Hue wasn’t at the top of my Vietnam bucket list, but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding stops on our trip. We visited as part of a group day tour from Hoi An. But instead of returning that evening, we decided to stay the night, and I’m so glad we did. With its imperial past, fascinating historical sites, delicious local dishes and lively riverfront at night, Hue truly deserves more than just a quick visit. If you’re wondering how many days to spend in Hue, here’s why one day wasn’t quite enough for us.
We visited in early May. It was hot, but mostly dry – great for sightseeing as long as you pack water, sunscreen, and a hat. Also, remember to dress respectfully for sacred sites by covering your shoulders and knees.
Trying to decide between Hue and Hoi An? I compared both destinations in this article: Hue vs Hoi An – Our tips to pick the right stop for your Vietnam trip
What we did in Hue
The scenic (but overhyped) Hai Van Pass
Our tour picked us up early in Hoi An and made a few stops near the beach and in Da Nang. The drive to Hue includes the Hai Van Pass, which is often described as one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
For us, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. We’re lucky to have access to stunning coastal drives and white-sand beaches in Australia, and after spending three days on the Ha Giang Loop, this pass felt fairly tame in comparison. Still, it’s a pleasant stretch of coastline and worth doing. It would have been a lovely surprise if we weren’t expecting one of the best roads in the world and got our expectations too high.
That said, the drive was a good opportunity to learn more about Vietnam’s colonial history. Our guide shared interesting stories about how the French invaded Vietnam and how that shaped Hue and the imperial dynasty. It gave context to what we would see later in the day.
One mid-morning stop on the drive that didn’t add much value was a pearl shop. We’d previously visited a pearl farm in Halong Bay, which was far more engaging. This one lacked a proper demonstration and felt more like a shopping stop than an informative experience.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Once in Hue, our first stop was the Thien Mu Pagoda, a symbol of the city built in 1601. Located on the riverbank, the pagoda can be reached with dragon boat tours departing from the city of Hue.
Our guide gave us a great intro to Buddhist temple etiquette and pointed out key features: the seven-storey tower, the large bell, the turtle statue, and other sacred Buddhist symbols. It’s also where you can learn about the monk Thích Quảng Đức, who famously self-immolated in protest against the regime in the 1960s. His car is displayed on-site.
Even though we didn’t see any monks during our visit, which would have felt more authentic, the stop was peaceful and informative.
Imperial tombs
We visited the Khai Dinh Tomb, one of Hue’s most elaborate imperial tombs. It has an interesting mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, French and even Cambodian architecture. Khai Dinh was known for embracing colonial influence and extravagance, which shows in the design and scale of his tomb. The French colonial influence came up again as the emperor was seen as a puppet leader by many Vietnamese. In 1923, he approved a tax increase on local peasants to help fund the construction of his extravagant tomb, which made him deeply unpopular and caused significant hardship across the country.
Learning how the emperors were buried and honoured added depth to our understanding of Vietnam’s imperial history. I only wish we had time to visit more tombs, as the one we visited is quite different to the others. The most famous ones include Minh Mang, Tu Duc, and Gia Long, but there are a few others (Gia Long Tomb, Thieu Tri Tomb, Dong Khanh Tomb) and history lovers could easily spend two full days exploring them.
Hue’s Imperial City (The Citadel)
The highlight of our visit was the Imperial City, Hue’s vast walled citadel that served as the seat of power during the Nguyen Dynasty. It’s a UNESCO-listed site, and you could easily spend half a day or more exploring the palaces, temples, and courtyards.
Our guide helped bring the site to life with historical context and pointed out symbolic features we would have missed on our own. Inside, we heard live traditional music played by women in costume, and I wish we had more time to listen to them for longer.
One detail I enjoyed: many Vietnamese tourists rent imperial-style costumes for fun photos. It added charm to the visit, and having these tourists in the photos makes them look even better.
Tasting Hue’s specialities
Hue is known for its unique imperial cuisine, and food was a highlight of our short stay.
For lunch, our tour took us to An Phu Garden Restaurant, a lovely spot with carved wood decor. We sampled several dishes:
- Bánh bèo – steamed rice cakes with shrimp, one of our favourite dishes in Vietnam
- Skewers wrapped in rice paper
- Crispy sweet potato
- Bún bò Huế – the city’s signature beef noodle soup; not our favourite noodle dish of the trip, but still worth trying
- Mango smoothie – fresh and delicious, thanks to the abundance of mangoes in the region
For our only night in Hue, we dined at Madam Thu, a casual restaurant popular for its Hue specialities. They offer a tasting platter if you want to try a variety, but since we’d already eaten some of those dishes at lunch, we went for:
- Bánh lọc – cassava dumplings with shrimp and pork, steamed in banana leaves, which also became one of our favourite dishes in Vietnam
- Vả trộn tôm thịt – green fig salad with shredded pork and prawns
They also offer cooking classes if you plan to stay longer in Hue.
Why one day in Hue wasn’t enough
If you’re asking yourself how long to spend in Hue, our answer would be: at least one night, ideally two, even maybe three if you enjoy history. Here’s why.
To reduce time spent on the road
Instead of returning to Hoi An at 7 pm after a 12-hour day, we were dropped off at our hotel in Hue just after 4 pm and had time to relax before dinner. It made the day feel less rushed.
To enjoy a nice hotel at a lower price
Our room at Romance Hotel was spacious, with a bath, shower and rooftop pool, the perfect reward after a full day of sightseeing. Breakfast the next day featured a large buffet with Hue favourites. We wished we had booked two nights!
To explore Hue by night
Hue was surprisingly lively in the evening. We enjoyed walking along the river, seeing the citadel lit up at night, and strolling through the buzzing pedestrian street. We also treated ourselves to a herbal massage at Cam On Spa – the ideal way to relax.
To venture beyond the city
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to add more adventures near Hue during our two weeks in Vietnam.
With more time, we could have explored natural sites like Phong Nha Caves (with Paradise Cave or on a kayak), a stunning cave system a few hours from Hue. Some tour operators have exclusive access to certain caves, with multi-day expeditions making it a unique adventure for those who have more time to spend in Central Vietnam.
So, how many days in Hue?
If you’re short on time, a full-day tour from Hoi An will give you a decent overview. But if you can, stay at least one night – and if you love history, architecture or food, give yourself two full days to soak it all in. Hue has far more to offer than we expected, and it turned out to be a highlight of our trip through Vietnam.
Have you visited Hue? Share your tips in the comments below!
Where is Hue?
Hue is located in central Vietnam, roughly halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It was the imperial capital during the Nguyen Dynasty and sits on the banks of the Perfume River.
Getting to Hue:
- By plane: Phu Bai International Airport connects Hue with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City via daily domestic flights.
- By train: Hue is a stop on the Reunification Express line. It’s a slower but scenic and iconic way to travel through Vietnam.
- By road: Hue is about 3 hours by car or bus from Hoi An or Da Nang, with the journey including the famous Hai Van Pass.
Many travellers visit Hue as a day trip from Hoi An or Da Nang – but we found that staying overnight gave us a much richer experience.
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