Vietnam

The 6 best things to do in Hue

(that proves it’s more than just a rest stop between Hanoi and Hoi An)

Ah, Huế. The name alone sounds like a sigh of relief after too many bowls of phở. Wedged right in the belly of Vietnam, this former imperial capital is where emperors once strutted around in silks, poets scribbled moody verses about rivers, and regular folk learned the art of sweating through 40-degree heat with at least a little dignity.

These days, Huế is a curious blend of old-world grandeur and modern Vietnamese hustle - think citadels and tombs next to karaoke bars and motorbikes balancing entire wardrobes.

If you’re the kind of traveller who gets weak at the knees for history, culture, food, and a good Insta shot (don’t lie, we all are), Huế is your kind of place. We’ve put together six of the absolute best things to do in Huế, with enough variety to keep both your inner history nerd and your caffeine-addicted soul happy.

1. Play dress-up in an áo dài and walk around the Imperial City

Let’s start with the obvious. You cannot (and I mean cannot) come to Huế and skip the Imperial City. Built in the early 1800s by the Nguyễn Dynasty, this sprawling citadel is Vietnam’s answer to Beijing’s Forbidden City, except with more humidity and fewer selfie sticks.

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Now, walking around the Imperial City is great on its own, but why stop there when you can fully commit and slip into an áo dài, Vietnam’s traditional long tunic? Rental shops nearby will happily deck you out in silky splendour for just a few bucks. Suddenly, instead of a sweaty tourist with a guidebook, you’re a regal courtier wandering through history, commanding respect from the ghosts of emperors’ past.

Sure, you’ll look slightly ridiculous if you trip on the tunic hem while climbing a staircase. And yes, locals may giggle at your awkward regal poses in front of golden gates. But nothing makes those UNESCO World Heritage shots pop like flowing silk in the breeze.

Just go in the early morning before the sun turns the citadel into an oven. Trust me when I say you don’t want to be wearing any more clothing than is strictly appropriate when the heat comes out to play.

2. Channel your inner emperor at Minh Mạng’s Tomb

If cemeteries make you squeamish, relax - Huế’s imperial tombs are less about spooks and more about stunning architecture and lakeside pavilions.

Minh Mạng, the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty, clearly had taste. His tomb, located about 30 minutes outside Huế, is a masterpiece of symmetry. Picture manicured gardens, lotus ponds, ornate temples, and stairways that lead to terraces where you can look over the grounds, pretending to be Minh Mạng himself.

It’s peaceful, beautiful, and just a tad eerie. You could easily spend hours wandering around, admiring dragon motifs and perfectly framed views of the surrounding hills.

3. Marvel at Khải Định’s tomb

Now, if Minh Mạng’s tomb was subtle and poetic, Emperor Khải Định clearly went for: “make it shiny enough to blind my haters.” His tomb is the exact opposite of minimalist design. Imagine what would happen if a French palace, a Gothic cathedral, and a Vietnamese pagoda had a baby. Then imagine that baby rolled around in crushed glass, porcelain shards, and gold leaf. Voilà; it’s Khải Định’s tomb.

Climb the steep staircase and you’ll find a grand, over-the-top monument. Inside, the ceiling murals are so elaborate you’ll need a stiff neck massage afterwards. There are dragons, sunbursts, and enough detail to keep your eyes entertained for hours (if you can stand the humidity for that long).

Some say it’s gaudy; others call it genius. Either way, you’ll definitely mutter “wow” at least six times. And if you squint just right, it’s basically Vietnam’s Versailles but with fewer tourists elbowing you in the ribs.

I recommend visiting both Minh Mạng and Khải Định to really appreciate the contrast between understated elegance and full-blown imperial flex.

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4. Take a cyclo ride through Huế’s city centre

Forget Uber. Forget Grab. Forget your two functioning legs. The only way to properly see Huế’s city centre is in a cyclo, the Vietnamese answer to a rickshaw, where you sit up front like royalty while a wiry man pedals you around with superhero calf strength.

Is it slightly awkward at first? Absolutely. You’re sitting in a giant seat while someone sweats profusely to get you across intersections teeming with motorbikes. But once you get over the mild guilt, it’s actually the best way to soak in Huế’s vibe.

You’ll glide past markets overflowing with dragon fruit, women selling steaming bowls of bún bò Huế (the city’s legendary noodle soup), and incense-scented pagodas that seem to pop up out of nowhere. The drivers often double as unofficial tour guides, shouting snippets of history in between expert traffic manoeuvres.

It’s chaotic. It’s authentic. And it’s far more fun than dodging scooters on foot.

5. Go full regal on a dragon boat ride

If emperors loved one thing, it was a boat that looked like a mythical creature. On the Perfume River, you’ll find exactly that: colourful dragon boats ready to ferry you into the sunset.

Board one of these beauties and you’ll be treated to riverside views of pagodas and city life, but you can also organise a traditional Vietnamese music performance to enjoy while you float. Think zithers, flutes, and vocals that echo across the water, reminding you that Spotify playlists sometimes don’t cut it.

One moment you’re reflecting on the poetic name “Perfume River” (spoiler: it doesn’t actually smell like Chanel No. 5), the next you’re clapping along awkwardly as musicians hand you porcelain cups to smack together.

Hopping aboard one of these boats in the evening is magical, not just because the air will be cooler, but because the twinkling city lights will be mirrored on the water.

6. Try Huế’s legendary salt coffee

You thought Vietnam’s caffeine game peaked with iced coffee dripping slowly into condensed milk? Think again. Huế has a beverage so unique you’ll question everything you thought you knew about coffee culture: cà phê muối, or salt coffee.

Yes, you read that right. Salt. In coffee. Somewhere out there, an Italian barista is clutching his chest in horror. But trust me, it works.

The trick is that the salt is mixed into the creamy foam that tops the coffee, balancing the bitterness with a subtle savoury kick. The result is a flavour explosion that’ll have you reaching for more.

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And where better to try it than in Huế, the city that invented it? Pull up a low plastic stool at a street-side cafe, order a glass, and feel the sensation as your taste buds dance the cha-cha of confusion and delight.

But don’t sip it too fast. This is a slow-burn kind of beverage, best enjoyed while people-watching.

Whether you’re dressing up in an áo dài, floating down the Perfume River, or slurping down a salty coffee that’ll defy your tastebuds, Huế proves again and again that it’s not just a pit stop, it’s a destination that deserves its own spotlight.