2 days 1 nights · Pace moderate
Hue in 2 Days and 1 Night — the Imperial City, the Tombs and Court Cuisine
Two days is right for the Imperial City and two tombs. Do not try to cram all three tombs into one day — you will be tired and remember nothing.
- Duration2 days 1 nights
- PaceModerate
This page is translated from Vietnamese. Prices and opening hours are checked against Vietnamese sources — see the Vietnamese version for the most recent update.
Highlights
- The Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City
- The tomb of Khải Định, inlaid with porcelain
- Thien Mu Pagoda on the Perfume River
- Court music on a dragon boat in the evening
Day by day
- Day 1
The Imperial City and the Perfume River
- Morning
- Enter the Imperial City the moment it opens, to stay ahead of the sun. Doing it properly needs at least three hours: the Meridian Gate, Thái Hoà Palace, Thế Miếu and the Nine Urns, Diên Thọ Residence.
- Afternoon
- Lunch on cơm hến or bún bò. Rest through the heat, then visit Thien Mu Pagoda in the cooler late afternoon.
- Evening
- Take a dragon boat on the Perfume River to hear court music and float a paper lantern. Dinner on the bánh bèo–nậm–lọc set.
The Imperial City is vast and has little shade. Avoid the 11:00–14:00 window.
- Day 2
The royal tombs and Dong Ba market
- Morning
- The tomb of Khải Định — the smallest but the most elaborate, its halls inlaid with porcelain throughout. Then the tomb of Tự Đức, spacious as a park, with a lotus lake and a pavilion on the water.
- Afternoon
- Back to Đông Ba market for sesame candy, tôm chua and a conical hat. Have Hue chè — try the tapioca dumpling with roast pork if you are feeling brave.
- Evening
- On to the station or the airport.
The three tombs are scattered south of the city, so hire a car or take a taxi for the whole half day.
Terrain and fitness
Terrain. Almost entirely walking on brick courtyards and level ground. The Imperial City is large and exposed; the tombs of Tự Đức and Minh Mạng have steps and gentle slopes within their grounds.
Fitness needed. Nothing demanding. You need to be able to walk 4–6km a day, broken into short stretches. Older visitors and small children manage it, but avoid the 11:00–14:00 window.
Common risks and how to avoid them
- Heat exhaustion in the Imperial CityThe Great Rites courtyard and the main axis have virtually no shade. Go at opening time, and bring a wide-brimmed hat and water.
- Sustained rain from September to December ruining a half dayHue rains for days at a stretch rather than in short showers. If you travel then, keep a spare half day and bring a rain cover that goes over your backpack.
- Trying to fit three tombs into one afternoonThe tombs are far apart and it takes 20–30 minutes between two of them. Two tombs in an afternoon is right; with three you only have time to photograph each one.
- Buying fermented sauce and then remembering your flightIt cannot go in cabin baggage. Buy at Đông Ba market at the end of the trip and ask them to wrap it well, or ship it.
What to pack
Bring
- A wide-brimmed hat or umbrella
- Soft-soled shoes; a lot of walking on brick
- Modest clothing — the Imperial City and the tombs are places of worship
- Water, at least a litre for the morning
- Small notes in cash for Đông Ba market
Rent or buy on the spot
- Motorbikes by the day, available at most hotels
- Áo dài for photographs, by the hour around the Imperial City
- Taxis and ride-hailing for the tombs, available all day
Leave at home
- Hiking gear and trekking boots — nothing here calls for them
- A bulky selfie stick; several sites do not allow them in
Getting there
Phú Bài airport is about 15km from the centre, roughly 25 minutes by taxi. From Da Nang you can take the train over the Hai Van Pass — about two and a half hours and the most scenic rail line in Vietnam; sit on the left heading north for the sea. The road tunnel is faster but you see nothing.
Estimated cost per person
| Item | About | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial City ticket | 200,000₫ | Includes Kiến Trung Palace and the Museum of Royal Antiquities |
| Two royal tombs | 300,000₫ | 150,000₫ each. For the Imperial City plus two tombs, the 420,000₫ combined ticket saves 80,000₫ |
| Court music on the Perfume River | A shared boat is much cheaper than a private one | Departures around 19:00 and 20:00, about an hour each |
| Food | 250,000 – 400,000₫ per day | Bún bò, cơm hến and the bánh bèo set are all inexpensive |
| Getting around the city | 300,000 – 500,000₫ | A motorbike for the day, or a taxi for the half day out to the tombs |
Common questions
- Are two days enough?
- Enough for the Imperial City and two tombs at an unhurried pace. To add Bạch Mã or Lăng Cô you need three.
- If I can only see one tomb, which?
- Khải Định if you like decorative detail — porcelain inlay throughout, and small enough to see quickly. Tự Đức if you prefer space — park-like, with a lotus lake, good for walking slowly.
- Do I need a guide for the Imperial City?
- Not required, but recommended. Most of the buildings lack deep interpretation, and the Forbidden Purple City is now only foundations, which is very hard to picture without someone to describe it.
- Where do I buy Hue shrimp paste?
- Đông Ba market. Buy at the end of your trip and ask the seller to wrap it well. If you are flying, remember it must go in checked baggage, up to three litres or three kilos per person.
Before you go
- Dress modestly — the Imperial City and the tombs are places of worship
- Soft-soled shoes; there is a lot of walking
- An umbrella or a wide-brimmed hat
- Small notes in cash for Đông Ba market