Hue Things to do

Hue, the lost imperial city in Central Vietnam, welcomes an enormous number of visitors from all over the world every year for its long history, sublime national treasures, distinctive cultural traits, and refined traditional cuisine that can hardly be found elsewhere in Vietnam. If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, consider immersing yourself in the heroic history of Vietnam by taking part in the following activities in Hue.

Sightseeing

Get acquainted with the peaceful and quiet atmosphere in Hue with a sightseeing tour around the city. This ancient capital of Vietnam is considered as the cradle of Vietnamese culture with educational, cultural, and political importance. Well-known for many fascinating historic sites, from preserved royal tombs, pagodas, and temples to garden houses with hundreds of years of age, Hue will bring you back to the old times. 

- Imperial City: One of the famous destinations is Imperial City, an enormous complex full of executive and bureaucracy you would expect from a country's capital.

Hue Imperial Citadel

- Complex of Royal Tombs: Another notable place is the Complex of Royal Tombs of Nguyen Kings, including Gia Long Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb, Dong Khanh Tomb, and Khai Dinh Tomb.

- Thien Mu Pagoda: Thien Mu Pagoda is also one of the most fascinating religious sites in Hue that lures tourists with its beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worship. 

Taste Hue Cuisine 

Ranging from Western fine dining meals to authentic Vietnamese delicacies, tourists can choose from a large number of dining options in Hue. With its notable regional traits in Central Vietnam, Hue cuisine offers sophisticated and artistic specialties, bursting with fresh ingredients and elegant flavors. 

Com Hen (Baby Clam Rice)

One of the unique characteristics of Hue that will attract all fool lovers is the Imperial cuisine. A large group of travelers can book a dinner at a "royal banquet". You will have the chance to experience life as a Vietnamese royalty, enjoy traditional music, and dine with traditional Imperial dishes on luxury cruises on the Perfume River or in high-end restaurants.  

Join Cooking Classes

Hue used to be the imperial city under the last monarchy of Vietnam. It’s no wonder that this scenic city inherits many cultural and traditional values, including the finest gastronomy with all the famous and delectable specialties. Therefore we highly recommend that tourists attend a cooking class and take the wonderful opportunity to have an insight into Vietnamese traditional cuisine.

For those who are interested, there are many great options to choose from: travel agencies, hotels, or restaurants. Thuy Bieu eco-village is a suggestion for tourists who want to combine a cooking class tour with a cycling trip to the countryside.

Cooking Class At Thuy Bieu Eco Village

Have a Boat Tour

A holiday in Hue would be more remarkable with a dragon boat tour along this poetic Perfume River. While leisurely cruising, the breathtaking scenery of Hue City is presented from different angles on the magic water that magically changes colors from sunrise to sunset.

Dragon Boat Trip On Huong River

Visitors can also explore the local lifestyle of enchanting and gentle Hue people. Upon embarkation, you will blend in the crowded Dong Ba Market or visit the Thuy Bieu eco-village where you can enjoy local street foods and soothe your body with herbal water treatment.

Participate in Eco Tours

If you are looking for a relaxing holiday to get away from all the hustle and bustle in a busy city, an Eco tour in Hue is a perfect activity for you. Come to the rustic landscapes and breathe the fresh air while enjoying the tranquil ambiance of the countryside. 

Eco Tour At Thuy Bieu Village

In Thuy Bieu village, you can visit ancient garden houses, explore traditional paper-making methods, and enjoy excellent medicinal herb massage.

Or you can visit the beautiful, untouched Tam Giang Lagoon and visitors can experience the simple real-life of the countryside by interacting with local people, joining hands in their daily activities of housework or farming tasks on rice fields, and fishing villagers. 

Go Shopping

Wondering what gifts from Vietnam you should bring home to your family and friends? Then do not hesitate to visit some famous shopping places in Hue. You may be fond of handicraft products like silk paintings and silk embroideries, lacquer wares, antiques, and all kinds of unique products that you’ll only find in the city.

Dong Ba Market

For a local experience, Dong Ba market is truly a place to be. Some other famous shopping places for tourists are An Cuu Market, Ben Ngu Market, Tay Loc Market, Truong Tien Plaza, Phong Phu Plaza, etc.

Enjoy Rural Trips on Bikes

Another interesting thing to do in Hue city is to discover the beautiful countryside on peaceful cycling roads along the poetic Perfume River, shaded with old trees and cool gentle breezes. You can also drop by some of the villages on the way and meet with local people for a casual conversation. Their warm greetings will truly touch your heart.

Cycling To The Rural Area Of Hue

Taking a bicycle tour to Thuy Bieu village or Thanh Toan Bridge to explore the countryside and stick with the local culture will bring a different perspective to your Vietnamese experience. 

Take Delight in Beaches

Make the most of your wonderful trip in Hue by enjoying relaxing moments on some of the pristine beaches. Pack your bags and go to Thuan An Beach, lie down on powder-white sand, under a thick curtain of palms and tropical foliage and just leisurely chill. 

Wild Beauty Of Lang Co Beach

Lang Co Beach is also an ideal beach place for tourists to relax in bright blue water and enjoy a fresh seafood menu. Lang Co Beach makes for a great stopover en route to Hoi An to break up the journey.

Have a Blind Massage

During your stay in Hue, you might love the soothing experience of a blind massage while making a small contribution to the local society. There’s a place called “Association of the Blind in Thua Thien Hue Province'', which is considered a school for visually impaired kids. By booking an appointment with them, you can not only relax your mind, and stretch out your muscles at a cheap price but you can also play a part in supporting those children’s lives to get better. It would be great if you can donate an amount. This association already paid for thousands of eye surgeries for visually impaired people so believe us, your money will be well-spent.

Relaxing at Alba Thanh Tan Hot Springs

If you seek peaceful resting time after spending a whole day exploring different places in Hue, Alba Thanh Tan Hot Springs is a perfect place for you to boost your energy and entertain freely in many ways. You can soak in hot mineral springs and get a session of Alba Thanh Tan Hot Springs’s massage treatment. 

Thanh Tan Hotspring

However, if you want to stay active and love doing outdoor sports, Alba Thanh Tan Hot Springs can satisfy your needs by offering a list of adventurous activities at the High Wire Cable Game and Zip Line areas. These thrilling games will make you face the fear of height and balance in a stunning green natural view.

Cycle Around Hue City

If you want to explore Hue in an authentic way with a brand new experience, a cyclo tour is exactly what you need. Surprisingly favored by visitors, cyclo is a convenient 3-wheel transportation. Spending a couple of hours at night riding a cyclo allows tourists to discover the hidden charm of Hue and to enjoy every single moment in the peaceful city.

Travel Around Hue by Bike

While sitting on the cyclo, all the daily activities of local people just happen around you. You can be a part of it and feel free to ask the cyclo driver to stop at some beautiful attractions you want to visit. The cyclo riders may tell you stories about some destinations within the city as they have a broad understanding. 

Fishing at Tam Giang Lagoon

Tam Giang lagoon, a hidden beauty of ancient Hue, is rarely discovered by tourists. The sunset view in Tam Giang Lagoon is absolutely breathtaking and will fascinate all travelers.

Tam Giang Lagoon

Usually, tourists prefer starting their journey at Tam Giang Lagoon at around 16.30 to go fishing around the area with local people on a fishing boat while enjoying the wild beauty of Tam Giang Lagoon as the sunset gradually turns into super charming purple. After that, you can enjoy fresh and nutritious seafood. It sounds simple but yet perfect for a late afternoon.

Party until Midnight

Despite its ancient and peaceful vibe, Hue can also bring you a lively atmosphere as tourists can find interesting places to party all night. However, partying in Hue is a little bit more on the chill side.

Party At Hue Local Bar

People love to go to a local pub to chill in with good music, have a couple of fine wines and cocktails, chat with friends, or interact with new people. In addition, for foreigners who are looking for a sophisticated place to relax, there are some fancy bars and pubs right inside some of the 4-5 star hotels.

Visit Beautiful Garden Houses

The beautiful garden houses constructed in the Nguyen Dynasty are unique features of Hue’s ancient architecture. Hue traditional architecture has long been closely associated with peaceful nature.

Hue Garden House

You can tell the garden houses reflect this association by looking at details like wood and orchards which make the garden houses traditionally beautiful in a simple yet elegant style. It also creates the feeling of blending in the green fresh natural open view.

We recommend you pay a visit to Pham Vu Dien House, a spacious garden with a long history. In addition, don’t sleep at Le Van Duyet’s church because it was voted as Vietnam’s most historically well-known.

Learn to Make Conical Hats

Hue conical hat is a well-known trademark in Vietnam and also an iconic cultural symbol. It is not only associated with the daily life of ancient capital people but also honors the charming and delicate beauty of Hue women. Tourists who are eager to expand their knowledge about Hue culture can visit Hue's conical hat-making village. 

How To Make Conical Hats

Coming to these traditional villages, tourists can witness the careful processes as craftsmen produce conical hats with aesthetic and cultural qualities. To be honest, it’s a delightful experience, when you finish making it, you can take it back as a souvenir for your friends and family, or you can use it as an accessory to pair with the famous Vietnamese Ao Dai.

You can create a precious memory and noteworthy experience in Hue by taking part in the above activities. If you want to plan your own Hue itinerary, read the below useful articles and contact BestPrice Travel to get the best advice.