By rail
Hue station, on the scenic line over the Hai Van Pass
Southeast Asia · Vietnam
Hue, Vietnam
The imperial city on the Perfume River
Getting there
By air
Phu Bai International (HUI), ~15 km
Best time to visit
February to April — dry and mild (the heavy rains fall September to December)
Don't miss
The Imperial City
Thien Mu Pagoda
The tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh
Things to do
A dragon boat on the Perfume River
Cycling out to the royal tombs
The Hai Van Pass by motorbike
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Light clothing, a rain jacket, a sun hat
A quieter corner
The garden houses of Kim Long, along the river
Questions travellers ask
When does it rain in Hue?
The heavy rains fall September to December. February to April, dry and mild, is the time to go.
What should I see in Hue?
The Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Take a dragon boat on the Perfume River, or cycle out to the royal tombs.
Can I reach Hue by train?
Yes, Hue station is on the scenic line over the Hai Van Pass. Flying? Phu Bai International (HUI) is about 15 km away.
Which Hue dishes are worth trying?
Bun bo Hue, banh khoai and imperial-style small dishes.
About Hue
- Riverside
Where it is
Hue lies in central Vietnam on the banks of the Perfume River (Song Huong), a few kilometres inland from the coast, with the forested hills of the Truong Son range rising to the west.
History
Hue was the seat of the Nguyen lords from the 17th century, and in 1802 Emperor Gia Long made it the capital of a unified Vietnam, building the great citadel and Imperial City. It remained the seat of the Nguyen dynasty until the last emperor, Bao Dai, abdicated in 1945. The monuments, badly damaged in the fighting of 1968, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
People
Hue's people speak Vietnamese with a distinctive central accent, and the city keeps the refined traditions of the old court: royal cuisine, court music and the poem hats (non bai tho), white conical hats bearing verses or pictures. Its many pagodas make it a centre of Vietnamese Buddhism.
Known for
- The Imperial City and its citadel
- Royal tombs of Tu Duc, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh
- Thien Mu Pagoda above the river
- Bun bo Hue, the spicy beef noodle soup
- Dragon boats on the Perfume River
Did you know?
Nha nhac, the court music of the Nguyen dynasty, was recognised by UNESCO in 2003 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.