By Evelyn Nguyen, Dec 16, 2024
Hue is one of the best destinations to visit in Vietnam which welcomes millions of tourists every year. If you are planning to spend your holiday in Hue, you may wonder when is the best time to visit Hue. In this article, we will answer this question for you and give you a detailed guide about what places to visit in this city.
Hue festival is often held in summer
Weather in Hue is divided into 2 seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is from March to August with an average temperature of 35-40 Celsius degree, thus, it’s very hot. The wet season is from August to January with an average temperature of 18-20 Celsius Degree, even below 10 Celsius degree, therefore, it’s quite cool and comfortable. However, from October forward, there are a lot of floods and storms.
Spring in Hue lasts from the end of January to the end of February. The weather at this time is warm and sunny.
Besides, the period from September to November is autumn – the most beautiful season in Hue with many kinds of flowers starting to bloom which makes the scenery so romantic.
The Imperial City in Hue
The best time to visit Hue is from January to April. During this time, the weather is pretty comfortable and not rainy. Therefore, if you come to Hue in these months, you can have a pleasant vacation with a wide range of outdoor activities, yet not worry about the sun’s heat or rain.
Furthermore, by visiting Hue in April, you will have a chance to see the biggest festival of Hue during the year. Some performances you can see are street parades, traditional singing and dancing performances, fashion shows, etc.
If you are in Hanoi and heading to Hue, there are 3 most common ways to go.
There is an international airport in Hue called Phu Bai, thus if you want to save your time, taking a flight should be your best option. From Noi Bai airport to Hue, it takes you about a 1-hour flight and costs from 30-150 USD/person/way depending on the airline’s class, time, and date.
This is the most economical option as it costs only around 12-20 USD/ person/way. However, the total journey takes up to 13 hours (half-day), so if you are not pressed in time, you can go by bus, if not, take a flight.
Traveling by train also takes around 13-14 hours but costs more than the sleeper bus (about 16-40 USD/person/way depending on seat option, time, and date). There are also some luxury picks provided by Laman Express train, Livitrans Express train, or Lotus train which may cost from 70-130usd/person/ way. A good thing about travelling by train is that the Hue train station is located quite near to famous attractions, thus it’s quite convenient to reach your hotel later on.
Hue is 100 kilometers away from Da Nang City which takes you around 2 hours to transport between these 2 destinations. There are several ways that you can go from Hue to Da Nang.
There are some reliable shuttle buses that you can choose such as Hai Hoang Gia, Nha xe Sinh Tourist, KT Travel Hu, etc. The price ranges from 100,000-120,000vnd/ person/ way.
If you want a fancier option, the limousine would be suitable for you. You can contact some bus operators such as Huong Giang Limousine, Tan Quang Dung, or HAV, they are all good brands and offer prices from 140,000-180,000 VND/person/way. They depart every day from 6:00 to 15:00.
The railway from Da Nang to Hue is about 110 kilometers long which may take up to 3 hours and a half to reach Hue. There are trains operated every day at the price from 70,000 to 120,000 VND/person/way depending on the type of seats, time, and date. Bear in mind that they have different types of seats (with air conditioner, no conditioner, sleeping bed, etc.), so choose the one that you feel most comfortable and fits your budget.
Besides those public options, you can also go by taxi which is the costliest yet convenient choice. Prices range from 1,300,000 to 1,600,000 VND/ car/way depending on the size of the car. If you go with a big group, it’s recommended to take a taxi instead.
Imperial City is the highlight of your vacation in Hue. This was once a place for the former Emperor to work and live with the royal family. Unfortunately, many of the original buildings were destroyed because of fire in 1947, and only 2 parts still remain today which is the Tam Quan Gate and the surrounding wall.
However, the local government has made a lot of effort to restore the damaged parts according to pictures and old documents. Thus, what you can see today in the imperial city is pretty much similar to how it was originally.
The Imperial City
The Nguyen dynasty had a total of 13 Emperors, however, not all of them had tombs. In fact, there were only 7 tombs which dedicates to 7 Emperor who are Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Duc Duc, Dong Khanh, and Khai Dinh. Among them, the 3 most commonly visited are the tombs of Minh Mang, Tu Duc, and Khai Dinh.
When talking about tombs, you may expect nothing much, however, when it comes to royal tombs, you should change your mind as those royal tombs are all worth a visit thanks to its splendid architecture which was designed by the former Emperor as a place for time to rest in peace.
Tomb of Khai Dinh
Thien Mu Pagoda located on the bank of the Perfume River is the most famous pagoda, also one of the most beautiful ones in Hue which has a panoramic view of the Perfume River. This pagoda is well-known for Phuoc Duyen Tower which was built under Thieu Tri reign. Phuoc Duyen Tower is the highest Buddhist tower in Vietnam with 7 layers (each layer is the 2-meter height). Nowadays, this tower has become one of the iconic symbols of Hue.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Tu Dam Pagoda is situated 2 kilometers away from Hue City center. It is known as one of the oldest pagodas in Hue which was built in the 17th century by a superior Buddhist monk called Minh Hoang Tu Dung. One special thing about the pagoda is that it is a perfect mix between ancient and contemporary architectural styles. Thus, coming to Hue, don’t forget to pay a visit to this pagoda to admire its unique architecture.
Tu Dam Pagoda
Taking a river cruise along the Perfume River is considered as one the most interesting, yet romantic activities to do in Hue. In the past, the boat was, in fact, solely served the Emperor. However, nowadays, it is widely used as a tourist experience and attracts many tourists every day.
Cruise in Perfume River
Vietnam offers a variety of food in different regions. Thus, coming to Hue, you will also see some local delicacies that you can’t find anywhere else across Vietnam. Dong Ba Market and Night Walking Street are the 2 best places to discover the local specialty in Hue at a good price. However, remember to ask for the price before you order anything.
"Bun Bo Hue"
Our experts recommend that at least 4 to 5 days are the best as, besides all the destinations in the vicinity of the city center, Hue also has a lot of beautiful places of interest which are located on the outskirts, especially its beaches. Thus, if you have more time, discover somewhere further to fully understand Hue.
Besides, discovering the inner city, you can also visit some tourist attractions located in the nearby province. Incredible Asia Journeys also has some day-tour departing from Hue that you can consider:
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