Hue Tours

Why visit Hue

From 1802 to 1945 Hue was the seat of the Nguyen emperors, the last dynasty to rule Vietnam. The walled Citadel, the Imperial City inside it and the tombs spread through the hills along the Perfume River together form a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is calmer than Hanoi or Da Nang, and a day or two here makes much of Vietnam's history easier to understand.

Top things to do in Hue

• The Imperial City: enter through the Noon Gate and walk among palace halls, temples and gardens. Parts were badly damaged in the war and restoration is ongoing.
• Royal tombs: Tu Duc's tomb is set around a lake among pine trees, while Khai Dinh's mixes Vietnamese and European styles with glass and porcelain mosaics.
• Thien Mu Pagoda: a working Buddhist pagoda with a seven-storey tower on a low hill above the Perfume River.
• Perfume River by boat: a slow dragon boat ride is a relaxed way to reach the pagoda and see riverside life.
• Hue food: the city's cooking was shaped by the royal court. Try bun bo Hue, a spicy beef noodle soup, and small steamed rice cakes such as banh beo.
• The former DMZ: a day trip north to the Vinh Moc tunnels and Hien Luong Bridge, which once marked the border between North and South Vietnam.

Best time to visit

February to April brings mild, mostly dry weather and is the most comfortable time for sightseeing. May to August stays dry but can be very hot in the middle of the day, so early starts help. September to December is the rainy season, with the heaviest rain, occasional typhoons and some flooding in October and November.

Getting there

Phu Bai Airport, around half an hour from the centre, has direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. From Da Nang it is about 2.5 to 3 hours by road through the Hai Van tunnel, or a little longer over the Hai Van Pass. The north-south railway also stops in Hue.