Hue - Latest Travel Guide (Part 1)

Located on the central strip of land, Hue is a world cultural heritage city. The ancient capital has a long history and tradition with unique values and identities.

What season is beautiful in Hue?

Hue tourist season from November last year to April next year, the most beautiful is the first 3-4 months of the year, the weather is cool. For tourists who love mountains and sea, like to watch sunrise and sunset, the best time to go is June-August when the sun is the most beautiful of the year, the sea is the bluest.

Hue does not necessarily have a dry season, but only a rainy season and a season with little rain. The low rainy season usually lasts from March to August, it is hot and muggy. From September to January next year is the rainy season, it is cold. In particular, from October to November is also the storm season, the heavy rain seems to never stop.

Spring lasts from late January to March, the weather at this time is very beautiful, it is sunny, sometimes it is chilly. From April to July, in the hot summer, Hue is also an ideal tourist destination for tourists who love the sea. The ancient capital in the summer has the yellow color of scallops, the pink of peach blossom; purple color of the mausoleum... August, the city is in the autumn, the most beautiful season of the year.

Transportation

Airplanes: Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Vietjet Air all operate routes to Phu Bai and Hue airports. Flight time from Hanoi is about 1 hour 15 minutes, round-trip ticket price from 1,600,000 VND. Flight time from Ho Chi Minh City is about 1 hour 30 minutes, round trip ticket price from 1,300,000 VND.

Train: From Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces, visitors can take the train to enjoy the scenery along the way. Trains have hard seats, soft seats and sleepers, with or without air conditioning. Ticket price is about 400,000 - 900,000 VND per person. If you go far in the hot season, choose the SE3, SE1 train to shorten the travel time, buy a ticket with an air-conditioned bed for comfort.

Bus: From Hanoi to Hue, you buy bus tickets from companies such as Hung Thanh, Camel, Queen, Duc Thinh... Hanoi - Hue leg and vice versa cost 250,000 - 300,000 VND one way. The bus usually runs from 6pm the previous day to 6am the next morning to Hue, so you just need to book a bed and sleep and you will arrive.

In Hue, to save costs and freely stop while moving, you should rent a motorbike at the accommodation. Motorbike rental price is 80,000 VND a day, scooter 130,000 VND a day, excluding gas.

An interesting means of discovering Hue that tourists should try is cyclo. Cyclo riders will become a tour guide, taking visitors to famous places in the city such as Truong Tien bridge, Dong Ba market... At each location, cyclos will stop for visitors to freely visit. The tour usually lasts an hour, the price is from 50,000 - 120,000 VND depending on the location and travel time.

Hotels, resorts

Hotels in Hue with affordable prices. You should book a room in the center, near the pier, car for easy travel as well as visiting inner-city tourist attractions and dining spots. The homestay, hostel located right in the center such as a-mâze house, Sunshine, To Vo, Tram ... only 100,000 - 200,000 VND per night, suitable for people traveling alone or a group of young people. If traveling in large numbers, you should book in advance through online booking channels such as Booking, Agoda, Traveloka, Vntrip... to get a good price.

Hue also has no shortage of 4-5 star hotels and luxury resorts. Famous brands include Banyan Tree Lang Co, Laguna Lang Co, Pilgrimage Village Pilgrimage Village, Lapochine Beach Resort, Silk Path Grand Hue hotel, Indochine Palace, Imperial Hotel (Imperial), Azerai La Residence Hue, Vinpearl... Room rates range from VND 2,000,000 to VND 8,000,000 per night.

A trip to Hue about 3 days and 2 nights is just enough to move, visit and still save money and ensure health. If you have a lot of money or are more comfortable with your time, you can stay in Hue for a long time to explore all of the ancient capital. Here are the recommended attractions and experiences.

Sightseeing

Dong Ba Market

Formed in 1899, Dong Ba market is one of the symbols of the ancient capital, which is busy all year round with buyers and sellers. The market extends from Gia Hoi bridge to Truong Tien bridge with thousands of stalls. Entering the market, you will see the colorful atmosphere of a Hue market. Tourists come here freely to find delicious food, or walk around the shops of clothes, fabrics, hats, fish sauces, and fruit cakes that are only available in Hue to buy and take home.

The market sells from 7 am to late afternoon, so visitors can visit whenever they like. However, after 4pm, there are more snack shops open. You can bargain when buying.

Hue High School for the Gifted.

This is the first high school in Hue built from the reign of King Thanh Thai, in 1896. The site is located at 12 Le Loi Street, right in the center. The school stands out with its brilliant red paint and green trees all year round. Quoc Hoc Hue campus is very large, so you can walk freely through the corridors, classrooms, school grounds, visit the old French architecture and take souvenir photos.

You visit the school at noon like 11:30 or after 17h to visit and take photos when students are absent. The school has many large trees that are very cool, if you go in the early morning, you can be protected from entering because during the student's class time. Parking fee to the school is 5,000 VND.

Read more: Noted down gorgeous photo backgrounds when travel to Hue

Truong Tien Bridge

Across the Huong River, Truong Tien Bridge is an image that everyone remembers when referring to Hue. If during the day, it is only reflected in the shadow of the Huong River, in the late afternoon and evening, the bridge is adorned with very prominent sparkling colored lights. In the evening, visitors to Truong Tien Bridge should combine a walk along the banks of the Huong River, in the afternoon or evening there will be more snack shops to attract guests.

Huong river

Huong River meanders between the mountains and forests, gliding through villages from Kim Long, Vi Da to Dong Ba, Gia Hoi, Nam Pho... blending with the scent of Hue flowers. Have the opportunity to take a cruise on the river by boat to see the romantic Huong Giang.

If you want to see the city shimmering with lights from the Huong River, you can board a dragon boat and enjoy the "specialty" of Hue. Ca Hue is the interference and cultural absorption between royal court music and folk singing. A standard Hue choir usually has only one person singing along with a set of 5 instruments. The more colorful the musical accompaniment, the more it enhances the vocals. The ticket price for the show listening to Hue songs for about 1 hour on the Huong River ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 VND per person.

Vong Canh Hill

Vong Canh Hill is 43 m high, located in the southwest of Hue city. The foothill is adjacent to the Huong River, located on the road with many destinations such as Thuy Xuan incense village, King Tu Duc's mausoleum, Thieu Tri mausoleum... so it has long been famous and a stopover for many tourists.

The most suitable time to come to Vong Canh is at sunset, watching the Perfume River redden in the sun with the light dragon boats drifting, and the mountains and hills in the distance.

Hue Citadel

Hue Citadel has more than 100 outstanding architectural works such as Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Dien Tho Palace, Truong Sanh Palace, Hung Mieu, The Mieu... This ancient building complex is arranged according to the principle of "left man and woman", "describe literature and martial arts", from the inside out. Even the temples are arranged in the order of "left front, right after, in turn from time to time".

Because the campus of Hue Citadel is very large as well as the hot summer weather, you should come early in the morning as soon as it opens at 7am and bring a hat and hat to avoid the sun. You need at least 3 hours to visit the ruins. Tickets to the Citadel cost 200,000 VND per person. When visiting attractions in Hue, visitors can rent a Nhat Binh shirt to take pictures to transform into a queen, concubine, and princess in the past.

Phu Cam Church

Located at 1 Doan Huu Trung Street, the unique architecture is a "virtual living" spot as beautiful as Europe. Experiencing ups and downs in history, this Phu Cam church is said to be the most beautiful in Hue, and has been rebuilt 10 times since 1682.

The church is located on Phuoc Qua hill, the main hall and two bell towers rise to the sky, very majestic and majestic. Inside the church is a spacious and airy cathedral that can accommodate up to 3,000 people at the same time. Because Phu Cam Church is a religious site, you need to dress politely and keep quiet when visiting and taking photos.

Thuy Xuan Village

On the way to visit Vong Canh Hill, Tu Duc Tomb, visitors will pass through Thuy Xuan incense village, about 7 km from Hue city center. This place impresses visitors by the brilliant bouquets of incense like colorful flowers.

In addition to taking artistic pictures, visitors can chat with incense makers to better understand Hue and this traditional culture. The sightseeing area is concentrated on both sides of Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street.

Mausoleum

The Nguyen Dynasty had 13 kings, but due to economic and political reasons, only 7 mausoleums were built, all of which remain today with their own architectural styles. Hue mausoleums were built when the king was still in office, so this is not a sad burial place but has a charming landscape with unique architecture.

Gia Long Tomb (or Thien Tho Lang) was built from 1814 to 1820, located in the middle of Thien Tho mountain complex in Huong Tho commune, Huong Tra district. This is the resting place of King Gia Long (1762-1820), the first of 13 Nguyen kings.

Gia Long Tomb has a circumference of more than 11,000 meters, in front of which is Dai Thien Tho mountain as a criminal record, each side has 14 mountains adoring to form "left dragon" and "right white tiger". Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Khai Dinh Tomb is located on the slopes of Chau Chu mountain in Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy town, is the resting place of King Khai Dinh (1885-1925). Khai Dinh Tomb is the work with the smallest area but takes the most effort and money of the Nguyen Dynasty mausoleums. The architecture of the mausoleum has the interference of East and West cultures, reflecting the lavish taste of the king during his lifetime.

Khai Dinh Tomb was built in 10 years, from 1920 to 1930. Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Tomb of Tu Duc or Khiem Cung is located in a narrow valley in Thuong Ba village, Thuy Xuan ward, Hue city. The mausoleum has sophisticated architecture, charming landscape and is one of the most beautiful mausoleums of the royal family of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The mausoleum was built from 1864 to 1867 on an area of 475 hectares. Nearly 50 works in the mausoleum in the two areas of the palace and the mausoleum all have the word "Khiem" in the name.

Tomb of Tu Duc has elements of spaciousness, soft lines reflecting the romantic soul of this poetic king. Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

In the grounds of Tu Duc Tomb, there is also the Tomb of Kien Phuc, the 7th King of the Nguyen Dynasty. Kien Phuc is a grandson adopted by King Tu Duc, ascended to the throne in December 1883 after King Duc Duc and Hiep Hoa.

Duc Duc Tomb (or An Lang) is located in An Cuu ward, Hue city. The mausoleum was built in 1889 and is the burial place of King Duc Duc, King Thanh Thai and King Duy Tan.

Compared to other mausoleums of the Nguyen kings, Duc Duc's mausoleum has a simple and modest architecture. The mausoleum takes Phuoc Qua hill as a criminal record, Tam Thai mountain behind as the occipital post, and the stream flowing around in front of it to make the waterway clear.

Duc Duc Tomb campus viewed from above. Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Minh Mang Tomb is also known as Hieu Lang, whose main gate is Dai Hong Mon, opened only once to bring the king's coffin into the mausoleum. After that, the entrance must go through two side gates, Ta Hong Mon and Huu Hong Mon. The mausoleum has a poetic and charming scene, interspersed with ancient architectural works, there is a clear blue lake, fragrant lotus blooms in summer.

Minh Mang Tomb was built 3 years ago (1840 - 1843) and needed 10,000 workers and soldiers to complete. Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Dong Khanh Tomb, located in the complex of Hue ancient relics, is the burial place of King Dong Khanh. The project is located in the middle of a countryside, now Thuong Hai village, Xuan Thuy ward, Hue city. King Dong Khanh (1864 - 1889) in office from 1885 - 1889, alias Nguyen Phuc Ung Duong was the 9th king of the Nguyen Dynasty. Tomb of King Dong Khanh brings traditional feudal architecture and Western European influences.

Dong Khanh Tomb is also the burial place of King Ham Nghi's grave (1874-1944). Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

An Dinh Palace

Compared to the "summer palace" of the Hue court, An Dinh palace looks like a magnificent ancient European castle, but has traditional Hue royal motifs. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, An Dinh Palace is considered a unique artistic architectural work, representing the neoclassical school of architecture in Vietnam in the early 20th century.

Thien Mu Pagoda

About 5 km west of the Citadel and Hue city center, Thien Mu Pagoda is located on Ha Khe hill, Kim Long ward, facing the peaceful Huong River. Visitors to Thien Mu Pagoda can visit the 7-storey Phuoc Duyen tower, Dai Hung palace, gardens, pine forests and the display area of the relics of the monk Thich Quang Duc.

If you have time, you should consider visiting more Huyen Khong Son Thuong pagoda. Visiting the temples is usually free of charge, but to keep the space pure, visitors should pay attention to dress politely and not make noise.

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

Going away from the city center about 30 km, you come to Truoi country, enter Truoi Dam, cross the gentle slope on the hillside, you will see Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery reflecting on Truoi lake. Sitting on the small canoes across the lake, you will come to the monastery. To get to the three gates, you have to climb 172 steps. The architecture of the monastery is in harmony between the mountains and the water, with the main temple worshiping the Buddha who meditates under the Bodhi tree.

Tu Hieu Pagoda

Tu Hieu Pagoda used to be the place where Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh recuperated before he passed away. This is one of the ancient pagodas dating from the Nguyen Dynasty, located on Le Ngo Cat Street, Thuy Xuan Ward. The temple has an ancient feature, hidden in a large pine forest, with a curving water slot. Visitors here are impressed with the serenity and calmness.

Come here, do not forget to visit the ancient stupa, the burial place of the monks who built Tu Hieu Pagoda, or the separate tomb area burying the eunuchs of the Nguyen Dynasty who contributed money to build the temple.

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