One Day in Hue : What to do and where to go

Located in the central part of Vietnam, 92 km from the city of Danang, Hue is well-known in Vietnam as the city of history, poetry, culture and food.

The history of the city dated back for the emerging of the Nguyen dynasty in the early 19th century. The city since tthen is considered as an important educational and cultural center of the region. 

Therefore, Hue is famous among tourists as a place to find memories and  flashbacks of the past. 
The city is also well-known throughout the country for its food.

Different from other major cooking styles in Vietnam, Hue food is characterised for the use of very fresh ingredients accompanied by a lot of spices and herbs.

Hue offers tourists tons of choices for their trip. Therefore, it would be a hard time deciding where to go and what to do.

In order to help you with that, we would like to list out our one-day trip recommendation for you. Hope that you would find it helpful!

Morning

7:00 AM– Enjoy a Hue typical breakfast

Breakfast in Vietnam in general and in Hue in particular can takes many forms, shapes and flavours. Hue people can choose different types of breakfast according to their free time and income.

Usually, noodles soup like "bun" or "pho" are for people people with more free time and money.

Poorer or people who need to get to work early tend to eat things that are easier to eat like "xoi" (sticky rice) or Banh mi. 

Hue has many specialties, but Banh mi is one of the things that we should mention. Although Banh mi can be found everywhere in Vietnam, Hue’s Banh mi is very unique with its special sauces that greatly enhance the flavour of Banh mi.

You can choose among so many different types of Banh mi ranging from egg Banh mi, pate Banh mi to the more classic Banh mi dac biet (Special banh mi).

Banh mi also goes very well with a cup of Vietnamese coffee. Different from other kinds of coffee, Vietnamese coffee is characterised for its simple but heavenly delicious flavour.

You can find Vietnamese coffee at either coffee shops that serve right on the pavement of any street or coffee street vendors with very cheap price ranging from 10,000 vnd to 20,000 vnd.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Visit the Imperial City of Hue

The city is famous for its ancient citadel, also known as Hue citadel. The complex consists of hundreds of palaces, royal opera houses, royal gardens, shrines and tombs.
Hue architecture is unique due to the blend of traditional Vietnamese royal style with Western new elements. 
Wandering around magnificent palaces and temples with grandeur architecture in the Purple forbidden Citadel is like getting lost in the old Vietnam, which would be an unforgettable experience.

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Visit Thien Mu Pagoda

 

If you are fascinated in religious sites, Thien Mu pagoda would be surely an ideal choice.

Lying on on a beautiful spot overlooking the Perfume River, the pagoda can be easily spotted aloof by its unique bell tower which features images of the Buddha and inscribed with traditional Vietnamese calligraphic writing.

Put your feet step by step to the top of the tower, look over the sparkling Perfume river in the beams of warm sunlight and find yourselves at peace, this is the time to capture the beauty of this dreamy ancient capital.

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Visit Dong Ba Market

Another noticeable must-see attraction in the city is Dong Ba market, the biggest commercial centre of the region.

This market always buzzes with the sound of women’s bargaining, fish’s smell and vegetables lingering through Vietnam’s hot  humid air.

Here, not only could  various products ranging from agricultural specialties to modern machines  be easily found, but Dong Ba is also a shopping paradise with the most special cultural gifts and souvenirs of Thua Thien Hue.

"Non la bai tho", "ao dai Hue" are typical symbols representing for Hue women’s elegance as well as the tenderness of a dream city.

In addition, people will also be impressed by small but colorful vendors of street food with fragrant aromas offering mouth-watering plates belonging to Hue delicious cuisine. Dong Ba market is such a heaven on Earth!

12:00 AM – A taste to Hue traditional food

"Banh beo"

As it’s now mid-noon and you are super hungry from walking past so many different places in Hue, it’s time for a grand lunch of Hue traditional food at a local restaurant.

Contrast to the simplicity of Hue breakfast, Hue lunch can be described as a form of art with the combination of royal culinary techniques with common ingredients. 

Different from the bland but flesh flavour of northern style or the sweet, savory flavour of southern cuisine, Hue food is special with the contrast of spicy, sour and salty flavours, creating a distinct taste in every dish.

Popular food that we should mention are Banh beo (rice mini cake with shrimps), Com hen (river clam rice), Banh khoai (fried shrimp cake) and Che sen long nhan( Longan and lotus seed dessert).

Even though Hue food is very diverse, all of the ingredients go really well with each other, creating a balance between different flavours, between yin and yang.

It is said that even if you’ve eaten a lot of Hue food, your stomach will not be overloaded thanks to the perfect harmony in the food, which is also good for the trip in the afternoon.

Traditional food

There are so many restaurants in Hue but must-try ones are:

• Tịnh Gia Viên royal restaurant
• Cung Đình royal restaurant
• Tịnh Lâm Nhi
• Chân đồi
• Không Gian Xưa
• Lá Thông
• Duyên Anh seafood restaurant
• Tân Hương Sen
• Thiền Tâm vegan restaurant

Afternoon

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Visit the Tomb of Khai Dinh Emperor

After a long trip full of history and culture in the morning, we continue with another monument representing the glorious past of Hue: Tomb of Khai Dinh.

Tomb of Khai Dinh  rests Emperor Khai Dinh, one of the last king of Nguyen dynasty. There are several tombs lying on the outskirts of Hue city, but this one is probably the most unique and lavish.

Contrast to previous kings whose tombs stick to more traditional Vietnamese architecture,  Tomb of Khai Dinh is where the influences of western elements are clearest.

The gate is gigantic with decoration of dragons sitting, serving like guardians to the Emperor. Getting insides, the detailed and colorful mosaics and engravings of dragons on the wall and the ceiling are what capture visitors’ attention the most.

It took more than 10 years to finish this construction, the longest time in the history of nguyen dynasty. Tomb of Khai Dinh really showcased the talent of Vietnamese architects in the past as well as the astonishing wealth of Nguyen kings, even when under the occupation of France.

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Explore Lang Co Beach

After having spent a lot of time learning about history, architecture and culture, now let’s relax by the nature.

Going 60 km to the south of Hue, we reach Lang Co, one of the most beautiful  beach in Vietnam. 

Long ago when feudalism was still a thing in Vietnam, Lang Co served as a resort for the royal family of Hue to escape the heat and bustling atmosphere of the capital.

Now you don’t even need to be a king or a princess to enjoy Lang Co. It’s there for you to explore. 
Lang Co is ideal for summer vocations when the heatwaves are at their peak and the sea is at its deepest blue shade.

The blue sea water of Lang Co is not only ideal for swimming but also aquatic sports such as windsurfing, snorkeling or kayaking.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Climb Hai Van Pass

Right next to Lang Co Beach is Hai Van Pass, one of the most magnificent natural wonders of Hue. A trip from Lang Co to Hai Van Pass, therefore, would be very convenient. 

In the past, Hai Van Pass used to be the gate to the capital of Hue. Thus, this place was protected day by day by troops of most courageous soldiers.

Contrast to the heat of Lang Co, Hai Van is cool year around thanks to its high position. It is also usually covered in mist, creating an unbelievably beautiful picturesque scenery that no one would be able to hesitate. 

Once you get to the top, a whole new world is like emerging in front of your eyes. It’s not only the chance to enjoy spectacular panoramic views to below beaches and cities but also the moment to appreciate nature for the gift it entitled to humankind.

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Enjoy the sunset in Tam Giang Lagoon

Tam Giang Lagoon is an area covering 52 ha of water and mangrove forest in the mouth of the Perfume river. The lagoon is well-known as the largest salted water lagoon in Vietnam as well as in Southeast Asia. 

Besides the reputation for its ecological diversity, Tam Giang lagoon for its magnificent beauty. The best time to enjoy the irresistible beauty of Tam Giang is during the sunset when the last light of the day spread to the whole lagoon, covering it with red and yellowish shades of color.

Therefore, a trip to Tam Giang to directly witness the magic of nature by your naked eye or simply take some photos to post on social media would be something shouldn’t be missed on you travel list.

Evening

7:30 PM – Late Dinner (Bun Bo Hue) 

Now that you get back from Hue after an exhausting day of constantly travelling, your body must be very tired.

But get up because you are about to enjoy the noodle soup of heaven a.k.a Bun Bo Hue. 
Bun Bo Hue is a specialty of Hue, loved throughout the country thanks to its delicious broth made of beef bone and many other spices.

Through the skillful hands friendly hearts of Hue cooks, common ingredients become a irresistable dish. The dish is thought to be created hundreds years ago as a cure for exhaustion, fever and cold.

Therefore, take a bite and your body would return to its best mode. There are countless restaurants and street vendors serving this iconic dish but the best ones are:

• Bún Bò Huế O Cương Chú Điệp: 6 Trần Thúc Nhẫn, Hue city
• Bún Bò Huế O Phượng: 24 Nguyễn Khuyến, Hue city
• Bún Bò Huế O Hòa: 162 Mai Thúc Loan, Hue City
• Quán Cẩm – Bún Bò Huế: 38 Trần Cao Vân, Hue city
• Bún Bò Ông Vọng: 5 Nguyễn Du, Hue city

8:30 PM  – 9:30 PM – Explore the City by Night

Having enjoy a delicious bowl of Bun Bo Hue, don’t forget to spend some time exploring Hue by night. Even though Hue is not dynamic as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city, there are still countless things to see.

There are street vendors serving mouth-watering Hue snacks. There are also coffee or tea shops where the locals gather and talk about their daily life.

Simple and peaceful as it seems, Hue nightlife is an endless fun story that needs to be written down, by you.