A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hue vs. Canberra for Attractions, Food, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Hue or Canberra?

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 Canberra 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. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Hue travel costs.

Canberra

Canberra is a diverse, under-rated, and cultural city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and hiking. See Canberra travel costs.

Hue and Canberra: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hue or Canberra?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Canberra. Although Hue and Canberra are roughly the same size, Canberra has more sights and attractions for tourists. Canberra is more popular for its hiking and big city activities, while Hue is known for its historical sights and shopping. Hue is more touristy than Canberra and is popular for its imperial buildings and political history as the country's historic capital. Canberra is popular for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves. It is also home to the Australian War Memorial.

How is Hue different from Canberra?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Hue or Canberra.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Hue. 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.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Canberra. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

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

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

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 Canberra. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Is Hue or Canberra Better for Nightlife?

Both Hue and Canberra are good 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 Canberra. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Hue or Canberra Better for its Old Town?

Hue is an excellent place to visit for its old town. However, Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Hue. As the former imperial capital, you'll see many temples and historical sites in the city.

Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Is Hue or Canberra Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a city with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, Hue is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Canberra. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Hue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hue or Canberra?

Hue is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Hue is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Many visitors go to Canberra to go shopping. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Hue or Canberra Better for Families?

Canberra 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.

Canberra is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

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 Canberra Better for Couples?

Both Hue and Canberra are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Hue is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Canberra is a nice destination for couples. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Is Hue or Canberra Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hue is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Hue. 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.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Hue or Canberra Better for Students?

Canberra is a well-known place for students. However, Hue is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Canberra. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Hue is not popular with students.

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

Both Hue and Canberra offer good 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.

Canberra has some public transit options. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Hue or Canberra a more walkable city?

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

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

Canberra is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

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

Should I spend more time in Canberra or Hue?

How long in Hue or Canberra?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Hue and Canberra. In our opinion, Hue has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Hue than Canberra. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Hue, and 2-3 days is enough time in Canberra.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hue than Canberra if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Hue.

One day in Hue or Canberra?

The city of Hue offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With nightlife and food around the under-rated destination of Canberra, there's plenty to do. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Hue or Canberra?

Hue is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Hue, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Many people visit Canberra for a weekend. With food and shopping around the cultural city of Canberra, there's plenty to do. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Hue or Canberra?

Hue is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The destination of Canberra offers shopping and museums. It offers something for everyone. 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 Canberra?

Hue is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Canberra, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hue and Canberra, we can see that Canberra 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 Canberra 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra 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 Canberra Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hue or Canberra?

Canberra has a larger population, and is about 14% larger than the population of Hue. When comparing the sizes of Hue and Canberra, 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.

When is the best time to visit Hue or Canberra?

Canberra has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Hue experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Hue or Canberra in the Summer?

Both Canberra and Hue during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hue because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Canberra in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Hue is generally a little warmer than Canberrain January. Daily temperatures in Hue average around 29°C (85°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

Hue usually gets less rain in July than Canberrain January. Hue gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August is the dry season in Hue. September to December is the rainy season in Hue.

Should I visit Hue or Canberra in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hue and Canberra. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hue year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Canberra for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene during these months.

Hue is a little warmer than Canberra in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hue averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Canberra fluctuates around 17°C (63°F)in April.

Canberra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hue usually receives more rain than Canberrain April. Hue gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, September to December is the rainy season in Hue.

Should I visit Hue or Canberra in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hue as well as Canberra. Hue attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Canberra because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Hue is much warmer than Canberra. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hue in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Canberra averages at about 11°C (52°F)in July.

Hue receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hue usually gets more rain in January than Canberrain July. Hue gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, March to August in Hue is the dry season.

Should I visit Hue or Canberra in the Spring?

Both Canberra and Hue are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hue throughout the year. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Canberra this time of year.

In April, Hue is generally much warmer than Canberrain October. Daily temperatures in Hue average around 26°C (80°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

In April, Hue usually receives less rain than Canberrain October. Hue gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Canberra and Hue