1. Bach Ma National Park

Bach Ma National Park stands at 1450 metres above sea level, hosting majestic waterfalls, hiking trails, and dilapidated French villas. Situated in the Annamite Range, this verdant landscape is a popular retreat for locals and travellers from both cities as there are local buses stopping at the nearby Cau Hai Village for 60,000 VND for those travelling from Hue or VND 80,000 from Da Nang. Home to thousands of rare plants and wildlife, visitors can enjoy a full day (or two) of hiking, camping, rappelling, swimming and even abseiling over Do Quyen Fall (Rhododendrun Fall).

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Location: Phu Loc, Hue
• Price Range: VND 40,000

 

2. Ho Quyen, Tiger Fighting Arena

The tiger fighting arena was built in 1832 under the Minh Mang dynasty to host fights between elephants and tigers. The good news is that the fights have not been held since the early 1900's but amazingly there are still some claw marks left on the walls. The arena is about three kilometers outside of Hue. 

3. Hon Chen Temple

Hon Chen Temple was built to worship Po Nagar, the Goddess of the ancient Cham population in Ngoc Ho Village. Set atop a small rocky cliff in Ngoc Ho Village, this unique shrine underwent numerous restorations under the reigns of Emperor Minh Mang and Dong Khanh between 1832 and 1886. Today, it houses several relics such as ancient vases, Chinese scriptures, religious figures, and animal carvings. Hon Chen Temple Festival is held in the middle of the third and seventh lunar month every year, when visitors can enjoy traditional rituals, folk dance and music performances by local devotees in colourful costumes.

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Address: Ngoc Ho Village, Huong Ho Commune, Hue

4.Hue Festival

Hue Festival is a biennial celebration that takes place in Hue City. Here you can enjoy an array of cultural events, games, and performances held over the course of a week. Founded in 2000, the festival is held to preserve the traditional customs that have been practiced since the Nguyen Dynasty. 

• Highlights: Every two years in April, May or June
• Location: Hue, Thua Thien-Hue Province

5. Hue Imperial City

The Hue Imperial City (Complex of Hue Monuments) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features hundreds of monuments and ruins, such as the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial City, royal tombs, flag tower, pagodas, temples, a library and museum. 

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Price Range: VND 150,000

6. Huyen Tran Princess Temple

Huyen Tran Princess Temple is an expansive complex filled with lotus lakes, Emperor Tran Nhan Tong’s monastery, orchid gardens, and a library containing documents of former kings and important figures of the Tran Dynasty. A 15-minute walk from Tu Doc Royal Tomb, standout attractions include a 2.37-meter tall copper statue of the late princess and a 1.5 tonne Hoa Binh bronze bell. Visitors can also enjoy a number of cultural activities at Huyen Tran Princess Temple, such as incense offerings, bell-ringing ceremony, martial arts, traditional art and music performances, as well as floral arrangements and human chess.

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Address: 151 Thien Thai, Thuy An, Hue
• Price Range: VND 10,000 for adults, VND 5,000 for children below 12 years

7. Minh Mang Tomb

Minh Mang Tomb, hailed as the most ambitious royal tomb built during the Nguyen Dynasty, is located along the west bank of Perfume River. Accessible within a 30-minute drive from Hue City Centre, construction of the expansive tomb started in 1840 under the order of Emperor Minh Mang before it was completed two years later during Emperor Thieu Tri’s reign. Surrounded by landscaped lakes and canals, Minh Mang Tomb houses 40 buildings in total, including palaces, temples, terraces, and pavilions. Open daily, entrance to Minh Mang Tomb is priced at VND 100,000 for adults and VND 20,000 for children below the age of 12.

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Address: Huong Tho Commune, Huong Tra District, Hue

8. Perfume River

Perfume River spans approximately 80 kilometres in length, flowing from Truong Son Mountain through Hue City Centre and Bang Lang Fork. Locally known as Huong River, it was so named after wilted flowers from upriver orchards are carried through its flow during autumnal months, resulting in a strong floral scent. As most of Hue’s iconic attractions, 

• Location: Hue, Vietnam

9. Royal Tombs

Hue has long been recognised as being rich in Vietnamese history. There are many tombs in Hue’s countryside to see.

Visitors interested in its history should take a bit of time to admire the emperors’ tombs and most of them are located in large and beautiful grounds.

Such important tombs include Tu Duc, Minh Mang, Khai Dinh and Gia Long. 

10. Thanh Toan Bridge

Thanh Toan is a tile-roofed bridge built about 200 years ago over the Nhu Y River. It is not big, about 17 metres long and four metres wide and is made of wood. There is a shrine inside the bridge set up for the lady who funded its construction. This beautiful and charming bridge is about 10 kilometers east of Hue. 

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Location: 7 kilometres east of Hue

 

11. The To Mieu Temple

The To Mieu Temple, part of the UNESCO protected Complex of Hue Monuments, was constructed by Emperor Minh Mang in 1821 in commemoration of former emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. One of the most well-preserved structures in the complex, this ancestral temple houses an ornate three-tiered pavilion, various personal items and portraits of its 10 emperors,

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Address: Le Huan, Thuan Thanh, Hue

12. Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda is the most famous pagoda in Hue. Built in 1844 by Emperor Thieu Tri, it features golden Buddha images at the base, along with a big bell cast in 1710, and a stone turtle holding a marble stele inscribed in the 17th century.

This pagoda is also famous for being the home monastery of the Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc who, in 1963, traveled to Saigon and burned himself to death at a busy downtown junction to protest against the then government.

The Austin car he used to drive down to Saigon is on display within the pagoda too. Thien Mu Pagoda is 3.5km west of the Phu Xuan Bridge (the railway bridge). 

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Address: Kim Long, Huong Long Ward, Hue

13. Tu Duc Tomb

Tu Duc Tomb is one of the many royal tombs set within the outskirts of Hue Imperial City. Built between 1864 and 1867 in commemoration of the fourth emperor, the complex also served as a summer palace for Emperor Tu Duc thanks to its natural hillside and riverfront landscape. Home to a massive lake and over 50 palaces, pavilions, temples and shrines, the Tu Duc Tomb offers relaxing ambience for visitors looking to experience the remnants of ancient Nguyen Dynasty. Set within Thuong Ba Village, the royal tomb is 15-minute drive from Hue Imperial City.

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00
• Address: Thuong Ba Village, Thuy Xuan Commune, Hue

14. Voi Re Temple

Vietnam, like many Asian countries, considers the elephant as the symbol of monarchy. Voi Re Temple is located near the Tiger Fighting Arena.