Top 10 unique activities should work in Hue and ancient citadel of Vietnam

Hue is one of the famous tourist destinations, attracting the most visitors in Vietnam because of its long-standing culture, rich in historical value, and many beautiful cultural and artistic features such as Hue royal court music, many unique architectural works, and unique cuisine. Let’s explore the list of activities that you should not miss when visiting this poetic Hue city.

Cruise on the Huong River

The Huong River meanders between the mountains and forests, passing through villages from Kim Long, Vi Da to Dong Ba, Gia Hoi, Nam Pho… blending with the scent of Hue flowers. Have the opportunity to take a cruise on the river by boat to see the romantic Huong Giang.

If you want to see the city shimmering with lights from the Huong River, you can board a dragon boat and enjoy the “specialty” of Hue. Ca Hue is the interference and cultural absorption between royal court music and folk singing. A standard Hue choir usually has only one person singing along with a set of 5 instruments. The more colorful the musical accompaniment, the more it enhances the vocals. The ticket price for the show listening to Hue songs for about 1 hour on the Huong River ranges from 100,000 – 150,000 VND per person.

Explore Hue Citadel

Hue Citadel has more than 100 outstanding architectural works such as Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Dien Tho Palace, Truong Sanh Palace, Hung Mieu, The Mieu… This ancient building complex is arranged according to the principle ” describe men and women”, “describe literature and martial arts”, from the inside out. Even the shrines are arranged in the order of “left front, right after, in turn from time to time”.

Because the campus of Hue Citadel is very large as well as the hot summer weather, you should come early in the morning as soon as it opens at 7am and bring a hat and hat to avoid the sun. You need at least 3 hours to visit the ruins. Tickets to the Citadel cost 200,000 VND per person. When visiting attractions in Hue, visitors can rent Nhat Binh clothes to take pictures to transform into queens, concubines, and princesses in the past.

Visit Tombs of the Ancient Emperors

Referring to Hue tourist destination with unique architecture, it is impossible to ignore Hue mausoleum, which has the tombs of 7 Nguyen kings in Hue.

Each of these mausoleums was chosen by a separate king, the architecture should have very special architectural features, such as Tu Duc Tomb has a poetic look, Minh Mang Tomb has a majestic beauty, Khai Dinh Tomb has a unique architecture. The architecture is extremely sophisticated, Gia Long Tomb has a quiet space, Duc Duc Tomb is somewhat simple but still very attractive, Thieu Tri Tomb gives a peaceful feeling, Dong Khanh Tomb has a harmonious beauty.

However, the mausoleums are often far away from each other and are not located in the city center. You should take the time to hire a taxi or rent a self-drive car for a tour to visit the mausoleums

Immerse yourself in the poetic beauty of An Dinh Palace

Compared to the “summer palace” of the Hue court, An Dinh palace has the appearance of a magnificent ancient European castle, but has traditional Hue royal motifs. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, An Dinh Palace is considered a unique artistic architectural work, representing the neoclassical school of architecture in Vietnam in the early 20th century.

Discover Thien Mu Pagoda

About 5 km west of the Citadel and Hue city center, Thien Mu Pagoda is located on Ha Khe hill, Kim Long ward, facing the peaceful Perfume River. Visitors to Thien Mu Pagoda can visit the 7-storey Phuoc Duyen tower, Dai Hung palace, gardens, pine forests and the display area of the relics of the monk Thich Quang Duc.

If you have time, you should consider visiting Huyen Khong Son Thuong pagoda. Visiting the temples is usually free of charge, but to keep the space pure, visitors should pay attention to dress politely and not make noise.

Take a walk to Hue National School

This is the first high school in Hue built since the reign of King Thanh Thai, in 1896. The site is located at 12 Le Loi Street, right in the center. The school stands out with its brilliant red paint and green trees all year round. Hue Quoc Hoc campus is very large, so you can walk freely through the corridors, classrooms, school grounds, visit the old French architecture and take souvenir photos.

You visit the school at noon like 11:30 or after 17h to visit and take photos when students are absent. The school has many large trees that are very cool. If you go early in the morning, you can be protected from entering because during the student’s class time. Parking fee to the school is 5,000 VND.

Experience your day in Truong Tien Bridge

Across the Huong River, Truong Tien Bridge is an image that everyone remembers when referring to Hue. If during the day, the bridge is only thoughtfully silhouetted against the Perfume River, in the late afternoon and evening, the bridge is adorned with very prominent sparkling colored lights. In the evening, visitors to Truong Tien Bridge should take a walk along the banks of the Huong River, in the afternoon or evening there will be more snack shops to attract guests.

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Seeing sunset in Vong Canh Hill

Vong Canh Hill is 43 m high, located in the southwest of Hue city. The foothill adjoins the bank of the Huong River, and is located on a road with many destinations such as Thuy Xuan incense village, King Tu Duc’s mausoleum, Thieu Tri’s mausoleum, etc, so it has long been famous and a stopover for many tourists. 

The most suitable time to come to Vong Canh is at sunset, watching the Huong River redden in the sun with the light dragon boats drifting, and the mountains and hills in the distance.

Go to the beach

Thuan An Beach

Thuan An beach is located next to Thuan An estuary, 15 km east of Hue city, where the Perfume River flows into Tam Giang lagoon and then to the sea. Summer comes here, you can enjoy the wind, swim in the sea or visit Thai Duong Temple.

Lang Co Bay

Lang Co beach is about 8 km long, located along National Highway 1A, next to Hai Van Pass and 24 km from Bach Ma National Park. This is a beach with a gentle beach, white sand, medium and large waves. Adjacent to Lang Co beach is Hai Van mountain, behind the beach is Lap An lagoon and Bach Ma mountain range.

Enjoy a culinary paradise at Dong Ba Market

Formed in 1899, Dong Ba market is one of the symbols of the ancient capital, which is bustling with buyers and sellers all year round. The market extends from Gia Hoi bridge to Truong Tien bridge with thousands of stalls. Entering the market, you will see the colorful atmosphere of a Hue market. Tourists come here to freely find delicious food, or walk around the shops of clothes, fabrics, hats, fish sauces, and fruit cakes that are only available in Hue to buy and take home.

The market sells from 7 am to late afternoon, so visitors can visit whenever they like. However, after 4pm, there are more snack shops open. You can bargain when buying.

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Hue’s history, culture, and people will draw you in and keep you coming back. Make sure Hue, Vietnam’s historical former capital city, is on your schedule if you’re planning a vacation there because it will provide you an introduction to the country’s real aesthetics and culture. Likewise, take part in the activities listed above for a fascinating tour of this lovely city.