How To Spend One Day in Hue: Itinerary and City Guide

A city drenched in fascinating imperial history, with a great foodie scene – here’s how to spend one day in Hue, the former unified capital of Vietnam.

After spending some time enjoying the stunning landscapes in Phong Nha, Hue (pronounced ‘hway’) was the next stop on our month-long Vietnam itinerary. A four hour sleeper bus journey flew by, and we found ourselves arriving in Hue after dark. We’d booked two nights’ accommodation, so we could spend a full day in Hue, exploring the imperial city’s rich history.

It was a short, sweet and incredibly interesting visit, and I was absolutely fascinated by the Imperial City and its history. We also had some AMAZING Vietnamese food in Hue, trying some incredible local specialties. Plus, we met some REALLY cute dogs…

If you’re planning a flying visit to Hue on your Vietnam adventure, this guide covers everything you need to know, including a highlight-hitting one day Hue itinerary!

_{*Posts on Mini Adventures use affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I’ll earn a small commission which helps me keep this site alive (at no additional cost to you!)*}

A Day in Hue: The Essentials

• Getting there: Sleeper buses and trains run from major destinations in north and central Vietnam. You can also hire a motorbike or take an easy rider tour to Hue from Da Nang or Hoi An. If you’re short on time or heading to Hue directly from Ho Chi Minh City in the South, the quickest way there is to fly to Hue airport.
• Best Hue Tours: This full-day tour of Hue hits all the major highlights, and you can also take a guided tour of just the Imperial Citadel.
• Where to stay: For a cosy stay off the tourist trail, book ký ức tươi đẹp homestay. For a more central location, try Jade Scene Hotel or the 5* Melia Vinpearl Hue. Budget travellers can find a great value dorm in the cosy Shark Hostel.
• Where to eat: Cơm Niêu Bánh Gánh 2 and Madam Thu 2 for Hue cuisine; Nook Eatery for delicious Western and fusion breakfast and brunch.

How long do you need in Hue?

One day in Hue is enough time to cover the main sights, including the Imperial City and Perfume River.

I would, however, recommend staying at least one night. We spent two nights at our accommodation – arriving in the evening, spending a full day in Hue, then heading off first thing the morning after to do the Hai Van Pass on a motorbike (one of the most exhilarating days of my life!).

How much to budget for a day in Hue?

While there are a few areas of Hue that are great to walk around (like the Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street), you’ll want to spend some money on the main attractions in the city.

The admission fees listed in this itinerary come to a total of 500,000 VND (around £16.20/US$20).

Our homestay cost around 350,000 VND per night (around £11.30/$14 – split between two of us). We spent around 350,000 VND per person again on three meals and some drinks. So in total, spending a day in Hue with two nights accommodation cost around 1,025,000 VND each – approximately £33 ($40.90).

If you’re travelling Vietnam on a budget, you can bring these costs down further by staying in a hostel or eating street food. For those with a higher budget, there are plenty of upmarket hotels and restaurants to explore!

Getting to Hue

From Hoi An/Da Nang

If you’re travelling from Hoi An or Da Nang, I’d absolutely recommend getting there via the Hai Van Pass. You can hire a motorbike to do this like we did, or if you’re not confident riding one yourself, book an easy rider trip. You can also traverse the Hai Van Pass on a private jeep tour or with a driver – which may be the best plan if you have limited time in Hue.

Want to have everything sorted for you? Book a full-day trip to Hue’s Imperial Citadel from Da Nang.

From Hanoi/Phong Nha

If you’re heading to Hue from the north, you’ll likely be making your way from either Hanoi, Ninh Binh or Phong Nha.

We took a sleeper bus from Phong Nha to Hue, which took around 4 hours.

You can also get a sleeper bus directly from Hanoi or Ninh Binh (although I wouldn’t recommend skipping Phong Nha, as it was a highlight of our trip!), or take a sleeper train. On either mode of transport, the journey takes around 12-14 hours from Hanoi or 10-12 hours from Ninh Binh.

The fastest option to get from Hanoi to Hue is to fly to Phu Bai International Airport (around 15km from Hue). You can also fly to Da Nang Airport or Dong Hoi airport, and continue travelling to Hue by bus or rail.

If you’d prefer to travel by train, you can get a bus or taxi from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi. From there, the train to Hue takes around 3 hours. Or, if you’re on a much bigger budget than we were, you can book a private car from Phong Nha to Hue!

1 Day in Hue: Itinerary

This one day Hue itinerary hits the main highlights of the city, and includes my personal recommendations of where to eat!

Breakfast at Nook Eatery

If you’re looking for somewhere great to start your day in Hue, let me introduce you to Nook Eatery!

Tucked away in a literal ‘nook’ down a nondescript Hue alley, Nook serves fresh and delicious Western and Asian fusion dishes. We found Nook while searching for vegetarian food in Hue, and I’m so glad we stumbled across it as it was one of my favourite breakfasts I had in Vietnam!

I chose the crispy corn fritters, which came absolutely loaded with wilted spinach, scrambled eggs and tomato salsa. The flavours were amazing, and the consistency of the corn cakes was the perfect mix of crispy and soft.

Morning: Imperial Citadel

The main reason we included Hue on our Vietnam itinerary, the Imperial Citadel is a fortress and palace complex. Occupied by the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802–1945, and later played an integral role in the Vietnam War.

In 1968, the Battle of Hue took place in the Imperial Citadel, damaging many areas in the complex. Following extensive reconstruction, the citadel is one of Vietnam’s most important historical locations, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Entrance to the Imperial Citadel costs 200,000 VND for adults (around £6.48/$8), and 40,000 VND for children. This includes access to all public buildings inside the complex. For the amount we got to see, it’s an absolute bargain!

Lunch: Pick up a banh mi

Once you’ve finished exploring the Imperial Citadel, take a quick break to refuel with a Vietnamese staple – a banh mi! This Vietnamese sandwich is revered by locals and travellers alike, and we had some AMAZING banh mi during our time in Vietnam. (It’s also super quick to serve, so you’ll have more time to enjoy the rest of your day in Hue.)

To have a truly authentic banh mi experience, head to a street-side restaurant with small tables and stools! In Hue, try Bánh Mì Trường Tiền O Tho or Banh Mi Chu Van An.

Afternoon: Perfume River, Thien Mu Pagoda & Royal Tombs

The Huong River, known as the ‘Perfume River’ flows through Hue, dividing the Imperial City and the more modern south side of Hue. The nickname comes from the scent of flowers that fall into the water from surrounding banks, and the river has important cultural and spiritual significance.

The best way to see the Perfume River and visit the pagoda is on a Sunset Perfume River Cruise. These depart between 3-4pm, giving you enough plenty of time to explore the Imperial Citadel and have lunch before departing and be back in time for dinner!

If you’d prefer to combine a cruise with dinner, an Evening Perfume River Cruise is another option – it doesn’t include Thien Mu Pagoda or the tombs, but does incorporate a night-time walking tour. If you choose this option, you could use your own transport or a private driver/taxi to visit these locations in the afternoon.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Built in 1601, the Thien Mu Pagoda is a Buddhist temple featuring a striking seven-story tower. One of the oldest religious sites in the region, it’s an important location for Buddhism in Vietnam. The pagoda itself is surrounded by tranquil gardens, making it a great spot for a bit of peace and relaxation, away from the buzz of Vietnamese city life.

Admission Fee: Free

Emperor Tu Duc Mausoleum

One of the best preserved structures from the Nguyen Dynasty, the site that became Emperor Tu Duc’s final resting place also served as his beloved summer home. Combining Vietnamese and Chinese architectural styles and surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, Emberor Tu Duc’s Tomb is considered to be most beautiful Imperial tomb in Hue.

Admission Fee: 150,000 VND (around £4.90/$6)

Emperor Khai Dinh Tomb

Constructed between 1920 to 1931, this mausoleum was built with a combination of traditional Vietnamese and European architectural styles. Smaller than other tombs, what it lacks in size it makes up for in opulence, which makes it absolutely worth visiting.

In the Thien Dinh Palace, you’ll find a bronze statue of the emperor himself, underneath a ceiling of intricately painted and carved dragons.

Admission Fee: 150,000 VND (around £4.90/$6)

Dinner: Try Local Hue specialties

As we spent the previous night in Hue, we got to enjoy two dinners here – both of which offer vegetarian and meat options. Both were amazing and in different areas of the city, so take your pick! (If your day in Hue is bookended by two nights’ stay, you can even try both…)

Like many areas of Vietnam, Hue has its own regional specialties – so if you’re stuck for what to order, give one of these a go:

• Bun Bo Hue: thick vermicelli noodles in a spicy broth
• Banh Canh Nam Pho: thick noodle soup with pork belly and prawns
• Banh Khoai: thick pancakes, chopped and rolled up in rice paper with salad and noodles or rice, plus a meat of your choice.
• Banh Canh Ca Loc: clear white noodles, served with fish

Local Hidden Gem: Cơm Niêu Bánh Gánh 2

We stumbled upon this hidden gem after arriving in Hue and checking into our homestay. Desperately hungry, we scoured the local area for something within budget.

Located in a much more local area than most tourists venture into, we discovered Cơm Niêu Bánh Gánh 2. Like many local restaurants, the menu is mostly meat and fish focused, with a selection of Hue specialty dishes. However, there’s a ‘tofu and egg’ section for vegetarian eating! I ordered the tofu in tomato sauce, and it might well have been the best I had in Vietnam!

Morning Glory was also an essential side dish to share – this one was fresh, with a great texture and plenty of garlic and chilli! Despite not speaking much English, the service here is super attentive and welcoming, and the courtyard is a gorgeous place to eat on a Hue evening.

Downtown Hue: Madam Thu 2

If your accommodation is based in the downtown area of Hue, I’d absolutely recommend a visit to Madam Thu 2. We lucked out with our visit to this busy restaurant, as by the time we’d finished, there was a queue outside. The queue was justified, as we devoured some delicious Hue cuisine.

I tried the Bun Chay, a vegetarian noodle dish with tofu, beansprouts, shredded carrots and a peanut sauce. It was one of the more flavourful and unique veggie noodle dishes I’d had, with a powerful peanut flavour and perfectly-cooked tofu. We also gave the vegetarian pancakes a go, which were super fun to roll up in rice paper with all the ingredients. Messy and delicious.

Evening: Things to do at night in Hue

If you’re staying the night in Hue, it’s a great time to experience the laid-back yet lively atmosphere of the city after dark.

• Check out Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street – Hue’s most popular walking street, with stalls lining the bank of the Perfume River.
• Explore with a local guide on a night walking and street food tour.
• Listen to Hue folk music performed by live musicians on the Perfume River.
• Go vintage shopping, as most of the stores in Hue open well into the evening. I picked up an amazing biker jacket at Rintage Clothing!
• Visit the bars in downtown Hue – we spent a few hours sitting in DMZ Bar, watching the motorbikes whizz past!
• Head to a rooftop bar to soak in panoramic views of the city – try The Café at Imperial Hotel for upmarket drinks and 17th floor views; or The Time Coffee for a more budget friendly option.

Where to stay in Hue

To make the most of your day in Hue, I’d recommend staying at least one night.

We stayed at ký ức tươi đẹp homestay, which might just be my favourite homestay EVER. A clean, welcoming and comfortable homestay with two adorable dogs AND a bathtub! Perfection.

The only slight downside is it’s a little further out from the main tourist hub, but we loved staying in a more locals district. On our second night, we ended up being called over by a family having some drinks by the side of the road – and before we knew it, we were being offered beers and cheers-ing in Vietnamese!

Other great places to spend a night in Hue include:

• Jade Scene Hotel, which has an outdoor rooftop swimming pool and balconies.
• Melia Vinpearl Hue for a five star stay with amazing river views.
• Shark Hostel offers cosy dorms in a central downtown location for budget travellers.

More Vietnam Travel Guides:

• The Perfect One Month Vietnam Itinerary
• How To Travel Vietnam’s Hai Van Pass on a Motorbike in One Day
• The Perfect Two-Day Hoi An Itinerary For First Time Visitors
• How To Spend 2 Days in Phong Nha: Your Complete Travel Guide
• 10 Of The Best Cave Tours in Phong Nha
• How To Visit Paradise Cave in Phong Nha
• What To Expect on an Overnight Cruise in Halong Bay
• 9 of the Best Art & Craft Workshops in Hoi An
• 2 Days in Dalat, Vietnam: Travel Guide & Things To Do
• A Vintage Train Ride in Dalat, Vietnam: Guide, Schedule & Prices
• What to Expect on a Vietnam Sleeper Bus & How To Book
• How to Spend One Day in Ninh Binh: Itinerary and Guide