Top Things to Do in the Hue | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Hue

Places To Visit In Hue

Dong Ba Market

Dong Ba Market is Hue’s largest shopping spot, comprising a massive enclosed two-story flea market and bustling local food vendors. It features numerous colorful stalls selling souvenirs, trinkets, handicrafts, traditional and handmade clothing, ceramics, footwear, and much more. Be sure to sample noodles, Hue traditional candies, Truoi berries, Tuan tea, Hue sour shrimp, and spring rolls.

Famed for its elephant-shaped rocks, cool water, and refreshing air, Elephant Springs is a swimming hole with several waterfalls in the forested mountains between Hue and Da Nang. The tranquil natural spring cascades into freshwater pools, occasionally cut through by covered wooden platforms. The best time to visit is between January and September, when local vendors set up thatched-roof stalls selling delicious chicken and snacks.

Gia Long Tomb complex is a serene, scenic setting with 18th-century tombs of Emperor Gia Long, his wife and family members. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the double-graved tombs with majestic pillars and monuments display impeccable Vietnamese and European architectural details. A path covered by the shade of pine trees stretches from the bank of the Perfume River to the tomb, which overlooks a large lake.

Dedicated to the Goddess of the historical Cham population, Hon Chen Temple sits atop a craggy cliff in Ngoc Ho Village overlooking the Perfume River. Associated with many folk legends, the temple preserves several reputable antiques such as a number of ancient vases, Chinese calligraphy and ornate animal carvings. In addition, on the third and seventh lunar months every year, local music and dance performances are held on temple grounds.

Perfect for souvenir shopping, the Hope Centre is a project set up to help Hue’s disabled and disadvantaged residents find employment and vocational training. The centre produces varieties of colourful ethnic garments and local handicraft items. Pieces to look out for include a special fabric handwoven by Luoi women, bags, purses, scarves, woodwork, home decor items, and beaded jewellery and footwear.

A stone’s throw away from Phu Bai Airport, Huda Brewery allows visitors to see how Danish technology is being used to produce varieties of delicious local lager beer and brews. During factory tours, one can also learn about the Huda brand’s history and sample their fresh, light and crisp-tasting Huda beer and many traditional Vietnamese beverages. Huda beer is available in canned, bottled and draught beer.

Located in the Imperial City, the Museum of Royal Antiquities occupies the former Long An palace building. It features a collection of antique pieces dating from the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945. There are seven separate galleries displaying the royal family’s belongings, including over 700 pieces of furniture, textiles, jewelry, glazed ceramics, and other antiques. Every beam in the ornate building is carved with dragon sculptures. The exhibits are labeled in English and has background information for the visitors to understand the importance of the objects. Photography is not allowed inside the museum. Read More

Belonging to the Nam Tong sect of Theravada Buddhism, Huyen Khong Son Thuong Monastery is located in a mountaintop Cham hamlet in Hue. Covering 10,000 square metres, the pagoda includes interior and outside institutes used for daily activities like meditation and prayers. There is also a garden house-style gate, a calligraphy house, a bridge tiled by wooden-imitated stones, and two lakes named Thuy Nguyet Dam Lake and Son Anh Lake.

Spread across 28 hectares on the foot of Ngu Phong mountain, Huyen Tran Cultural Centre features the temple dedicated to Princess Huyen Tran. Accessible via a staircase with imposing Oriental architecture and dragon banisters, the temple overlooks four large gates guarded by lion statues and the Trung Dao bridge replica. Other monuments on site are the Hoa Binh bell tower and King Tran Nhan Tong’s shrine. There are more gold-embellished decorations inside the shrine. A bronze statue of the princess stands in the center, with an altar below for offerings. An annual festival as an homage to the princess occurs here every year on the 9th day of the first lunar month. A lush green landscape surrounds the temple on three sides, offering a serene background and peaceful ambiance. Huyen Tran Temple was inaugurated in 2007 to honor the princess’ contributions towards expanding the empire and maintaining peace and harmony. Read More

Recognised as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh was built from 1920 to 1931 for the twelfth Nguyen Emperor. Nestled on Chau Chu Mountain, the royal tomb displays flamboyant Asian and European architectural blends. The emerging structure has 127 steps and walls formed by Vietnam’s most enormous dragon sculptures. It overlooks a courtyard with statues of mandarins and soldiers.