Things to Do in Huế: The 8 Best Attractions in Huế, Vietnam

Is Huế in Vietnam Worth Visiting?

Huế is absolutely worth visiting if you’re into Vietnam’s history and the era of the imperial empire. This city was once the actual capital of Vietnam — and you can feel that history everywhere.

Honestly, though, we found other cities in Vietnam more beautiful, and we’d say you can skip Huế if history isn’t really your thing or you’re short on time for your Vietnam trip.

If you do decide to visit, we recommend spending 1–2 nights in Huế. Another option: stay in Da Nang and book a guided day trip to Huế from there.

Book a day trip to Huế from Da Nang

The Best Huế Attractions on a Map

Huế is about three hours north of Hội An and makes a great stop on your Vietnam itinerary if you’re traveling between Hanoi and Hội An/Da Nang in either direction.

To help you plan your visit, we’ve marked all the top things to do in Huế on a map so you can see exactly where everything is.

Huế Imperial City

What you need to know: The Imperial City (also called the Citadel) is hands-down the top attraction in Huế. The former residence of the emperors of the Nguyễn dynasty is surrounded by a fortress wall, and inside you can explore countless buildings from the imperial era and wander through the “Forbidden City.”

Is it worth it? Absolutely! The Citadel is the main reason to visit Huế. Set aside at least three hours for this one.

Tickets: Admission to the Imperial City costs 200,000 VND (€8) and can only be purchased at the south entrance of the Citadel (Google Maps).

Personal tip: Definitely pick up a guide or an audio guide at the entrance — there are no explanatory signs inside the Citadel, so without one you’ll miss most of the story. You can also book a guided tour of Huế online in advance.

Dong Ba Market

What you need to know: The Dong Ba Market is only about a kilometer from the Citadel entrance and is a classic, sprawling Southeast Asian market where you can find pretty much everything. Inside the market hall you’ll find clothing, shoes, and souvenirs, plus food stalls. Outside, fruit and vegetable stands stretch out one after another.

Is it worth it? Totally! Swing by before or after your visit to the Imperial City.

Personal tip: Always haggle if you want to buy something — the opening prices are often way above what you should pay.

Perfume River

What you need to know: The center of Huế and the Imperial City are separated by the wide Perfume River. Both banks are great for a stroll or a café stop, and the best photos of the river are from the bridges. You can also book a boat trip on the spot.

Is it worth it? Yes. When you’re in Huế, you’ll naturally end up at the Perfume River anyway — it’s impossible to miss.

Personal tip: In the evening, take a detour to the Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street along the riverbank. There are some great restaurants on boats there too.

Thien Mu Pagoda

What you need to know: The Thien Mu Pagoda is another standout among Huế’s points of interest, sitting about five kilometers outside the city center on the Perfume River. It’s the tallest pagoda in Vietnam, and entry is free.

Is it worth it? Yes — the pagoda makes for a seriously great photo. That said, we’d only make the trip out there if you’re spending two or more days in Huế.

Personal tip: Take a taxi or Grab from the Imperial City to the pagoda, since it’s on the same side of the river as the Citadel. Or rent a scooter from your accommodation and cruise around Huế — just be prepared for some chaotic traffic.

Huế Night Walking Street

What you need to know: If you’re staying overnight in Huế, the Night Walking Street is your go-to spot in the evening. You’ll find plenty of affordable eateries, restaurants, bars, and massage shops here.

Is it worth it? Honestly, it’s okay. Compared to other night markets we’ve visited, the Walking Street was a bit of a letdown. That said, you can still get a solid meal here!

Personal tip: After dinner, we treated ourselves to a massage at Xin Chao Spa. Highly recommended!

Tomb of Minh Mang

What you need to know: About 12 kilometers from Huế stands the mausoleum of Minh Mang, an emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty. The tomb complex is beautifully laid out and feels more like a small park. Admission is 100,000 VND (€4). Note that you can’t visit the burial chamber itself.

Is it worth it? Honestly, so-so. The tombs in Huế didn’t really grab us personally — but it’s best to see for yourself!

Personal tip: There are several other tombs worth checking out in Huế, including the Khai Dinh Mausoleum and the tomb of Tu Duc.

Abandoned Water Park

What you need to know: The water park at Thuỷ Tiên Lake is the most unusual thing to do near Huế. The site has been out of operation for years, but there are unused water slides everywhere and a massive dragon statue — it’s genuinely surreal.

Is it worth it? Yes! It’s a little eerie, but you can get some seriously cool photos here and it’s a refreshing break from the usual sights.

Tickets: We believe entry is actually free. That said, someone may ask you for an entry fee or a parking fee for your scooter. The amounts quoted are usually so small that we’d just pay without making a fuss.

Personal tip: Rent a scooter from your hotel in Huế to get there. Alternatively, a Grab or taxi works fine.

Hai Van Pass

What you need to know: The Hai Van Pass connects Huế to Da Nang. You ride through by scooter or on a guided tour, winding through the mountains and along the coast with several viewpoints to stop at along the way. It’s also known as the Cloud Pass because clouds frequently roll in across the mountains.

Is it worth it? Yes. The Hai Van Pass is really beautiful — we especially loved the stretches that hug the coastline.

Personal tip: Check the weather before you go. If it’s overcast and the clouds are sitting low, you won’t get much of a view and the trip won’t really pay off.

Where to Stay in Huế?

Most hotels are in the center of Huế, which is also the best base for exploring the city.

Our hotel recommendations for Huế:

Getting to Huế

If you’re coming from the north, you’re likely arriving from Hanoi or Ninh Binh. Your best bet is a sleeper bus — these are surprisingly comfortable, with your own sleeping cabin. The ride takes around 12 hours.

You can book sleeper buses through 12goasia or your accommodation. They cost around 650,000 VND (€25).

If you’re coming from Hội An, the easiest option is to book a group transfer through your hotel in Hội An. Expect to pay around 250,000 VND (€10) per ride — the same applies from Da Nang.

From Da Nang you can also take the train (€7, 180 VND) or the public bus (€2, 50 VND). The bus departs from Da Nang Central Bus Station and arrives at the southern bus terminal in Huế.

The train takes longer, but it travels along the Hai Van Pass — which is a pretty spectacular journey in itself.

Getting Around in Huế

The highlights in Huế are spread out across the city, so covering everything on foot is tough. If you’re a strong walker, you can reach these spots in a single day without wheels:

• Imperial City
• Dong Ba Market
• Perfume River
• Huế Night Walking Street

For everything else, renting a scooter is the way to go — it opens up all the attractions further out of the city center.

If you’re not comfortable navigating Huế’s traffic on a scooter, taxis or Grab are a more convenient (if pricier) alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions about Huế in Vietnam