Go slow. Hue rewards it.
— Hue notes
Typical Hue itinerary
Hue works well as a slow city stay or as a longer Central Vietnam route. Pick a route style first, then choose the trip length.
Hue works well as a slow city stay or as a longer Central Vietnam route. Pick a route style first, then choose the trip length.
Choose a plan style and trip length
Per person
What's included
Not included
Photos from Hue. View and praise.
Main ways to get from Hanoi to Hue: sleeper bus, flight, or train.
The image is for illustrative purpose only
Taking a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Hue is quite a budget-friendly option and if you're used to it, it's not a big deal at all. The trip usually takes about 12 hours; buses normally depart at 5, 6, or 7 PM and arrive the next morning. Ticket prices range from 350k - 550k - 750k depending on the type of bus and the timing; during Tet, it will be about 1.5 times more expensive. You should book 1 week in advance and firmly remind them that you want an actual sleeper bed, not a spot in the aisle.
About 12 hours from Hanoi
350k - 750k one way
The image is for illustrative purpose only
Hue has Phu Bai Airport, which is located not too far from the city center. Flying in from Hanoi only takes 1 hour and ticket prices are usually quite reasonable. If you book 2 months early, it might only cost around 2 million round-trip, so anyone with early plans should just book a flight as it's the most convenient, though sometimes I don't really like the fussy airport procedures.
About 1 hour from Hanoi
Around 2 million round-trip if booked early
The image is for illustrative purpose only
To me, taking the train is a form of experience; it will be a slow-paced journey, sightseeing along the country. Taking the train from Hanoi to Hue takes about 16 hours. The train has various ticket classes: hard seat / soft seat / 4-berth sleeper cabin / 6-berth sleeper cabin (one bed per person). The upper berth is cheaper than the lower berth (as it's cold and quite cramped). I think there's even a 2-berth VIP cabin? It's best to stay in a room with fewer beds for comfortable stretching. And the ticket price is not cheap at all, even more expensive than flying (for example, a lower berth in a 4-berth cabin is 1600k).
About 16 hours from Hanoi
Depends on seat or cabin class
Sleeper bus: vexere.com
Train: dsvn.vn
Hue city
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Lang Co
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A Luoi
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Highlights
Unique Vietnamese architecture, profound Hue culture. A list full of food that you wouldn't know how much is enough to eat.
Hue Imperial City
Tu Duc Tomb - Minh Mang Tomb
Khai Dinh Tomb
Gia Long Tomb
A Luoi Pine Hill
Anor Waterfall
Milestone 666
Hue folk songs on the Perfume River
Hue Sweet Soup
Hue traditional cakes
Bun bo Hue
What I really like about Hue tourism is that they have built a true 'Vietnam' brand here. Tourists enjoy wearing traditional Vietnamese attire, ranging from Ao Dai, Ngu Than to Nhat Binh rather than just one type; they visit scenic spots and marvel at the landscapes of the Southern land without comparing them to this or that country. Perhaps this also stems from the local people of Hue themselves; they are highly conscious of preserving their native culture and strictly upholding the word 'Le' (propriety) in daily life. Although the flip side is that it can feel a bit restrictive to some extent, it is highly favorable for cultural preservation.
The food in Hue is extremely diverse with many signature dishes. Visiting Hue, you won't have to worry about having nothing to eat, only about not being able to eat everything. Dishes like banh beo, banh loc, ram it, and banh nam are all must-tries. And then there's bun bo—bun bo in Hue is very different from the Bun Bo Hue served in Hanoi. Just mentioning these two dishes makes me crave them so much. Hue's seasonings are rich, aromatic with pepper and chili; the chili paste and fresh chili here are incredibly delicious—unbelievably fragrant and pungent, not just spicy. 10 out of 10, no ifs or buts.
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