Hue was the capital of Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty who ruled unified Vietnam 1789 onwards. On one side, Hue in Central Vietnam represents the rich culture and history of Vietnam while at the same time, it also holds sad memories of Vietnam war. ‘Battle of Hue’ was one of the deadliest battle which not only led to loss of human lives but also did a big damage to historical sites of this peaceful and quaint city. Far from the party atmosphere of Hanoi and Saigon, Hue offers a pleasant and peaceful settings for a relaxing exploration. Here is our suggestion of Hue Itinerary to explore this hidden gem of Vietnam.
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Here is our suggestion of top 10 offbeat experiences that you can include in your Hue Itinerary –
- Experience Scenic Hai Van Pass on a Motorbike
- Hue Imperial City – A Walk through Huế Citadel
- Visit Thua Thien Hue History Museum
- Pay your respect at Thien Mu Pagoda of Hue
- Majestic Tombs of Hue – Stories from Hue’s past
- Enjoy a walk around Perfume River
- Vietnamese Filter Coffee – Must on Hue Itinerary
- Strike a conversation and Laugh with Locals
- Drive on Coastal road to experience Rural Vietnam
- Take a Train Journey from Hue to Da Nang
1. Experience Scenic Hai Van Pass on a Motorbike
(Go to the Top) Hai Van Pass is a splendid scenic mountain pass that connects Da Nang to Hue. Though it is closer to Da Nang compared to Hue but if you directly land in Hue, it is worthwhile to drive up to Hai Van Pass and enjoy its scenic views on a leisure drive. As you will drive up the pass, rains and clouds would welcome you so go prepared with a rain coat. This is one of the best motorbike routes in Vietnam and should certainly be part of your Hue Itinerary if you love bike drives, mountains and nature.
For my trip, I drove my motorbike all the way from Da Nang to Hue via Hai Van Pass and it turned out to be an amazing experience. You can read more about my drive here – Hai Van Pass Vietnam – Scenic Motorbike Drive from Da Nang to Hue !!
2. Hue Imperial City – A Walk through Huế Citadel
(Go to the Top) Hue Imperial City (Forbidden Purple City) is the most impressive attraction in the city of Hue. Hue Citadel, built from 1804 to 1833, remained power center for Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty and political affairs till 1880 when French set up their control over Vietnam. Spread across 36.3 hectares, Hue Imperial City has 4 gates across its four sides. During Vietnam War bombings, many structures of Imperial City were destroyed and you could see their remains inside the Citadel complex. Out of 160 structures, only 10 major sites remain now due to loss in these battles.
It was a relaxing walk through the large courtyards and corridors of Hue Imperial City. You may read my memoirs from my Hue Citadel trip here – Hue Imperial City Vietnam – A Walk through Huế Citadel
3. Visit Thua Thien Hue History Museum
(Go to the Top) Hue houses 3 main museums -i) Thua Thien Hue History Museum ii) Royal Fine Arts Museum iii) Ho Chi Minh Museum. You may explore them basis time at hand during your Hue stay. I visited Thua Thien Hue History Museum which is right next to Hue Citadel. It is a museum dedicated to Hue’s war history especially Vietnam War and heroes who fought for the nation. Entrance Fee is VND 30,000 VND.
Thua Thien Hue History Museum also has American Helicopters, Jets and Tanks on display in its compound which were captured by Vietnam Army.
4. Pay your respect at Thien Mu Pagoda of Hue
(Go to the Top) Hue has always been a key center of Buddhism in Vietnam and houses some of the most revered Pagodas in Vietnam. Thien Mu Pagoda is an icon of Vietnam and a potent symbol of Hue as the Citadel. Tu Dam Pagoda is another important place of worship which you can visit on your way while driving to Tomb of Tu Duc. I had a stop-over at Tu dam Pagoda and here is a picture that I captured.
5. Majestic Tombs of Hue – Stories from Hue’s Past
(Go to the Top) Hue houses some of the most majestic tombs in Vietnam. Three of them – i) Tomb of Tu Duc ii) Tomb of Minh Mang and iii) Tomb of Khai Dinh are majestically built and you can decide to explore all of them or select one or two. Unless you are a great fan of history and architecture, I will suggest to chose one for your visit. Entry Fee is pretty high (VND 100000 each) and they are spread all across. I drove my mototrbike to Tomb of Khai Dinh and it was raining cats and dogs. It turned out to be a rewarding trip as Tomb is pretty majestic and royal with a courtyard (full of warrior and horses statues) and scenic hill views.
6. Enjoy a walk around Perfume River
(Go to the Top) Perfume River flows right through the Center of Hue City and as you cross it each time you explore around, you will feel the width and vibrancy of this river. It makes islands as it criss-crosses through the Hue City. Wake up some day early morning and go for a walk to experience Perfume river.
7. Vietnamese Filter Coffee- Must on Hue Itinerary
(Go to the Top) Sipping Vietnamese Filter Coffee is must for your Hue Itinerary. With a unique taste (thick texture) and temperature (neither too cold nor too hot), it serves perfect companion on rainy days. Sit in a cafe and enjoy rains while sipping your coffee. Please do not miss Vietnamese Filter Coffee on your Vietnam Trip !!
8. Strike a Conversation and Laugh with Locals
(Go to the Top) Vietnamese people in general are very friendly and hospitable but people in Hue are extra warm. It happened so many times that people walked to me just to know where am I from and how had I been feeling in Hue and Vietnam. Smiles are all around and you feel welcome anytime you have an interaction with local people, especially as you head to Rural and interiors of Vietnam.
9. Drive on Coastal road to experience Rural Vietnam
(Go to the Top) This is certainly a uniquely offbeat experience to drive to Thuan An Beach and vibrant villages of Vietnam. There is a road that goes follows the sea line and merges back to Expressway connecting Hue with Da Nang. This is a narrow road that passes through rural villages and you get to experience a different vibrant Vietnam. Farmers working knee deep in their paddy fields, kids and oldies smiling at you and then people eager to talk and know more about you – you will feel so welcomed in Vietnam. Do include this leisure drive in your Hue Itinerary for sure !!
Here is an account of my drive along coastal road – Scenic Motorbike Drive from Da Nang to Hue !!
10. Take a Train Journey from Hue to Da Nang
(Go to the Top) Riding a motor-bike is the best option to travel from Hue to Da Nang (via Hai Van Pass). However, this is quite taxing and also a bit dangerous as you need to drive through mountain curves. Train Journey from Hue to Da Nang is equally amazing as you enjoy scenic beach views from the comfort of your coach and also get a chance to connect with more of Vietnamese friends. You can easily book train tickets online on Vietnam Railways website.
We hope that this helps you explore the offbeat Hue experiences and prepare your Hue Itinerary easily. Please drop us a comment if you have more to add to this list or want any additional information to plan your Hue trip.