A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hue vs. Arrowtown for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Hue or Arrowtown?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hue and Arrowtown can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Hue

Hue is a imperial, cultural, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Hue travel costs.

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a historic, charming, and quaint town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping. See Arrowtown travel costs.

Hue and Arrowtown: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hue or Arrowtown?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Arrowtown than Hue, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Arrowtown is better known for its skiing, hiking, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere, while Hue is more popular for its museums and attractions. Hue is well known for its imperial buildings and political history as the country's historic capital. Arrowtown is well known for its gold rush history, impressive ski slopes, and famous hikes. Also, Arrowtown is famous for the Chinese Settlement.

How is Hue different from Arrowtown?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Arrowtown and Hue. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for Skiing?

Arrowtown is a well-known place for snow skiing. However, Hue is not a skiing destination.

Arrowtown is a well-known ski destination which attracts visitors from far and wide. In the area you'll find amazing skiing that ranges from professional level to family-friendly.

Hue is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Hue or Arrowtown?

Hue is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Arrowtown is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Hue specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. It's an ancient city that is filled with many sights from its imperial past. The Imperial City in Hue is the city's most important attraction. Other sights include the Thai Hoa Palace, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Royal Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh.

Arrowtown offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The town feels likes a living museum with its historic sights. There's also the Lakes District Museum in town that you can visit.

Is the Food Better in Hue or Arrowtown? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Hue and Arrowtown.

Dining out in Hue is an experience not to be missed. Local dishes were once served to the city's emperors, but today you'll find them in restaurants and food stalls. Dishes are either sweet or spicy with lemongrass, basil, chilies, and mint herbs mixed in. Soups and grilled meats are popular such as bun bo hue and nem lui.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Arrowtown. For such a small town, there's a surprising number of great restaurants with award winning chefs. You'll find quaint cafes, traditional eateries, and casual restaurants where you can sample the local dishes.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for Nightlife?

Both Hue and Arrowtown are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Hue. For the best nightlife, many visitors head to the Western Area, particularly around the streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An and Vo Thi Sau. Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street is another popular area for nightlife in Hue.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Arrowtown. For such a small town, there's a surprisingly bustling nightlife scene with casual pubs and waterfront bars.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for its Old Town?

Both Hue and Arrowtown have superb historic old towns worth visiting.

Hue is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. As the former imperial capital, you'll see many temples and historical sites in the city.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Arrowtown. This is a quirky and charming historic mining town that has many cottages and historic buildings. Many places have been restored to maintain their original character.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for Hiking?

Arrowtown is terrific for the nearby hiking options. However, Hue is not a hiking destination.

Around Arrowtown visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Many people use this town as a jumping off point for some of the world's most iconic hikes. You can explore Lord of the Rings country or do one of fifteen different listed walks in the area.

Hue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hue or Arrowtown?

Both Hue and Arrowtown are superb shopping destinations.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Hue. The city has many local markets where you can find traditional and authentic handicrafts. Some of the most interesting things to purchase at the markets include silk paintings, antiques, and lacquerware.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Arrowtown. Shopping is an experience in town. Head to Buckingham Street, which is the main street in town. You can wander through a wild west setting with local vendors and quirky galleries.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for Families?

Arrowtown is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Arrowtown is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the old world charm as much as adults. There's gold panning, bike trails, and even a historic Chinese village. During the winter there are snow sports and during the summer there are outdoor activities that take advantage of the nice weather.

Hue is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy exploring the Imperial City, visiting Ho Quyen Arena and Long Chau Temple, or wandering through the city's local markets. The Demilitarized Zone is also an interesting side trip.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for Couples?

Arrowtown is a well-known place for couples. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Arrowtown is a very popular place to visit for couples. The charming atmosphere and beautiful walks make this a great weekend destination for couples. You can take a stroll on the Arrow River Walkway or grab a meal at a quaint cafe followed by ice cream at a classic ice cream parlor.

Hue is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy boat rides or sunset cruises along Perfume River. There are also interesting temples and fascinating day trips that you can take from the city.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Hue and Arrowtown are superb destinations for backpackers.

Hue is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. It is a popular stop over in central Vietnam. There are plenty of hostels and budget guesthouses to accommodate the backpacker crowds. There are also cheap restaurants and interesting activities relating to the city's long history.

Arrowtown is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a couple of hostels in town and backpackers love the frequent festivals and activities that the town hosts.

Is Hue or Arrowtown Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Hue and Arrowtown offer notable public transit options.

Hue has a few public transit options. Cyclos, motorbikes, and local bus are the most common ways to get around the city.

Arrowtown has some public transit options. There are public buses throughout the region.

Is Hue or Arrowtown a more walkable city?

Hue is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, Arrowtown is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Hue is very walkable. Many of the sights can be reached on foot and the city is relatively compact.

Arrowtown is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Hue Worth Visiting? and Is Arrowtown Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arrowtown or Hue?

How long in Hue or Arrowtown?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Hue or Arrowtown to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Hue than Arrowtown because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Hue, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arrowtown.

Families should spend more time in Arrowtown than Hue. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Arrowtown, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Arrowtown than Hue. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Arrowtown that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Hue or Arrowtown?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Hue. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hue has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Arrowtown is a small town with plenty to do. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Hue or Arrowtown?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Hue. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Many people visit Arrowtown for a weekend. Arrowtown might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Hue or Arrowtown?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the imperial city of Hue. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Because Arrowtown is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Hue or Arrowtown?

Hue is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Arrowtown, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hue and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hue is in Asia and Arrowtown is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown than you might in Hue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hue Expensive? and Is Arrowtown Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hue or Arrowtown?

Hue has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Hue and Arrowtown, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.