Imperial City of Hue: Top Places to See in 2 Days

Located in central Vietnam, the city of Hue served as the imperial capital until 1945, marking the end of the Nguyen dynasty. It is a peaceful city with a rich history, making it home to numerous historical landmarks well worth a visit.

The Hue Monuments Complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Unfortunately, Hue was one of the cities most affected by the Vietnam War, and only about 10% of the imperial-era structures remain. Today, many buildings are being restored, but countless others have been lost forever.

During our trip to Vietnam, we spent two days in Hue. In this guide, I share our experience, delve into the city’s fascinating history, and recommend the best places to visit in Hue as well as the top activities to enjoy.

What to see and what to do in Hue?

1. The Citadel

A must-see is a visit to the Citadel, the old enclosure of the Nguyen dynasty emperors. The Citadel is a walled place of 520 hectares composed of large gardens, lakes, temples, palaces and gates. It is mainly divided into:

It is divided into three main areas: The Imperial City, the Royal City and the Purple Forbidden City. Of the three, the Purple Forbidden City was the residence of the former emperors. It’s similar to the Forbidden City in Beijing, although much smaller.

The whole of the Citadel is a place to enjoy tranquility and spend a whole day imagining how life must have been in those distant, different and forgotten times.

Schedules and prices to enter the Citadel

The Citadel complex is open from 8:00 to 17:30 every day. The entrance fee is 150.000 VND (6€) for adults and for children between 7 and 12 years old it is 30.000 VND (1€).

There are also two types of combined tickets. If you want to buy a combined ticket that includes the Citadel and 2 imperial tombs (Khai Dinh and Minh Mang) the price goes up to 280.000 VND (10€) and for children between 7 and 12 years old 55.000 VND (2€).

Finally, you also have the option to buy a combined ticket to see the Citadel and the 3 most important imperial tombs of Hue (mentioned below). The price of this ticket is 360.000 VND (14€) for adults and 70.000 VND (2,50€) for children.

2. The Tombs of the Emperors

Another mandatory stop if you have enough time is to visit at least one of the many imperial tombs around the city. The Nguyen emperors built impressive mausoleums along the Perfume River.

There are all kinds of tombs; tombs from different eras and from different dynasties; the most famous tombs are: the Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang and the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc.

3. Looking to party in the city of Hue

Another of the activities that are always recommended to do in Vietnam is to rent a bicycle and explore both the corners of the city and the surroundings of Huế, full of rice fields, small villages and picturesque landscapes. Cooking classes are also very fashionable, to learn how to prepare traditional dishes of the region. And not to be missed, a visit to Dong Ba market: a lively place to experience local life and buy typical products, clothes and food.

It was impossible for us to go around the city anymore because of two days of endless rain. In order to feel better and try to make the most of our stay in this beautiful city, we decided to burn the accumulated rest by going out to party in Hue.

It seems that in some places in Vietnam it is difficult to find nightclubs. And if there are, they often tell you they’re only for Vietnamese. Therefore, you often end up in pubs with lots of tourists, but with a great atmosphere. In Hue we ended up going to Brown Eyes Bar, a place with good music and a good atmosphere.

Next Destination: Trip from Hue to Ninh Binh

After 2 days in the city of Hue we said goodbye to the old imperial capital and took a bus to Ninh Binh, one of the most spectacular places in Vietnam. Ninh Binh is 570 km from Hue, so we had to wait about 6 hours by bus. So, we continue going north, every day closer to the so expected Halong Bay.

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