Luxury Vietnam: The best things to do in Hue vacations

Vietnam: The best things to do in Hue

With so much to do and see in Hue, here are our top picks


This is a whistle-stop tour of Vietnam, so we’re back to Dragon Air and a short trip to the cultural wonderland of Hue. If you have plenty of time, it’s well worth considering travelling by Land. Trains are available and much cheaper, but they’re a little less reliable and if you’re after quality you’re going to be disappointed. The up side is that you can truly appreciate the beauty of this country.

Hue has a coveted position as a UNESCO World Heritage site, due largely to the impressive large Citadel from the 19th century. Our budget hotel is city central, and our room overlooks the Perfume River (apparently due to perfumed blossom from orchards that float down the river in autumn, have to say I did not notice) with the Citadel on the opposite bank in all its glory.


About Out Of Office


Out Of Office is a luxury tailor-made travel company with a focus on delivering exclusivity and inclusivity. Our passion for global adventure is matched only by our deep commitment to delivering exceptional five-star service.

Everything we do is customised and designed especially for you – our valued customer – based on your exact personal requirements. Each member of our team is widely travelled. This means you get access to first-rate travel insights and the best possible advice from our team of luxury travel experts.

Enquire Now

Muong Thanh Holiday Hue Hotel is officially four star, and I think that’s pretty accurate. You still feel as if you’re living like a prince compared to the locals, and it’s not terribly expensive. The beds, as usual, are as comfy as you could want, and the room is clean and well equipped with plenty of space. If anything it’s as if it’s been designed in the 60’s, with current technology and colours. There are plenty of other great central hotels though such as Century, Saigon Morin and Moonlight Hotels.

Whereas much of Vietnamese cuisine is dominated by fish and the sea, Hue is less so. In its place is a wealth of genuine vegetarian food delights, i.e. not a burger with just the patty removed or a curry with tofu in place of the meat but real recipes crafted around veg from scratch.A great little authentic local cafe/restaurant is Gecko Pub on Pham Ngu Lao, for lunches or evening meals.

Just a few doors down the Hue Backpackers Hostel round the corner is one place to meet with fellow travellers. Perch on a stool, sip on a local beer, and guaranteed you’ll be joined by a world traveller with plenty of tales. All good fun, and they may even know where the latest pop-up club is happening! If you do head out, be extra cautious of what you drink and who has access to your pockets – the penalties for even accidentally leaving the country with something ‘unexpected’ are severe, and there seems to be plenty about!

This city on the river though is beautiful. High mountains surround it on all sides, vivid green in colour. A beautiful setting for a walk around the historic Citadel of Hue Royal Palace. There’s various sections to it, and as such it’s a veritable maze to explore. Assign a full day if you can, and make sure you visit the Forbidden Purple City of the emperor deep inside.

The climate forecast for Hue is supposedly high in rainfall during September. Be assured when it rains, it definitely rains. But for the most part, you’ll be lucky to see it. The sun is still massively strong, and sun protection is a must all year round when walking through these sprawling historical sites. The traditional pointy hats are on sale everywhere, and well worth the investment!

There are of course an array of other sites to see, such as the city’s landmark Thien Mu Pagoda, Khiem Cung and Tu Duc Tomb to name but a few. These do require either a guided tour or a hire car. Unless you’re confident of i) not getting lost and ii) dealing with the crazy traffic and limited English outside of tourist areas then a tour would be advisable for these further out places.

If you have time, the beaches of Hoi An are either a day trip away or a convenient stop off point for a day or so in the resorts en route to your next destination. For me, the next stop is Ho Chi Minh City, better known to me as Saigon, as I say farewell to the quiet, friendly and chilled city of Hue.

Browse more ideas for holidays to Vietnam. Read more about the Highlights of Vietnam and A guide to Ho Chi Minh City .

Why book with us?

Personal Service


We want to ensure you have the best experience with us so we’ll keep working on your itinerary until perfect. You will have your own personal dedicated member of our team who will help build the perfect trip for you.


Call our travel experts on +44 (0)20 7157 1570

Our 5* Reviews


We pride ourselves in the number of clients that are referred to us by our existing customers. Our 5* Trustpilot rating is important to us, so we encourage you to browse our reviews. They speak for themselves and that's why you are in safe hands.


Make an enquiry


Phone

020 7157 1570

Email


To start planning your luxury trip, tell us more about your travel plans and we'll match you with one of our experienced travel specialists. You can speak to us via phone, email or video call.

Open 7 days a week.


All the prices on our website do not include flights. We can, of course, arrange them for you.


Your trip
Your details

Please enter your destination and details.

  • $2,000-3,000
  • $3,000-5,000
  • $5,000-7,500
  • $7,500-10,000
  • $10,000+