Hue - imperial city

Hue was a significant imperial city during the dreadful American war in the 1970s. In this post, you can learn more about what to do there and about some local delicacies .

One day in Hue

The highlight of Hue is the imperial city, but there is also more to learn about the war with the Americans. Tips and information about the DMZ Tour can be found here.

Scooter

The easiest way to explore the city is by scooter. You can drive around just fine, although in the center, you need to pay a bit more attention to the scooters passing by from the left and right; as some people also don't understand how to make a turn.

  • Take a moment to picture yourself at an abandoned water park from a horror film.

With your scooter, find the entry close to the NANO ECO-HOSTEL.. You can leave your scooter in the designated space at the gate and enter through the side door.

 

You will come across a man patrolling on a scooter along the route who will want 20,000 Vietnamese Dong from you in order for you to continue. He'll also caution you about climbing the dragon. If you follow the loop, you will pass the dragon, the abandoned slides, and finally the abandoned grandstand.

        • There are several tombs and temples that you can visit (for a fee).

        The Tu Duc Tomb and the Thien Mu Pagoda are the most famous.

        • Small village of Thuy Xuan

        Here you will see a true explosion of colors. Great for lovers of colorful Instagram photos!

        • Immerse yourself among the locals at the Dong Ba market.

          You will see at least 10 stalls selling each type of product. Where do I go for the best-dried mango? Or for size 47 shoes that they don't have here? It's fun for a short half-hour, but then I think you'll be tired of the hustle and bustle.

           

          Next to the market is a large supermarket: Co.opmart Hue. Here, you can find a wider variety than at the average mini supermarket. The baguette is delicious! Especially if you haven't had it in a while and want to skip rice/noodles for a day.

          Local kitchen

          • Banh Khoai: a rice pancake filled with shrimp, meat, coconut, and bean sprouts.
          • Banh Xeo: small rice pancakes steamed in separate bowls and filled with shrimp, served with a delicious fish sauce..

           

          You can try these at Maison Trang along with various other small bites, perfect for getting to know the local cuisine!

          Read more about the Vietnamese cuisine!

          How many nights?

          I really recommend the DMZ tour to everyone, which would fill up one day already. Depending on your schedule, you can use the second day to explore the center. If you want to take it easy, you can visit Hue for 3 days, but I would rather exchange that 3rd day for an extra day in Hội An.

          Next up: Hoi An or Ninh Binh?

          • Hoi An: 3 hours 
          • Ninh Binh: 11.5 hours