- Bun bo Hue at Bun Bo Ba Tuyet or Me Keo: the spicy beef soup at its source.
- Com hen and banh beo at the Dong Ba Market stalls.
- Banh khoai (crisp shrimp pancakes) at Lac Thien.
- Imperial banquet menus at the old-town garden houses.
Hue City Guide
The Meridian Gate of the Imperial City, Hue. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Hue was Vietnam's capital for 143 years: the Nguyen emperors built a citadel, palaces and riverside tombs here between 1802 and 1945. It is the country's most atmospheric city, and its food is the most refined in Vietnam, the legacy of the imperial court kitchens.
The Imperial City dominates the north bank of the Perfume River: the Meridian Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and the melancholy ruins of the Forbidden Purple City. South of the river, the emperors' tombs spread through pine hills at Tu Duc, Khai Dinh and Minh Mang. The Thien Mu Pagoda has watched the river since 1601.
What to do in Hue
The Imperial City
- 1
Meridian Gate (Ngo Mon) The 1833 southern entrance to the citadel, Hue's great landmark. - 2
Thai Hoa Palace The Hall of Supreme Harmony: the emperors' throne room. - 3
Forbidden Purple City The ruined inner palace, slowly being restored.
Tombs and river
- 1
Tomb of Tu Duc The most poetic tomb: pavilions and a lotus lake in the pines. - 2
Tomb of Khai Dinh The baroque hillside tomb: concrete, glass and dragons. - 3
Thien Mu Pagoda The 1601 seven-storey pagoda above the Perfume River. - 4
Perfume River boat rides Dragon boats to Thien Mu and the tombs. - 5
Dong Ba Market The city's great market: conical hats, food and everything else.
Hue Hotel Guide
How to choose the best places to stay in Hue. Verified properties below; for the full list, search live availability on Booking.com.
Luxury
Azerai La Residence Hue
The art-deco riverside hotel, once the French colonial governor's residence.
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Mid-range
Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort & Spa
The village-style spa resort in the pine hills south of the city.
View on Booking.comWhere to eat
Getting there and around
Phu Bai Airport (HUI) is 15 km south. Hue Station sits on the north-south railway; the Hai Van Pass run south to Da Nang is the scenic highlight. The tombs are 7-12 km out: bicycle, motorbike or dragon boat.
Eating in Hue
Fledge Food has a full guide to how Hue eats: its defining dishes and how to order them, street food decoded, the markets, and the neighborhoods to eat in.