Best Things to Do in Hue, Vietnam in 2 Days
Hue, Vietnam is a city that surprised me on my trip to Vietnam. There were so many beautiful palaces and tombs as well as breathtaking landscapes. Located along the banks of the Perfume River, Hue is a city of imperial grandeur and charm.
With only 2 days in Hue, you might wonder how to make the most of your time here. Read on for my comprehensive guide, which will take you through all the best things to do in Hue, Vietnam. And best of all, Hue is one of the cheapest places in Vietnam.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Read our Affiliate Disclosure here.
Before you go:
๐ป๐ณ Join my FB group for Vietnam tips + Solo travel advice
๐ Americans, Australians, among many other nationalities need to apply for the required visa here to enter Vietnam ahead of time.
๐งท Travel Insurance with SafetyWing in case of any accidents. Better safe than sorry!
๐ฑMobile E-sim card with Airalo to stay connected while traveling without the hassle of changing out your sim card!
Where to Stay in Hue, Vietnam
I stayed at Pisces Hotel Huแบฟ and absolutely loved my stay. It reminded me of a riad in Morocco but nope, just here in Vietnam. This place was a steal. I only paid $25 a night and I had a large comfy room with a bathtub.
Read my full blog post for more recommendations on where to stay in Hue, Vietnam.
Is 2 Days Enough Time in Hue?
I would say 2 full days should be enough time to see the highlights in Hue. I stayed for 3 nights as I wanted to have free time to enjoy as well.
How to Get to Hue
Hue has an airport in which you can fly to. If itโs more expensive or there is not a direct flight there you can always fly into Da Nang Airport and take a shared or private transfer to Hue. The drive is about 2.5 hours long.
Thereโs also a scenic train ride you can take from Da Nang.
If youโre planning to visit Hoi An after Hue, you can take a private or shared ride that stops at a few main sites along the way. This makes the trip much more enjoyable. You get to see Ha Van Pass, Marble Mountain, and more! If you can afford it, go private as I did the shared option and it was a bit cramped. I didnโt find this the case for the shared limousine my hotel arranged as those were much more spacious seats.
Best Things to Do in Hue, Vietnam
I traveled solo to Hue, Vietnam and loved it. Here are the best things to do in Hue in my opinion. Itโs one of the most underated cities in Vietnam.
Day 1: Hue Itinerary
9 am: Visit the Imperial City
The Imperial City in Hue is a testament to Vietnamโs imperial past, with grand architectural and historical significance. Also known as the Citadel of Hue, this complex served as the political, cultural, and religious center of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnamโs last imperial ruling family.
It was built in the early 19th century and is enclosed by fortified walls and the grounds span over 500 hectares.
Therefore, youโll need at least 3 hours to visit this place! It is actually stunning and no pictures can do it justice. You will find endless gardens, palaces, and temples inside the walls. I started to feel tired and almost missed some of it, but glad I persisted! No wonder itโs a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the number one thing to do when visiting Hue so donโt miss this one.
Pro-tip: You can buy bundle tickets to also visit 2 tombs in addition to the Citadel for 420k VND. The combo tickets are valid for 2 days. I purchased on the spot and had no issues.
๐ Time needed to visit: 3 hours+
๐ Location: Imperial City (Google Maps)
๐๏ธ Entrance: 200K VND ($8USD)
12 pm: Have Lunch at Nook Eatery
I loved this restaurant in Hue as it was a great break from Vietnamese food. Donโt judge as I did have a burger and fries and I was so happy eating it! I also loved the atmosphere here with 2 levels of outdoor seating and delicious smoothies and coffee to choose from.
๐ Location: Nook Eatery (Google Maps)
2 pm: Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc
The tomb of Emperor Tu Duc was built between 1864 and 1867. It serves as both a burial site and dedication to the emperor. Inside youโll find a pine forest, beautiful pavilions, temples, and ponds. The tomb itself lies at the heart of the complex.
๐ Time needed to visit: 1 hour+
๐ Location: Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc (Google Maps)
๐๏ธ Entrance: 150K VND ($6 USD)
5 pm: Watch the Sunset at the Thien Mu Pagoda
Visit the tallest religious building in Vietnam, dating back to the 17th century, and admire its stunning architecture and serene surroundings. You can even take a scenic boat ride on the Perfume River to the Pagoda!
7 pm: Try traditional Vietnamese food like Bรกnh bแปt lแปc
My hotel recommended visiting Madam Thu Restaurant to try traditional Vietnamese food. I thought it was good but not stellar, to be honest despite the raving reviews. The presentation of the food was nice and I liked the variety you had with this platter so I could get a taste of different things. For instance, the pancake that you stuff inside rice paper and dip in peanut sauce and Bรกnh bแปt lแปc which is chewy tapioca dumplings wrapped in leaves.
You could also opt to take a street food tour so you can try a lot of the local food in one go!
Day 2: Hue Itinerary
9 am: Tour the Royal Tombs
Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh
The Mausoleum of Emperor Khแบฃi ฤแปnh is the burial place of Emperor Khแบฃi ฤแปnh, who ruled from 1916 to 1925. It is a grandiose structure built in the early 20th century, featuring both Vietnamese and European architecture.
๐ Time needed to visit: 30 minutes+
๐ Location: Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh (Google Maps)
๐๏ธ Entrance: For 420k VND, you can get combo tickets which include Hue Imperial City, Emperor Minh Mangโs tomb, and Emperor Khai Dinhโs tomb
Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang
This tomb was super impressive. While I loved Khai Dinh, this one was even better! The views were so nice and as I went before 930am, I got to enjoy it in peace. As soon as I was getting ready to leave, the tours started to roll in. I definitely recommend going early!
๐ Time needed to visit: 1 hour+
๐ Location: Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang (Google Maps)
๐๏ธ Entrance: For 420k VND, you can get combo tickets which include Hue Imperial City, Emperor Minh Mangโs tomb, and Emperor Khai Dinhโs tomb
11 am Visit the Abandoned Dragon Waterpark!
The Abandoned Waterpark near Hue is set to be destroyed this year after it was deemed bad luck. I visited in March 2024 and itโs still around.
After opening in 2000, it was never completed and shut down. It was intended to be a water park and today itโs a mysterious place that you can venture to if you dare.
The place is entirely creepy with broken glass inside and trash. Even what I thought looked like a body part. Visit at your own risk before itโs too late!
To get here ask your driver to drop you off at the gated entrance of Thuy Tien Lake. Itโs not allowed to enter so youโll have to bribe a fake guard 20k VND ($1) to enter.
๐ Time needed to visit: 30 minutes+
๐ Location: Thuy Tien Lake in Hue (Google Maps)
๐๏ธ Entrance: You may need to tip the guard 20k VND to enter
12 pm Take a Photo at the Incense Village
Next up is the Thuy Xuan Incense-making Village where youโll find many stalls full of incense. Here you can learn some of the local traditions of making incense and snaps some really cool photos!
๐ Time needed to visit: 20 min+
๐ Location: Thuy Xuan Incense-making Village (Google Maps)
๐๏ธ Entrance: Free, although you may need to tip if youโre just taking photos.
1 pm: Lunch at Ninaโs Cafe
Ninaโs Cafe is a great little spot tucked away down a hidden corner. I tried the noodles with pork and it was great. They have nice drinks too! The staff is super friendly and this was a good find overall.
๐ Location: Ninaโs Cafe (Google Maps)
3 pm: An Dinh Palace
An Dinh Palace is a little less visited than the other spots and well worth a visit in my opinion. Itโs truly stunning from the outside to the inside. It dates back to the early 20th century and once served as the residence of Emperor Bao Daiโs mother, Empress Dowager Tu Cung. The outside is surrounded by beautiful gardens and the inside showcases intricate details and grand artwork. It is a super photogenic spot!
๐ Time needed to visit: 45 min+
๐ Location: An Dinh Palace (Google Maps)
๐๏ธ Entrance: 50k VND
5 pm: Relax at one of Hueโs cute cafes
Hue has some really cute cafes. I spent some time in Thร nh cafรฉ pictured above and really loved the atmosphere and presentation of the drinks. I got this refreshing hibiscus drink with fresh lychee.
I also spent time in other cafes like Mot Cafรฉ which was also nice especially on the top floor which is partially outdoor.
Vietnam in general has the most amazing coffee shops. I also loved exploring them in Hanoi and Hoi An too.
7 pm: Dinner at Chaleng Thai Food
This was one of the best Pad Thai Iโve had in case youโre craving something outside of Vietnamese food. Itโs a simple place but itโs great and it was right next to my beautiful hotel.
Map of the Best Things to do in Hue
You can open this straight on your phone and get all my suggestions on things to do in Hue.
Hopefully, you enjoyed reading this post on the best things to do in Hue in 2 days!
You may also like these posts!
๐บ๏ธ
๐
Vietnam 3 Week Itinerary
๐ป๐ณ Hanoi 4 Day Itinerary|
๐ Hanoi Train Street
โ Best Hanoi Coffee Shops
โ Best Hoi An Coffee Shops
๐ฐ How Much to Budget for a Vietnam Trip
๐๏ธ The best things to do in Ninh Binh
๐ฎ The Best Things to Do in Hoi An
๐ค Guide to the Mekong River Delta
๐จ Where to Stay in Hoi An
๐ Solo Travel Guide to Vietnam
