Hué

February to April is the best time. It is dry enough and not yet hot. May to August is hot, and the sights have little shade. From September to November it rains a lot, and floods are possible on the river. Winter days can be grey and drizzly but are cool.

The Hue Festival is the biggest event. It is a large cultural festival with performances in and around the Citadel, held every two years, usually in spring or early summer.

• Imperial Citadel is the walled palace complex of the Nguyen emperors. Allow half a day for its gates, halls and gardens.
• Thai Hoa Hall is the main throne hall inside the Citadel, where the emperors held court.
• Lăng Minh Mạng is a formal tomb complex with lakes and pavilions, set among trees on the river.
• Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc is a quiet, park-like tomb that Emperor Tu Duc used as a retreat while he lived.
• Royal Tomb of Khai Dinh mixes Vietnamese and European styles and has richly decorated rooms.
• Chùa Thiên Mụ is a seven-storey pagoda on a bank of the Perfume River. It is the symbol of the city.
• Chợ Đông Ba is the main city market, with food stalls, fabrics and local goods.
• Cau Truong Tien is the iron bridge over the Perfume River. It is lit at night.

• Perfume River boat: Take a dragon boat upriver to the pagoda and tombs. Late afternoon is the quietest time.
• Royal cuisine dinner: Some restaurants serve small, carefully decorated dishes in the style of the imperial court.
• Evening on the river: Walk the riverside near the bridge at night, when it is lit up.
• Cycle to a tomb: Ride out to a tomb through the villages and gardens on the south bank.

• Lăng Cô: about 1 hour by car. A long beach beside a lagoon, on the way to the Hai Van Pass.
• Bach Ma National Park: about 1.5 hours by car. A mountain park with trails, waterfalls and cooler air.
• Da Nang: about 2 to 3 hours by car or train over the Hai Van Pass.
• Hoi An: about 3.5 to 4 hours by car. Better as a stop on a trip south than a day trip.
• Quang Binh: about 4 hours by car, for the caves of Phong Nha. Plan an overnight stay.

Hue sits in the middle of Vietnam, so it connects well with both ends of the country.

• Nearby: Phu Xuan is the central district with the Citadel. Lăng Cô and Bach Ma National Park are close to the south.
• South: Da Nang and Quang Nam lead to Hoi An.
• North: Quảng Trị and Quang Binh lead to Phong Nha.

• By air: Phu Bai Airport (HUI) is about 15 km south of the city, with domestic flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. A taxi to the centre takes about 25 min. Many visitors also fly to Da Nang (DAD) and continue by car or train.
• By train: Hue is on the main north–south railway. Trains run to Da Nang in about 2.5 to 3 hours and to Hanoi overnight. Vietnam Railways
• By bus: Buses and tourist minibuses connect Hue with Hoi An, Da Nang and Phong Nha.
• By car: The road over the Hai Van Pass to Da Nang is scenic. Drivers can also use the tunnel.

• On foot: The old centre and the riverside are walkable. The Citadel is large, so plan time to walk inside.
• Taxi and Grab: The easiest way to reach the tombs, which lie 5 to 15 km south of the city.
• Cyclo and bike: Cyclos tour the Citadel. Bicycles are good for the flat roads along the river.
• Boat: Dragon boats run on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda and some tombs. Agree the price before boarding.

• Is a car worth it? Not for the city. Use taxis or Grab. A car with a driver is useful for the tombs and for the trip to Da Nang over the Hai Van Pass.
• Parking: Hotels and sights have their own parking, and the Citadel has car parks at its gates.
• Restrictions: Traffic is busy, with many motorbikes. Drive with care, especially at night.

Hue is the food capital of central Vietnam. Bun bo Hue is a spicy beef noodle soup with lemongrass. Try also banh khoai, a crisp pancake, and small steamed rice cakes such as banh beo. The royal kitchen left a tradition of small, carefully made dishes.

Eat at the street stalls and small restaurants around Chợ Đông Ba and the old centre. Vegetarian food is easy to find because of the many Buddhist temples.

Hue is safe and calm. Petty theft is uncommon, but watch bags on motorbike-heavy roads.

• Agree prices before taking a cyclo, boat or motorbike ride.
• The sun is strong in summer. Bring water and a hat for the Citadel and tombs.
• Heavy rain and floods are possible from September to November.

Hue became the capital after Emperor Gia Long united the country in 1802. The Nguyen dynasty ruled from here for 143 years. The emperors built the walled Imperial Citadel, where Thai Hoa Hall was the main throne hall.

Each emperor also planned his own tomb on the river, such as Lăng Minh Mạng, Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and Royal Tomb of Khai Dinh. The last emperor gave up the throne in 1945. The Citadel was badly damaged in the 1968 Tet offensive. Restoration continues, and UNESCO listed the monuments of Hue in 1993.

Quick practical facts for Vietnam at a glance: