Wondering whether Hue is worth adding to your Vietnam itinerary? After spending two days exploring Vietnam’s former imperial capital, taking the scenic heritage train from Da Nang and eating my way through the city’s incredible cuisine, here’s whether I think Hue deserves a spot on your trip.
Quick answer
Yes – especially if you’re interested in history and food!
While Hue doesn’t have the energy of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, that’s exactly its appeal. Home to Vietnam’s Imperial City and widely considered the country’s food capital, Hue offers a completely different side of Vietnam.
I spent two days here, which felt like the perfect amount of time to explore the highlights without feeling rushed.
๐ At a glance
| Time I spent | 2 days |
| Would I recommend it? | โ Yes |
| Ideal stay | 2 days |
| Best for | History, food, culture |
| Skip if | You’re only interested in beaches or nightlife |
Why I think Hue is worth visiting
1. The Imperial City is one of Vietnam’s most impressive historical sites
The Imperial City was my main reason for visiting Hue, and it didn’t disappoint.
Walking through the ancient palaces, temples and gates gave me a much better understanding of Vietnam’s history and the Nguyแป n Dynasty. Even though much of the complex was damaged during wars, restoration work continues today and it’s easy to spend several hours wandering the grounds.
I joined a guided tour, which I’d recommend if you want to understand the significance of what you’re seeing rather than simply walking around.
Book your Hue Imperial City Tour Here
2. The food completely lived up to the hype
I’d heard people call Hue Vietnam’s food capital before arriving, but I honestly wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.
A food tour introduced me to dishes I’d never heard of before, including bรกnh รฉp, bรกnh bรจo and bรบn hแบฟn, alongside the city’s famous bรบn bรฒ Huแบฟ.
Even if you don’t normally book tours, this is one I’d genuinely recommend. Without a guide, I would’ve walked straight past half the places we visited.
You can read my guide about What to Eat in Hue Here!
3. Getting there was part of the experience
Rather than taking the bus, I travelled from Da Nang to Hue on Vietnam Rail’s heritage train.
The journey hugs the coastline over Hแบฃi Vรขn Pass with incredible views of the ocean and jungle-covered mountains. It ended up being one of my favourite train rides in Vietnam and made arriving in Hue feel like part of the adventure rather than just another transfer.
I booked my ticket on 12GOASIA, make sure you select the Hue Tourist Vietnam train as there’s two different trains (they both get you there but the tourist train is more of an experience).
4. It feels much calmer than Vietnam’s bigger cities
After the constant buzz of Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, Hue felt noticeably slower.
The roads were quieter, it was easier to walk around, and the atmosphere felt more relaxed. If you’re looking for nightlife, this probably isn’t your destination – but if you enjoy slower mornings, historical sites and long meals, I think you’ll appreciate Hue.
There’s more to do than I managed in two days
I only spent two days in Hue, so there are a few attractions I didn’t personally visit.
If you’ve got extra time or different interests than me, you could also add:
- The abandoned Hแป Thuแปท Tiรชn Water Park, an eerie abandoned water park that’s become one of Hue’s most unusual attractions.
- Thuy Xuan Incense Village, where colourful bundles of incense create one of the city’s most photographed spots.
- The royal tombs, including the Tombs of Khai Dinh, Minh Mang and Tu Duc, each with its own unique architecture and history.
- Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s iconic seven-storey pagoda overlooking the Perfume River.
For me, the Imperial City and the food were the biggest priorities, so I chose to spend my limited time there instead. But if you’re particularly interested in history, photography or religious sites, you could easily fill another day or two exploring these attractions.
What I didn’t love
To be honest, I don’t think I’d stay much longer than two or three days unless you were planning to explore the surrounding area.
Most visitors come for the Imperial City, royal tombs and food, and once you’ve seen those highlights, it’s a relatively quiet city.
That isn’t necessarily a negative – it just means Hue works best as a stop on a wider Central Vietnam itinerary rather than somewhere I’d personally base myself for a week.
How long should you spend in Hue?
For most travellers, I’d recommend 2 days.
That gives you enough time to:
- Explore the Imperial City.
- Take a food tour or try the city’s famous dishes.
- Visit a few cafรฉs.
- Wander along the Perfume River.
- See one or two royal tombs if they interest you.
If you’re travelling between Da Nang and Hanoi, Hue is an easy stop to include.
Would I visit Hue again?
Yes – but mostly for the food! I’m still in Vietnam currently while writing this and I miss the food in Hue!
I’d love to return to eat my way through more of the city’s traditional dishes and explore a few of the royal tombs that I didn’t have time to visit on this trip.
While Hue isn’t my favourite city in Vietnam overall, I do think it’s one of the country’s most unique.
Final thoughts
If you’re deciding between skipping Hue or adding two days to your itinerary, I’d add the two days.
The combination of imperial history, incredible local cuisine and the scenic journey from Da Nang makes Hue feel completely different from anywhere else I visited in Vietnam.
It’s not a city I’d visit for nightlife or shopping – but for culture, history and some of the best food in the country, it’s absolutely worth the stop.
Alexx
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tours, hotels and services that I’ve personally used or genuinely believe will add value to your trip.
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