Hue City, located in the central part of Vietnam, is the sixth largest city of the country. Hue is best known as the ancient capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, which lasted from the beginning of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. The Complex of Hue Monuments was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1993.
The region of Hue offers numerous possibilities for tourist excursions: visits of the monuments in the Imperial city and of royal tombs, ecotourism, trekking, boat rides on the Perfume River or on the sea. Hue is also a good starting point to go sightsee to Bach Ma, Canh Duong, Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, etc.
Hue is a quiet, relaxing city, big enough to be interesting but small enough to bicycle around. The food is great, claimed to be the best in Vietnam. Hue combines the charm of history, culture, and environment. It’s a “university town” and the centre of the arts in Central Vietnam. In 2014, Hue was conferred by the ASEAN Environment Ministers as one of the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities.
Video: Hue City – The ancient capital of Vietnam – Integration and development
(Source: Official gate of Hue City http://huecity.gov.vn)
Weather
Hue’s average temperature varies during its dry and wet seasons. During the dry season from March to September, temperatures range from 28 to 33 degrees Celcius. The wet season from October to early February gives visitors and the locals a comfortable temperature range of 18 to 22 degrees Celcius. That’s why Hue can be considered an all year round destination.
Currency
The currency in Vietnam is Vietnamese dong (VND). Here you may find out the exchange rate to your local currency: Currency Converter.
Traveling tips
Top things to do in Hue: http://goo.gl/PlxLj7
Recommended tours: http://goo.gl/q4F7Pu
Get in
By plane
Daily direct flights to Phu Bai Airport in Hue from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh city.
By bus
2 hours from Da Nang by local bus. The buses depart every 15 to 30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
By train
12 hours from Ha Noi or 20 hours from Ho Chi Minh by express train.
Departure city | ![]() |
Flight time |
Hanoi | VN1541 | 08:00 – 09:10 |
VN1543 | 13:40 – 14:50 | |
VN1545 | 19:15 – 20:25 | |
VN1547 | 19:15 – 20:25 | |
Ho Chi Minh City | VN1370 | 06:20 – 07:40 |
VN1372 | 09:00 – 10:20 | |
VN1374 | 14:10 – 15:30 | |
VN1376 | 18:30 – 19:50 | |
Departure city | Train![]() |
Departure – arrival time |
Hanoi | SE1 | 19:30 – 08:56 (+1day) |
SE3 | 22:00 – 10:35 (+1day) | |
SE5 | 09:00 – 22:50 | |
SE7 | 06:00 – 19:55 | |
Ho Chi Minh City | SE2 | 19:30 – 15:31 (+1day) |
SE4 | 22:00 – 16:47 (+1day) | |
SE6 | 09:00 – 05:39 (+1day) | |
SE8 | 06:00 – 01:36 (+1day) |
Get around
Hue is flooded with cyclos and motorbikes, as well as a few meter taxis. Taxi drivers are usually honest, but make sure they turn the meter on: trips start at 15,000 VND for the first 2km and tick upward at 11,500 VND/km. With cyclos and motorbikes, all of the usual disclaimers apply: negotiate a price ahead of time, and don’t be afraid to walk away if they’re asking too much. Hue is quite compact, so you also can reach most of the hotels, restaurants, and the Citadel easily on foot.