Hue Travel Guide

Name - Hue
Area - 70.67 square meter (27.3 square mile)
Population - 4.55 lakhs (2018)
Language - Nobiin, Kenuzi-Dongola, Egyptian Arabic
Province - Thua Thien Hue
Currency - Vietnamese Dong
Time Zone - UTC+7 (ICT)
Religions and Beliefs - Buddhism, Folk religions, Catholics Christian

Close to the foothills of Annamese Cordillera Mountain Range, Hue city boasts of wonderful cityscape where new and old are surviving side by side. The Huong River (more popularly known as Perfume River) flows through the city watching over its people and their struggles. The city was once the stronghold of the Nguyen Empire, which ruled the city for more than two centuries. Although these rulers were running the monarchy in the front, main control of the region was in the hands of the French who were controlling the kingdom from the front. Overall, Hue travel help travelers know more about the history of Vietnam.

 1. The Imperial City
2. Thien Mu Pagoda
3. Khai Dinh’s Tomb
4. Bach Ma National Park
5. Tomb of Tu Duc
6. Thai Hoa Palace
7. Tam Giang Lagoon
8. Lang Co Beach
9. Minh Mang's Tomb
10. Lac Tinh Vien – The Ornate Garden Houses

The most notable highlight of Huế travel is exploring the ancient monuments dating back to the 15th century. The Imperial City, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List, is one of the famed historical monuments of Vietnam. Although, war and several natural calamities have severely damaged the monument, the still standing parts of the palace are also fascinating and shows the past glory. The Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the revered landmarks of Hue on the banks of the Perfume River.
 

The most suitable Huế travel time runs between February and April, when the sky is clear, and the climate is comfortable. Since Hue’s weather falls under the tropical monsoon zone classification, the city experiences rainfall almost the entire year. The month of November experiences torrential rain followed by thunderstorms. While coming to Hue, travelers are advised to carry waterproof trolleys and backpacks to protect their valuables. Pick shoes that dry up quickly and are comfortable to wear throughout the entire day. Additionally, guests are advised to carry quick dry towels and bug repellents.
 

1. Bun Bo Hue (Rice noodle soup with pork shavings)
2. Bánh bột lọc (Clear soup with pork and shrimp dumplings)
3. Cơm hến (Rice and clams)

The royal heritage of Nguyen Empire could be seen in the gastronomy of Hue. During the Huế travel, tourists can find that refined presentation and detailing is laid out while serving the dish. Another striking feature of Hue cuisine is the dominance of vegetarianism in meals. Since a large percentage of the population of the city adheres to Buddhism, most residents prefer eating meat-free meals at least twice a month. While talking about foods, mention of sweets is a must. Residents of Hue love their sweets, steamed, or fired.

 
Address: Kiet 56, near the corner of Nguyen Thai Hoc, Nguyen Cong Tru
Opening hours: Early morning
Cost: US$ 1.3
It is recommended for its steamy and fresh Bun bo.
 
Address: 20 Nguyen Du, Tp. Hue, Hue, Vietnam
Opening hours: 4:00-10:00 p.m.
Cost: US$4.5
This one is known to serve banh loc chien and banh trang trung.
 
Address: 30 Phạm Hồng Thái, Vĩnh Ninh, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế 530000, Vietnam
Opening hours: 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Cost: US$1.1
The restaurant is well-known for its delightful ambience and friendly staff.
 

1. Le Loi Street: 55%
2. Pham Ngu Lao Street: 40%
3. Chinese Quarter: 5%

Both Le Loi Street and the Pham Ngu Lao Street are popular among the tourists coming for Huế travel. While the Le Loi Street is surrounded with hotels (both mid- and high range), at the Pham Ngu Lao Street travelers can find cheaper places and backpacker hostels for the stay. Pham Ngu Lao Street is also a friendly locale known for its bars and restaurants, thus you can conveniently explore the local life. The wellness resorts and historical hotels are also available in Hue but are awfully expensive.
 

The nearest airport to the city is Phu Bai International Airport just 12 km (8 miles) away from the city center. Apart from that, Hue is connected to the rest of the country via network of buses. The Reunification Express, the train network connecting Northern Vietnam to the south, stops at Hue. Thus, Huế travel is accessible from different parts of the country.

For citywide transit, tourists can either book a cab or hire a motorcycle taxi. Usually, motorcycle taxi can charge around VND 8K (US$ 0.35) per mile while cabs charge around VND 30K (US$1.30) for each mile. Apart from these modes of transport, tourists can rent cycle to tour the city at their own pace. Normally, bicycle rentals charge around VND 47K (US$2) per day.

 See more about Vietnam Train

 

► 1. Dong Ba Market: 2 Trần Hưng Đạo, Phú Hoà, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế

The local market sells produces and handicrafts from the locals. Head to the local street food venues to taste local cuisines.

► 2. Spiral Foundation Healing the Wounded Heart Center: 23 Võ Thị Sáu, Phú Hội, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế

The organization is working with differently disabled artists and providing employment to them. Making a purchase from this organization, directly helps these artists.

► 3. Trang Tien Plaza: 24 Hai Bà Trưng, Tràng Tiền, Plaza, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Modern high-end plaza recommended for high end shopping.