting and carving on wooden frames.

Bach Ma National Park

If you like conquering nature, Bach Ma National Park is the place for you. On the way to Bach Ma National Park, you will see Hai Vong Dai – the highest point, where you can capture the whole surrounding bay. When exploring deep inside Bach Ma National Park, you can also witness the spectacular Ngu Ho stream pouring from above or Do Quyen waterfall filled with flowers.

Truoi Lake

Located at the foot of the Bach Ma mountain range, Truoi lake also brings the dreamy beauty typical of Hue. Truoi Lake is primarily an irrigation work, but thanks to the mountains, Truoi Lake has become a place to avoid the sun in the summer.

Near Truoi lake is Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, of Truc Lam Yen Tu sect. Visitors who want to visit the monastery must take a ferry to go there, then taking 172 steps to reach the three-door gate. It is like a small challenge, but in return, waiting for you will be the scene of a peaceful lake surrounded by enchanting mountains.

Must-try dishes in Hue

Not only famous by the ancient poetic beauty but also makes visitors admired by the rich cuisine. Here are some must-try dishes in Hue.

As a famous specialty of Hue, but the Com Hen (mussels rice) and Bun Hen (mussels noodle) are incredibly inexpensive. Sweet and fresh mussels meat is fried and flavoured served with a cup of mussel soup, raw vegetables, pork rind, and shrimp sauce. It is not hard to find these dishes in Hue because they are sold in many restaurants or food vendors.

But for the right taste, you should try it on Nho Restaurant at 28 Pham Hong Thai, or the second address in Con Hen, Vi Da Ward.

Although Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef noodle) is not too strange in other provinces, Hue beef noodle has an entirely different taste. Hue beef noodle is listed in the 50 most delicious dishes in the world. A bowl of beef noodle soup must have a piece of soft pork leg, a few slices of fresh beef served with spicy soup. Don’t forget to eat with a plate of delicious fresh vegetables.

Some suggestions for you to enjoy Bun Bo Hue:

• O Phuong, address: 24 Nguyen Khuyen, Phu Nhuan Ward
• Bun Bo Cam, address 38 Tran Cao Van, Phu Hoi Ward
• O Hoa, address: 162 Mai Thuc Loan, Thuan Thanh Ward

Some types of cakes such as Banh Beo, Banh Nam, Banh Loc, Banh Khoai are simple, but they look so attractive. You can eat these cakes at any time like a snack or a main course and mixing them as you like. These cakes are sold on many food stalls, but you should try it at Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Le Huan Street, the food court in Dong Ba Market, and Tay Loc Market, which are very cheap (under 1 USD).

In the list of certain dishes to try when coming to Hue, it is impossible not to mention Banh Canh Nam Pho (Nam Pho spicy noodle soup). You will be impressed with the special bowl of red-orange soup with crab pies. Despite being popular, this soup dish is made meticulously and very carefully. To enjoy the perfect taste, eat while it is still hot, add some pepper and chilli. Each strand of soft soup noodles combined with the sweetness of the crab rolls creates a great delicacy.

Some suggestions for you:

• Thuy, address: 16 Pham Hong Thai, Vinh Ninh Ward
• Banh Canh Nam Pho, address: 54 Nguyen Cong Tru, Phu Hoi Ward

You would think that Che (sweet soup) is everywhere in Vietnam, but Che Hue (Hue sweet soup) is entirely different. Hue has up to 36 types of sweet soup; each has its own delicious and attractive flavour, all are delicately processed. Some of the most famous Hue sweet soups you must try are sweet corn soup, and rice ball sweet soup.

Hue sweet soup is not famous for its sophisticated, delicious but also very cheap. It’s costs only from 7.000 – 15.000 VND/ cup, which is sold in every corner of Hue, especially in the Dong Ba market.