2-Day Itinerary: The Top Things to Do in Hue, Vietnam
You may not have heard of Hue before planning your trip to Vietnam, but this lesser-known destination is packed with incredible sites for tourists. Read on for a complete 2-day itinerary to this central Vietnam hidden gem.
Seat of the last imperial dynasty of Vietnam, Hue is a city rich in history. It’s home to incredible architectural sites like the Imperial City, royal tombs, and epic pagodas. Lovingly restored after the destruction of the Vietnam War, Hue is a quiet but welcoming city that gives you a glimpse into the spirit of Vietnam – resilient, warm, and optimistic. While it may not be as popular of a destination as Hoi An or Hanoi, there is no shortage of incredible things to do in Hue, Vietnam. After our visit to this city, we’ve curated a complete two-day travel guide to make planning your trip simple, including everything you need to know about the Hai Van Pass.
As a heads up, we’ve drafted this itinerary assuming you’re arriving from Da Nang or Hoi An. If you’re coming by plane from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll need to replace the first activity, the Hai Van Pass, with another from our Honorable Mentions below. Don’t worry – we’ll discuss the different ways to get to Hue in detail below (click here). Regardless of how you get to Hue, any vacation should be driven by personal preferences, so feel free to utilize these Honorable Mentions to switch up – or add on to – the provided itinerary (there are some epic side trips here if you have more time!). Look out for bolded items as the can’t miss priorities.
Visiting other popular destinations in Vietnam during your trip? Check out all of our Vietnam travel guides here.
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Activities At A Glance
(Click each Day to jump down for more information)
Two Days in Hue, Vietnam
- Arrive to Hue via a journey along the Hai Van Pass, including stops at Lang Co Beach and Lap An Lagoon
- Tour the An Dinh Palace, Tu Dam Pagoda, and the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh
- Dinner at Nhà hàng Bánh Gánh
- Drinks at HAPPY’S Bar
- Tour the Imperial City of Hue
- Visit the Thiên Mụ Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc
- Enjoy sunset views from Vong Canh Hill
- Dinner at Nina’s Cafe
Honorable Mentions & Day Trips:
- Tomb of Minh Mang
- Thuy Tien Lake Abandoned Water Park
- DMZ Tour
- Bach Ma National Park
Why Visit Hue, Vietnam?
Hue is a small but important city in central Vietnam. Full of incredible temples and tombs with intricate and colorful architecture, it’s a feast for the eyes, and its delicious foods like bún bò Huế and nem lụi are a feast for the stomach too. But Hue’s main draw is the significant role it’s played in Vietnam’s history. If you’re a history-buff traveling Vietnam, Hue is truly a must-visit destination.
Hue rose to prominence when it served as the capital of the Nguyễn dynasty in Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. This period of imperial grandeur is reflected in its ancient citadel, royal tombs, and sacred pagodas. The Imperial City, the seat of the Nguyễn dynasty, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site modeled after Beijing’s Forbidden City, and Hue’s tombs and pagodas reflect the wealth and technical skills of the empire at the time.
However, many of these important sites are only here now due to significant restoration work over the past 50 years, as Hue also served as the front line during the Vietnam War. Sitting at a critical and culturally significant juncture between North and South, it was a highly valued position for both armies. The struggle culminated in the intense Battle of Hue in 1968, where massive destruction was leveled on the city’s people and historic structures. This battle and the Hue Massacre left deep scars on the city, but the people rose from the ashes with admirable resilience to rebuild and reclaim their heritage.
Now, Hue is a beautiful, quiet city. It’s a place to reflect on the past and appreciate how far the Vietnamese people have come. In a country where many tourist destinations are big, bustling cities, it’s a peaceful place to recharge before continuing on to the next fabulously chaotic destination.
Where To Stay?
I’ve got great news – Hue is an extremely affordable place to visit. In fact, the fanciest hotel in the city, Indochine Palace, is only $97 per night. With an absolutely iconic pool, it’s worth checking out. In addition to the pool (and a poolside bar), it features a fitness center, spa, sauna, and gorgeous guest rooms with private balconies.
If you prefer to take advantage of budget accommodations, we stayed at Nam Phương Riverside Villa. It’s nothing fancy, and a bit more of a walk to downtown, but the bed was comfy and the breakfast was delicious (and it’s pet friendly!). Other great options that are a bit more centrally located are Lavande Hue Homestay, with spacious, apartment style rooms with balconies, or Melia Vinpearl Hue, with both an indoor and outdoor pool (with a stunning view, no less), spa, and a gorgeous modern aesthetic. No matter which of these you choose, you’ll be within easy access of all the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam.
How To Get to Hue?
As a smaller city, Hue isn’t the most accessible, but it’s worth the effort. Plus, if you’re coming from Da Nang, the journey itself includes one of the top sights in the region – the Hai Van Pass (more on this below). How you get to Hue will depend entirely on where you’re coming from, so we’ll discuss your travel options separately based on the most common departure points – from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City or from Da Nang or Hoi An.
From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
If you’re traveling directly from one of Vietnam’s largest cities, you can access Hue easily via their small domestic airport. Flights from Hanoi to Hue can be as cheap as $40 for a one-way ticket (make sure to spend a couple days in Hanoi with our travel guide first though!). From Ho Chi Minh to Hue they’re even cheaper, as low as $30. Upon arrival at Hue’s Phú Bài International Airport, it’s a short 15-20 minute taxi ride to the city center. We recommend using Grab, Southeast Asia’s #1 ride-share app, for its reliability and affordable, up-front pricing. If you decide to get a standard taxi, make sure they have a meter and be ready to negotiate, as they will almost certainly aim high with their fares.
Trains and buses are also available – including sleeper trains and buses – but they’re not much cheaper and the travel time is long (~14 hours from Hanoi and ~20 hours from Ho Chi Minh). While we generally prefer trains for their ease of use and sustainability, they probably won’t be your best choice here.
From Da Nang or Hoi An
Most likely, you’ll be traveling to Hue from Da Nang or Hoi An. Located about 2.5 to 3 hours away by car, you can reach Hue in a number of ways. We’ll discuss each below, in order of most-recommended to least:
- Car (Private driver or rental)
- Motorbike (Easy rider or rental)
- Bus
- Train
- Day trip tours
By Car (Private Driver or Rental)
Our preferred method of travel to Hue was by car. While renting a car in Vietnam is pretty tricky and pricey, hiring a driver to take you is exceptionally easy. If you’re just looking for a straight shot to Hue, you can book a Grab car for about 1M to 1.5M VND ($40-$60). However, if you want to make the most of the Hai Van Pass, one of the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam, you’ll want to hire a private driver.
The easiest way to hire a driver is just to speak with one of your Grab drivers while still in Hoi An/Da Nang. We liked our Grab driver that took us to Ba Na Hills (a top sight in Da Nang, learn more in our Da Nang itinerary), so we got his number and communicated with him on WhatsApp to arrange the time, date, and desired stops along our journey. We made 3 stops on the way to Hue with a total travel time of 5 hours and paid him 1.8M VND (~$69).
While traveling the Hai Van Pass by car does have some limitations – namely, that there aren’t a lot of car-sized parking spots to pull off for photos – we were able to enjoy the views from the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle and not have to worry about our luggage, either. We could bring Cali in the car with us and make changes to the route as needed. For us, it was the best of both worlds.
If this sounds like your best travel method too – but negotiating with a diver over WhatsApp feels intimidating – try booking one of these arranged transfers:
By Motorbike (Easy Rider or Rental)
If you’re comfortable on a bike and you’ve got minimal luggage, renting a bike to drive the Hai Van Pass yourself is probably the best way to reach Hue. Motorbikes are super affordable to rent in Vietnam, typically around 100K VND (~$4) per day, and traveling the Hai Van Pass by bike allows for way more flexibility to stop and admire the views. While this portion of the journey is a pretty easy ride, though, it’s only the first 45 minutes or so. After that, you’ll be driving on busy highways for the rest of the trip, so it’s imperative that you’re very comfortable driving.
If you want the fun and flexibility of touring the Hai Van Pass by motorbike but aren’t keen on driving yourself, you can also purchase an easy rider ticket for the journey. An easy rider tour is one where you pay someone else to drive while you ride on the back. These are a really popular way to tour the Hai Van Pass and reach Hue, but it’s also worth noting that this is the most expensive way to reach Hue at $50-$70 per person (one-way). Whether the improved Hai Van Pass experience outweighs the discomfort of 3 hours on a bike in the sun and highway traffic is worth it is entirely up to you, but if it is, you can book one of these highly-rated tours below:
By Bus
The best budget option for reaching Hue is by taking a bus. Buses depart from both Hoi An and Da Nang and range in price from $6 to $15 (one-way). You probably won’t get any views of the Hai Van Pass this way – and you definitely won’t be able to stop and take photos – but a bus will get you there quickly and comfortably. You can find and book bus tickets on 12Go Asia. Note that this travel option is not dog-friendly.
By Train
Trains run several times a day between Da Nang and Hue. We chose to take the train home from Hue and, to be honest, we wouldn’t recommend it. While the tickets are fairly affordable at $8 to $16 per person (one-way), this is not a high-speed train. In fact, with stoppage time, it took us 3 hours and 40 minutes to get from Hue Railway Station to Da Nang Railway Station. On the plus side, traveling by train is easy and hassle-free, and we could bring Cali along no problem. But, in addition to the long travel time, views of the Hai Van Pass were limited. In short, it’s not the worst way to travel, but there are better ways.
If you want to travel to Hue by train, find and book your tickets on 12Go Asia. You can use your pdf ticket to board – you won’t need to check in with a gate agent to print them.
Day Trip
Finally, if we haven’t convinced you that Hue is worth a full 2 days of your vacation – or if you’re just short on time – you can also visit the city via day trip tours from Da Nang or Hoi An. Check out the below for some of the top day trips on Get Your Guide that will hit most of the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam:
Be Prepared - Top Travel Tips
Before we get into the itinerary, here are a few top travel tips for visiting Hue, Vietnam:
Visa Required
Unlike many top tourist destinations, Vietnam does not provide a free visa-on-arrival for most countries. As such, you’ll need to apply for an e-Visa before arrival. You cannot enter Vietnam without an approved visa in advance, and you cannot apply for a visa from within Vietnam. (Note – some countries do get a free visa-on-arrival. See if your passport is exempt from the Vietnam visa requirement here. You may receive up to 45 days visa-free entry.)
To obtain the e-Visa, you’ll need to visit this website and complete the application. The application is simple and straightforward, and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to populate. You’ll need a photo of yourself and your passport and details of your trip, including travel dates, ports of entry and exit, and the address of where you’ll be staying. Once submitted, it should take approximately four days to get approved, but we recommend submitting it at least two weeks before departure in case anything goes awry.
Pro tip: make sure that your full legal name, matching your passport, is input into the e-Visa application. Colby’s e-Visa did not include his middle name and he was not allowed to board our flight from Thailand to Vietnam, forcing him to procure an emergency visa at a steep cost of $300. Add that to flight rebooking fees and an unexpected hotel stay for the resulting overnight layover, and it turned out to be a very costly mistake.
Vietnam e-Visas cost $25 for single-entry and $50 for multiple-entry. They are valid for a period of up to 90 days. Visa fees are nonrefundable in case of non-acceptance, so make sure all of your details are input accurately before submitting.
Cash is King
While many hotels, restaurants, and activities accept card in Hue, there are still lots of vendors that only accept cash, or accept card with an added fee. This is true of most of the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam, like entry tickets to the mausoleums. Plus, all it takes is a temporary internet outage for even a card-friendly vendor to become cash-only. So, be prepared and have plenty of cash on hand.
Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND), which trades with the USD at approximately 25,000 VND: $1. For simplicity, just remember that a 100,000 VND note is worth approximately $4. With a difference this big, don’t be surprised when you’re pulling millions out of the ATM! Note that ATM fees vary wildly here – we recommend TPBank and MB Bank for no-fee withdrawals. Avoid BIDV at all costs. And don’t forget our number one tip for cash withdrawals in foreign countries!
Pro tip: When offered an exchange rate by an ATM, you can – and should – always decline the rate displayed. This rate often includes a heavy markup on top of the market exchange rate. Declining the rate will not stop your transaction, but rather allow your personal bank to set the rate instead.
Conservative Dress
Most of the sites in this itinerary are holy or sacred sites to the Vietnamese people. As such, you’ll need to dress conservatively to enter. Make sure that your knees and shoulders are covered to avoid the risk of being denied entry into any of the city’s sites.
Day 1 - A Scenic Journey
- 9:00-2:00 – Head to Hue via the Hai Van Pass. Along the way you’ll make a few scenic stops and grab lunch – more below.
- 2:00-2:45 – Stop by your hotel to drop your things and rent a scooter. We highly recommend traveling around Hue by scooter. It’s fun, cost-effective (typically 100K VND/day, or ~$4/day), and the roads are easy to navigate and not too trafficky.
- 3:00-3:30 – Stop by An Dinh Palace, the private residence of Emperor Khai Dinh and his son, Emperor Bao Dai from 1902 to 1945. An Dinh’s restorations are still a work in progress, but it’s an interesting stop to get a taste of how the Vietnamese royalty lived (hint: very differently from their European counterparts!). Entrance to An Dinh Palace costs just 50K VND (~$2), but be prepared for locals using it as a photoshoot backdrop.
- 3:45-4:45 – Next, drive to the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Din. While it’s the smallest tomb in Hue, it’s arguably the most impressive – more below.
- 5:00-5:30 – Finally, stop by Tu Dam Pagoda, a Buddhist temple built in the late 17th century. A highlight here is the bodhi tree, grown from a cutting from the original bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya under which The Buddha achieved enlightenment. Tu Dam Pagoda is free to enter.
- 6:30-7:30 – After a long day of touring, it’s time to eat! We recommend Nhà hàng Bánh Gánh. They serve an excellent sampler platter that will give you a taste of all the best dishes Hue has to offer.
- 8:00-10:00 – Finish your day by exploring the streets of Hue at night. We cannot recommend grabbing a drink at HAPPY Bar highly enough – the owner is an absolute blast and our evening there is one of our favorite memories from Vietnam.
The Details
The Hai Van Pass
The Hai Van Pass is a 13 mile (21 km) mountain pass along the central coast of Vietnam, made famous when it was featured in an episode of Top Gear in 2008. It’s a beautiful, winding stretch of road bracketed by mountains to the west and the South China Sea and Da Nang to the east. It’s easiest to traverse by motorbike, but we recommend traveling by car for a more comfortable journey (see How to Get to Hue above). Regardless of your mode of travel, there’s no question that it’s one of the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam.
A trip along the Hai Van Pass typically includes a few waypoints. On our journey, we stopped first on the Pass itself to get a coffee and enjoy the view. Then, we stopped at Lang Co Beach, a beautiful stretch of white sand beach just north of the Pass. Here you can dip your toes in, take some photos, or even grab lunch at a seaside restaurant. To get your driver to the right location, use this pin.
After the beach, pop over to nearby Lap An Lagoon, known for oyster fishing and traditional wooden stilt houses. We recommend stopping at Quán Hải Sản Phước Duyên for some fresh seafood. We had clams steamed in lemongrass for 120K VND (~$5) and they were so, so tasty. Regardless of whether you eat here, use this restaurant’s pin for the correct location for your driver. Once you’ve finished, it’s another 1 hour and 15 minutes of highway driving to Hue.
Hai Van Pass Tours:
Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh
The Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh is an epic site. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1931 for the 12th emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty. Unique among tombs in Hue for its architectural style, it showcases a blend of both Vietnamese and Western influences. Khai Din held a close relationship with the French colonizers, which likely contributed to his tomb’s beautiful design, but also made for a difficult rule. It probably didn’t help his popularity when he allegedly raised taxes by 30% to pay for the tomb’s construction! However, the results speaks for themselves – the tomb is stunning, with a grand staircase leading to a series of stone guards and then a palace that houses his tomb. The palace’s interior is intricately decorated with stunning, colorful mosaics and murals. My favorite part? If you look closely, you’ll notice some of the mosaic is made out of beer bottles!
Entry to the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh costs 150K VND (~$6), but we’ve got a pro tip for you to save some money below. An audio guide is also available via the Audio Guide Hue app and the QR code on your ticket.
Pro tip: if you’re planning to self-tour the sites, you can save some money when buying your entry tickets by taking advantage of one of two combo tickets offered at key Hue sites. You can buy either a 3-site or 4-site ticket, including the Imperial City plus your selection of the Mausoleums of Emperors Khai Din, Tu Duc, and Minh Mang. The 3-site ticket costs 420K (~$16), saving you 80K (~$3), and the 4-site ticket costs 530K (~$20), saving you 120K (~$4.60). Combo tickets are valid for two days, so you’ll have plenty of time to take advantage of the ticket and see all the sites.
Day 2 - Imperial Majesty
- 9:00-12:00 – Time for Hue’s star attraction – the Imperial City. We recommend you tour this self-guided, but we’ll provide you with all the details you need to know – and guided alternatives – below.
- 12:00-1:00 – Grab lunch before moving on. For a surprisingly decent “right by a tourist spot” meal, try N. Cafe & Food. Or, for a locals’ favorite, try Bánh Mì Trường Tiền O Tho.
- 1:30-2:00 – Next, we’ll head to one of the most beautiful sites in the city, Thiên Mụ Pagoda. It’s free to enter, and with its hilltop location on the Perfume River, the views are excellent. In addition to the beautiful pagoda built in 1601, check out the relic car in the back. It’s displayed in honor of the Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc, who drove this car to Saigon and then burned himself alive to protest the Diem regime’s persecution of Buddhists in 1963.
- 2:15-2:45 – Next up is the nearby Temple of Literature, dedicated to education and Confucius. Here you can admire more architecture from the Nguyễn dynasty and 34 epic steles detailing the names of successful scholars. The Temple of Literature is free to enter.
- 3:00-5:00 – Head south to the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc, one of the most expansive and beautiful royal tombs in Hue – more on this below.
- 5:15-6:00 – For the grand finale, drive just 5 minutes to Vong Canh Hill, a local park along the Perfume River. It’s a lovely place to sit and reminisce on your trip while enjoying stunning views of the river as the sun begins to set.
- 6:30-7:30 – For your final meal, we recommend Nina’s Cafe. Then, return your bike and catch your preferred transport to your next destination!
The Details
The Imperial City of Hue
Without a doubt, one of the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam is to visit the Imperial City of Hue. Once the seat of the last empire of Vietnam, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built from 1804 to 1833 and covers nearly 1,300 acres (520 hectares). The Imperial City consists of a walled citadel and surrounding moat, and originally housed 160 structures inside. Unfortunately, it suffered major structural damages during the Vietnam and other wars, as well as natural damage from neglect. Now, only 10 buildings are still standing within the walls for tourists to explore.
Fortunately, the structures that remain have been lovingly restored, and packed with informational placards explaining the building and its place in history. Because of this, we actually recommend you tour the Imperial City self-guided. We visited with a tour group, and while we were there for two hours, it wasn’t enough time for us to see everything properly, let alone read the information on display. In our opinion, the placards, paired with the free audio guide available via the Audio Guide Hue app and the QR code on your entry ticket, are more than sufficient to give you the background you need to appreciate the site. Tickets to the Imperial City cost 200K VND (~$8), or slightly less if you purchase the combo ticket discussed above.
That being said, if you’re really more of a guided-tour type, we’ve included links below to some free tours from GuruWalk. GuruWalk is an app that offers free walking tours in over 800 cities in 100 countries (and counting!). It’s our favorite provider for walking tours, and they have some highly-rated ones in Hue you can try. Don’t forget to tip your guide!
GuruWalk tours:
Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc
The fourth and longest reigning emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, Tu Duc ruled from 1848 to 1883. However, he constructed his tomb in 1867, well before his death. As such, it offers something a little different – amenities for the living. In fact, he and his family used the property as their primary residence throughout the remainder of his life. In addition to tombs for himself, his son, and his primary wife (he had 104!), here you can find a lovely lake and grounds where he could boat and hunt game. This results in a beautiful, serene experience for visitors today, with a lot to explore. You’ll spend longer here than you will at the other tombs in Hue, and that’s ok – don’t rush it. Take your time strolling the grounds, appreciating the quiet and the architecture, and even feeding the koi for just 5K VND (~$0.20).
Entry to the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc costs 150K VND (~$6), or slightly cheaper if you bought the combo ticket discussed above. An audio guide is also available via the Audio Guide Hue app and the QR code on your ticket.
Honorable Mentions & Day Trips
Looking for something a little different? We’ve got a few more sites and day trips that didn’t make the cut, but might be up your alley:
While the Tomb of Minh Mang is considered one of the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam, we felt it to be the least impressive of the three mausoleums. This doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit, it just doesn’t make the cut in a shorter itinerary. If you have the time, we still recommend a visit. Minh Mang was the second emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, ruling from 1820 to 1841. His tomb is a beautiful, peaceful place, with lots of natural water features and greenery. If you choose to visit, expect to spend about 45 minutes exploring the grounds. Tickets cost 150K VND (unless you’ve bought a combo ticket as discussed above), and an audio guide is available via the Audio Guide Hue app and the QR code on your ticket.
We’re including this as an Honorable Mention as you’ve likely seen it all over your Instagram feed, but a word of caution – the Thuy Tien Lake Water Park is abandoned, so it’s not technically open to visitors, and your safety is not guaranteed. Other bloggers mention that there is usually a security guard out front that you can slip a few thousand VND to in order to gain entrance, but we decided to stick to safer attractions. If you’re interested in visiting Thuy Thien Lake Abandoned Water Park, we suggest checking out this blog post from Backpackers in the World.
DMZ Tour - Day Trip
If you’re a history buff interested in the Vietnam War, don’t miss this opportunity to explore the DMZ – demilitarized zone – located 1 hour and 45 minutes north of Hue. On a DMZ tour, you’ll learn all about the war from Vietnam’s perspective while exploring tunnels used as bomb shelters by the locals, visiting a boneyard of captured U.S. tanks and aircraft, and crossing the historic Hien Luong “Peace” Bridge, built by French colonizers in 1950 to connect the North and South of Vietnam. You’ll need a third day in Vietnam to take this tour, as it’s about 10 hours in length. But for those with an interest in getting up-close-and-personal with Vietnam’s military history, it’s well worth the time!
Bach Ma National Park - Day Trip
Looking to get in touch with nature on your vacation? Consider a day trip to Bach Ma National Park, just one hour south of Hue, Vietnam. Home to lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and scenic mountain trails, Bach Ma National Park is a must-visit for nature lovers. Plus, it’s located at 4,100 ft (1250 m) above sea level, so it’s a great place to escape the notorious Southeast Asian heat for a day. On a guided day trip to Bach Ma National Park, you’ll get to see it all, including a trek to a waterfall, mountain viewpoint, and freshwater lake for swimming, where a picnic lunch is served. This tour takes about 10 hours, so you’ll need a third day in Hue to enjoy it.
We hope this post of the top things to do in Hue, Vietnam helps to build your perfect Hue itinerary, including an amazing trip along the Hai Van Pass. But believe me when I say this is just a taste of what Vietnam has to offer! Check out our other travel guides on Vietnam here, including:
- The Top Da Nang Things to Do For An Epic 3-6 Days
- All the Top Things to Do in Hoi An: A 3-Day Itinerary
- Two Days in Hanoi – Your Ultimate Itinerary
- 2 Days in Ninh Binh: Your Itinerary for an Epic Adventure
- Majestic Sapa: 3 Day Itinerary, Trekking, & Travel Guide
Comment below what you loved most about Hue!
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