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

Should you visit Hue or Matsue?

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 Matsue 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 cultural, authentic, and ancient city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Matsue

Matsue is a quiet, peaceful, and pretty town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Hue and Matsue: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hue or Matsue?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hue than Matsue, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Hue is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Matsue is known for its impressive beauty. Hue is popular for its imperial buildings and political history as the country's historic capital. It is also home to Imperial City. Matsue is popular for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere.

How is Hue different from Matsue?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Matsue 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 Matsue?

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

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 Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

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

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

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 Matsue. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

Is Hue or Matsue Better for Nightlife?

Hue is a city with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Hue has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

Matsue doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Hue or Matsue Better for its Old Town?

Hue is a great destination for its old town. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

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.

Matsue has an old town worth visiting. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Is the Shopping Better in Hue or Matsue?

Hue is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Hue is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Matsue has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Is Hue or Matsue Better for Families?

Both Hue and Matsue are good to visit with kids.

Hue is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Matsue is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Hue or Matsue Better for Couples?

Both Hue and Matsue 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.

Matsue is a nice destination for couples. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Is Hue or Matsue Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hue is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Hue is a great city to visit for backpackers. 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Matsue. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

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

Matsue is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Matsue offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

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

Is Hue or Matsue a more walkable city?

Hue and Matsue both are great when exploring on foot.

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

Matsue is very walkable. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

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

Should I spend more time in Matsue or Hue?

How long in Hue or Matsue?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Hue than Matsue. 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 Matsue 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 Matsue?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Hue. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

With shopping and museums around the pretty destination of Matsue, 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 Matsue?

Hue is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Many people visit Matsue for a weekend. With museums and food around the serene town of Matsue, there's plenty to do. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Hue or Matsue?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hue. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The destination of Matsue offers food and shopping. 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 Matsue?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the imperial destination of Hue. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Matsue, a popular town, 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 Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Vietnam, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hue and Matsue, we can see that Matsue is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Matsue would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Matsue 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 Matsue Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hue or Matsue?

Hue has a larger population, and is about 83% larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Hue and Matsue, 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 Matsue?

Matsue 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 Matsue in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hue and Matsue. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hue year-round. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Matsue this time of year.

In July, Hue is generally a little warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Hue average around 29°C (85°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. In Hue, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hue usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during summer. Hue gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Hue usually receives less rain than Matsue. Hue gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain each month for the summer. March to August in Hue is the dry season. Also, September to December is the rainy season in Hue.

Should I visit Hue or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Hue as well as Matsue. Hue attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Matsue for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Hue is much warmer than Matsue in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hue averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Matsue fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Hue often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Hue gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Hue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hue usually gets more rain in October than Matsue. Hue gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year. September to December in Hue is the rainy season.

Should I visit Hue or Matsue in the Winter?

Both Matsue and Hue are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hue throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Matsue in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Matsue can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Hue is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hue in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Matsue averages at about 4°C (39°F).

Hue usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during winter. Hue gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. It's quite rainy in Hue. In January, Hue usually receives less rain than Matsue. Hue gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Hue is March to August.

Should I visit Hue or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue and Hue during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hue because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Matsue for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Hue is generally much warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Hue average around 26°C (80°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Hue. In the spring, Hue often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Hue gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hue usually gets less rain in April than Matsue. Hue gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Hue