Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Hue?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Hue?

Many visitors spend one to three days in Hue during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the restaurant scene, and shopping.

Huế is located in central Vietnam along the Perfume River. It was the country's capital during the mid 1700s and again during the 1800s when it was home to the Nguyen Dynasty. The Imperial City is filled with palaces and temples, and the city itself is rich in history and culture.

Do you have one or two days to visit Hue? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Hue?

With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time when exploring the main attractions. After all, The city of Hue boasts plenty of sights and attractions, making it a popular destination for tourists. To fully embrace Hue, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate one to three days to browse the museums, admire the historic sights, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and browse the shops. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

How to spend a day in Hue

Don't miss Imperial City during your trip to Hue, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Hue Flavor Street Food Tour ($50)
Hue Street Food Tour At Night By Scooter ($49)
Hue Specialty Food Cooking Class ($39)

Hue is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Many of the sights can be reached on foot and the city is relatively compact.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Hue?

Two days or a full weekend in Hue is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to three days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the restaurant scene, and shopping. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

Royal Palace, Hue, Vietnam

How to spend 2 days in Hue

With a weekend (two to three days) in Hue, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Hue a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

3-Hour Hue Royal Palace Small Group Guided Walking Tour ($23)
3 Hour Guided Sightseeing of Hue Imperial Palace ($25)
Hue city tour for King Palace and royal tombs then taste local food like locals ($70)

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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.

Public transit in Hue is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. Cyclos, motorbikes, and local bus are the most common ways to get around the city.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Hue, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.