Top Things to Do in Hue Vietnam 2024

Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty. Visiting Hue, visitors not only admire the dreamy ancient landscapes, but also have the opportunity to learn more about the history and sought-after architecture of a glorious time once resonated. For your best travel experience in this wonderful city, we make a list of top things to do in Hue, Vietnam.

1. Take part in a cooking class

Hue is not only famous for its heritage, but also attracts tourists with its unique dishes. Join a cooking class, you have the opportunity to discover the local residents’ life and gain more knowledge about the cuisine of the central region of Vietnam, especially Hue.

Tourists can visit and choose ingredients for the cooking class themselves at the local market or from small gardens with fresh vegetables.
The dishes presented and introduced are typically famous Hue dishes such as: Hue beef noodle soup (Bun Bo Hue), Vietnamese crepe (Bánh Khoái), steamed rice cake with shrimp (Bánh bèo), vegetarian dishes, ... and other favourite ones.
This experience is definitely an important part of your trip to Hue not to be missed.

2. Learn how to make a kite

Making kites in Hue has been run constantly from generation to generation. The art of making kites is a harmonious combination of materials and skillful techniques. Hue's artistic kites have followed artisans to many countries around the world and led to the various awards.

Each kite is a unique product, you can find the similar but not the same. The artisan meticulously creates frames and colourful painting, while they have to calculate how the kite can fly high and far. In the afternoons, especially on weekends and holidays, the Ky Dai - Ngo Mon area is crowded with kite players from the very young to the very old. Regardless of size, colour, type, Hue kites become the joy and pastime of different generations.
If you have time, why not join in a making kite class or simply try to fly one of the giant kites.

3. Make a stop at the famous handicraft villages

Your trip to Hue will be more meaningful and more complete if you explore the cultural values of this land. The traditional handicraft village with their typical products is where these values are still well preserved.

Hat making in Hue is not just a craft, but an artistic activity that brings both spiritual and material values to society. The Phu Cam hat craft village is right in the centre of the city, so it is easy to get around. To create a graceful and delicate conical hat, the hat makers have to go through many meticulous processes such as: choosing bamboo to make the typical round shape, palm leaves, sewing, polishing and preservation. Along with skilled hands is each artist's love for the craft. Today, conical hats are not only for the purpose of meeting the needs of shelter from rain and sun but also become popular souvenirs by tourists.

Meanwhile, Thanh Tien craft villages, which had an agricultural tradition, were busy making paper flowers in December. Thanh Tien paper flowers are used from available materials becoming beautiful paper flowers full of feeling under the talented hands of artisans. Paper flowers often shaped in lotus-like appearances, water lilies, chrysanthemums,… As if it were part of religious culture, Thanh Tien confetti, which are meticulously crafted, beautiful in shape and rich in colour, are chosen by many families to decorate worship spaces inside the home and temples, helping to make that space more solemn.

4. Visit a mausoleum of the Nguyen Dynasty kings

The Hue Mausoleum is a system of unique architectural works that reached the pinnacle of building art during the Nguyen Dynasty. This is not only the historical monuments but also a symbol of Hue, becoming the most popular attractive tourist destinations in the ancient capital. Visiting a tomb is its own indispensable activity of the thing to do in Hue. 

Khai Dinh Mausoleum is not grand in size, but it makes present generations admire the refinement and sharpness of the work. At Khai Dinh's tomb, visitors can realise the harmonious interference between Eastern classical beauty and Western modernity. It is built in the form of a rectangular block. Two pillars of the tower-shaped gate with Indian architectural style. The surrounding pillars are characteristic of Eastern Buddhism. The barrier surrounding the outside had the shape of crosses. The arches enclose the characteristics of Roman art... Khai Dinh tomb is the pinnacle of modelling art, this is really a work of artistic and architectural value.

Minh Mang Tomb, for a long time, has been known as one of the most beautiful and elaborate mausoleums in Hue. Minh Mang tomb includes more than 40 large and small works, all arranged symmetrically on a vast land. So far, beside the Hue citadel, Minh Mang tomb has become one of the most alluring tourist attractions in Hue.

The other King mausoleums to visit are:

• Tu Duc Mausoleum
• Thieu Tri Mausoleum
• Gia Long Mausoleum

5. Take a traditional boat ride

Boating on the Perfume River is a wonderful experience not to be missed when you're travelling in Hue city. You will not only fall in love with the beautiful scenery of the river, but you can also admire the temples, palaces and ancient buildings of the city on the banks. You also have the opportunity to visit other famous landscapes of the ancient capital such as the Citadels, Mausoleums, Vong Canh Hill, Bach Ma Mountain,...

If you take a boat on the Perfume River at night, you might cross famous attractions such as Truong Tien Bridge, Phu Xuan Bridge, Hue Ironwood Bridge. The Perfume River at night becomes even more poetic and charming with colourful lights.

6. Admire the spectacle of Hue's court music

Hue's royal court music is a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam, which is one of the reasons attracting tourists from all over the world..

Hue's court music is a rich synthesis in many aspects: art form, genre, musical instrument and orchestra structure. The combination of high-class tones mixed with the characteristics of the ancient capital makes visitors fall in love while enjoying the unique artistic sound. Visiting the ancient capital of Hue gives you the opportunity to enjoy the dreamy space of heaven and earth, as well as a journey to discover the beauty of culture and art of the ancient feudal era.

Listening to elegant music in Hue Citadel, you will feel the peace. Immerse in the dim light and melodies, viewers drop their souls into the past and learn more about Nguyen Dynasty - a dynasty that inherited the court music tradition of previous dynasties, developing it brilliantly and richly in both themes, genres and numbers.

7. Taste royal gastronomy

Royal cuisine is one of the most attractive points for tourists travelling to the land of dreams, resulting in excellent dishes offered to the king. These dishes are not only precious and nutritious, but also delicately and meticulously decorated by the chef. The presentation must also follow the rules of balance and harmony. In the past, these dishes were used only for kings and nobles, but today anyone can enjoy them.

Hue cuisine today has a slight change depending on cultural conditions, time and people here. Therefore, now "bát trân" (eight valued royal dishes) which are usually: abalone, fish fins, bird's nest, fish bubble, sea cucumber, fatty liver, sturgeon and lobster eggs instead of rare animals’ ingredients.

It can be said that the royal gastronomy of Hue has reached the pinnacle of Vietnamese culinary art because it always demonstrates quintessence, refinement, elegance, and full of charm. The royal culinary culture not only represents the art of elaboration and decoration of dishes, but also the philosophical conception and aesthetic thought in enjoying the food left by ancestors.

8. Get around with a bicycle

There are not many cities in the world that have a slow pace of life like in Hue. Bicycles are certainly a useful way to have a wonderful experience. Try riding around the city of Hue, slowly looking at the landscape, you will feel all the poetic and gentle beauty of the 'ancient capital.

Visitors could make the tour by bicycle along the banks of the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, or around the citadel to admire the ancient beauty of the ancient capital, or in the pine forest to see the quiet beauty of Thien An Monastery and many other beautiful streets.

By cycling, tourists not only have the opportunity to admire the heritage and landscape of Hue, but also have the opportunity to get close to people and feel their lives. Rotations of the bicycle wheel will take you around the romantic city of Hue and lead you to enjoy the serene beauty of this place.

9. Enjoy the sunset on Chuon lagoon

Chuon Lagoon is a unique spot in Hue's lyrical landscape, where you can immerse in a peaceful place and admire the wonderful natural beauty.

This lagoon, also known as Cau Hai Lagoon, is an important part of the Tam Giang lagoon system. This is an opportunity for tourists to learn more about the livelihood of local fishermen, especially at dawn when fishing boats bring back fish and shrimp. Here you might see the calm water current, the floating fishing village with wooden boats carrying fishermen. The sunset scene on Chuon Lagoon is picturesque with the image of a red sunset in the sky gradually disappearing. Along with that, there are also rays of light reflected on the surface of the water, which makes the atmosphere more romantic.

10. Experience kayaking on the Huong River

Besides visiting temples, mausoleums, ancient pagodas or enchanting landscapes, don't miss the opportunity to try kayaking on the Perfume River and admire the city from a different perspective. The ideal time to kayak on the Perfume River is at sunrise and sunset. At this time the weather is mild and the bright red sun shines on the surface of the water.... Visitors can conveniently take beautiful pictures, enjoy the moments and be immersed in the nature of the ancient capital.

The Perfume River is quite wide and deep, so be careful when kayaking. Most players will be guided before participation, especially must wear life jackets.

11. Discover Dong Ba Market

Dong Ba Market is the most famous traditional market in Hue - the ancient capital. This market was originally called Quy Gia Thi to celebrate the return of King Nguyen to Phu Xuan (now Hue). To discover this market, you should go from 3 PM, because at this time the weather is quite pleasant, cool and the traffic in the market is not too crowded. Dong Ba was built into 3 stories, in which people trade many kinds of goods. Normally, tourists would like to come here for window shopping or buy local souvenirs. Here you can find many items such as clothing fabrics, handicrafts, home decoration, accessories,... In addition, you could try a variety of traditional regional food such as: Bún Bò (beef vermicelli), Bánh Khoái (Vietnamese crepe), Bánh Bèo (steamed rice cake with shrimps), Bún Thịt Nướng (Rice noodles mixed with grilled pork), etc…

12. Take a city tour on cyclo

The cyclo is a convenient way for tourists to go around Hue city centre. Sitting on a cyclo early in the morning, you can go around the city , watching the city in the thin fog. In the late afternoon, you can stroll under the camphor trees on Le Loi road filled with the natural sound. Especially, only the cyclo can make you feel the beauty of the slow and peaceful life of Hue.

I hope the article about things to do in Hue - the romantic city will be useful for your trip to this city. It seems that every corner in Hue is hiding a new thing to discover. Start planning a trip to Hue now!

>> See more: Excursions in Hue Imperial city from 1 day to several days