Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled until 1945. It is one of the most impressive heritage landmarks in all of Vietnam and worth adding to your Vietnam itinerary. Most folks choose to stay in Danang or Hoi An and make a day trip to Hue.
There is enough to see and do in Hue for a couple of days – palaces and temples within the Imperial city complex, royal tombs, and the serene Perfume River. You can also explore the city’s Buddhist roots – visit the iconic seven-tiered tower of Thien Mụ Pagoda and the Tu Hieu Monastery. But the main attractions of Hue can be visited in one day. We did a day trip from Danang to Hue via a scenic mountain road. It was no doubt one of the best day trips from Da nang. Read on for a perfect one day Hue itinerary.
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Best time to visit Hue
The peak tourist season in Vietnam is from January until April, which is also the dry season. The springtime months, from February to the end of April, show the historic capital of Hue in its best light. The rainy season is from August-end and can last through December. We visited Vietnam in early June, when the north and central parts of the country face intense heat and humidity.
Day Trip to Hue from Da nang or Hoi an
Crossing the Hai Van Pass
Hai Van Pass is one of Vietnam’s most scenic mountain roads between Da nang and Hue, famous for its dramatic curves and breathtaking views. You can take this scenic mountain road to reach Hue even if you are based in Hoi an instead of Da nang. This pass was made hugely popular by the Top Gear show and now there are day tours that you can book a self-ride motorbike ride across the Hai Van Pass.
I had booked a private day tour on a restored U.S. Army Jeep. The road trip on an open jeep was as exhilarating as the Hue day trip itself. As you wind through its steep, paved path, you’ll experience not only stunning landscapes but also a historical charm.
Elephant Falls
Our private jeep tour guide suggested a break at the Elephant stream. While a nice stop for the locals to cool in the water and spend the day picnicking, I wished we hadn’t taken this detour – it meant getting into Hue much later than what I had planned for. My daughter thought the opposite though. She loved getting into the cool water and it took quite an effort to get back on the road.
We finally reached Hue, had a quick lunch and went to visit the main attraction of our day trip to Hue.
Imperial City complex
We started our one day trip to Hue with the Imperial City. Also known as the Citadel of Hue, this complex served as the political, cultural, and religious center of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam’s last imperial ruling family. If you are inclined to history and culture, no better place to visit in Vietnam than the Imperial Citadel in Hue.
The Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty built their feudal capital along Hue’s fertile riverbanks and atop its forested hills. Within the old walls of the complex is a collection of important public buildings, opulent residences, and places of worship. This area was used as living and working quarter for Kings and Royal Family Members of the Nguyen Dynasty until 1945, and was recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage site. You can opt for a Hue half-day tour that covers the Imperial Citadel and some other attractions.
It takes about 3-4 hours to cover the entire complex. With the intense heat and humidity in June when we visited, we didn’t even last a couple of hours. Make sure you are wearing comfortable sandals to walk around. And are protected sufficiently against the strong sun.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Hue is credited as the repository of many holy Buddhist relics which has become a place of local pilgrimage. From the citadel, we walked a while to reach Thien Mu Pagoda. It is perched on the north bank of the Perfume River, roughly 3 km west of Hue Citadel. This pagoda is the oldest Hue Temple of over 400 years and is one of the landmarks in Vietnam.
We spent sometime admiring its stunning architecture and serene surroundings. You can even take a scenic boat ride on the Perfume River to the Pagoda!
Royal Tombs
It was time for us to head back to our Danang beach hotel. But if you have time, you can visit the Royal Tombs. The Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang is located on Cam Ke mountain. It was built by Emperor Thieu Tri of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Also visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Khải Định, a grandiose structure built in the early 20th century. This is the only one tomb of the Nguyen Emperors built with blended architecture of Vietnamese Buddhism, Hinduism and Roman styles. Finally, there is the Tomb of Tu Duc built by King Tu Duc for himself. This was also place where King Tu Duc sometimes lived and worked when he was still alive.
Extend the Hue one day trip
As I mentioned before, there is enough to see and do in Hue for a couple of days. If you are staying overnight in Hue and are interested in war history, make sure you visit the DMZ as well as the war-related museums. This was the buffer zone between North and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. You can take a small-group DMZ Tour to see relics of the war and learn more about this dramatic period of 20th century history.
Planning a trip to Vietnam? Check out these posts.
Read this 2-week itinerary to Vietnam for the best places to visit.
You will find this Vietnam packing list quite handy for your trip.
From Hanoi, I would recommend an overnight cruise to Halong and Bai Tu Long Bay.
Also, read Danang 4 day itinerary and Ho Chi Minh Itinerary for 3 days
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Hue has been on my bucket list for so long, and this post makes me want to go even more. The mix of history, temples, and those scenic mountain roads sounds incredible. Visiting the Imperial City and crossing the Hai Van Pass in an open jeep must have been such an experience! Saving this for when I finally make it to Vietnam.
It was a long and incredible day
Thanks for this well-organized day trip guide to Huế — I really appreciated how you included practical tips and that road trip in the open jeep sounds amazing.