Hue

Banh Khoai Hong Mai

Pancakes, nem lui (minced pork grilled with lemon grass on coal) and banh beo recommended.

Brown Eyes Chillout Bar-Club

Live DJ, free pool table and a good vibe. Not far from Pham Ngu Lao, but they offer to pay for taxis from hotels for parties of four persons or more. Stays open till the last one passes out.

Happy hour, 17:00-22:00·No cover.

Cafe on Thu Wheels

Traveler restaurant, with many simple, delicious dishes. There is even white and red wine. Very pleasant family business. The landlady runs the restaurant by heart.

Family Home Restaurant

It is small and looks like grandma's living room. It's cute. The Hue dishes are just tasty, spicy and great. It is not Westernized food. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

Garden river Bar coffee

Bar coffee in the center of hue You can enjoy your drink and listen music near to the river inside the amazing garden. A Vietnamese and French team will be here to helping you.

7am-10h30 pm

Hanh Pancake

Quán Bánh Khoái Hạnh

This is a family restaurant where locals come to eat Hue specialities. About half of the guests are Western tourists these days, and a set sampler menu is available.

Ban khoai, 20,000-25,000 dong; nem lui, 80,000 dong, bánh bèo 60,000 dong (Jan 2018)

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Contains photos and information on Ho Chi Minh, and the history of Hue in photographs.

Mon-Sat·Free

Hot Tuna

Recommend the chicken breast with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes well worth it. Duck also quite nice.

Imperial City of Hue

Đại Nội

The former imperial seat of government and Hue's prime attraction, this is a great sprawling complex of temples, pavilions, moats, walls, gates, shops, museums and galleries, featuring art and costumes from various periods of Vietnamese history. Thanks to its size, it is also delightfully peaceful, a rare commodity in Vietnam. The citadel was badly knocked about during fighting between the French and the Viet Minh in 1947, and again in 1968 during the Tet Offensive, when it was shelled by the Viet Cong and then bombed by the Americans. As a result, some areas are now only empty fields, bits of walls and an explanatory plaque. Other buildings are intact and a few are in sparkling condition. For the rest, while restoration has been going on for 20 years, there is still quite a long way to go. Allow several hours to see it properly. Inside you can pay US$1.50 (30,000 dong) to dress up in the king or queen's clothing and sit on the throne for a fun photo opportunity.

Daily, 06:30-17:00·Adults 200,000 dong, children 40,000 dong

La Beaute

Lovely cafe on a quiet side street and therefore still unspotted by the LP crowd. Atmosphere with soft music and green bamboo around and half the prices than in the tourist area 200 m around the block. Lots of different coffees and cakes, where especially the very recommendable coffee with cacao flavour is not easy to find in Hue.

Closed · opens noon·Coffee 12,000 dong

La Carambole

Serves French food, Vietnamese food and pizza. Quite touristy.

Lien Hoa

Monks and nuns frequent this vegetarian restaurant during lunch.

Nina's Cafe Restaurant

Restaurant tucked away in a back alley that apparently caters to foreigners. English menus and the friendly staff speaks English. A nice little simple restaurant. Good music and atmosphere.

Ong Tao

Excellent traditional Hue food, try the meat rolls (wrapped in mint leaves) or the fried spring rolls. Incredibly crunchy. Not too crowded. On the first floor. All dishes available as small and big portions, so you can order a few.

Phu Bai Airport

A must-see if you are interested in the earlier conflicts, back when the airport was a dirt strip. During the Vietnam War, an American garrison was assigned there and built up the airport with concrete bunkers, a paved airstrip and a few other luxuries. The airport was vital in keeping Hue supplied during the Easter Offensive of 1972 when "Charlie jumped the line". The airport retains the original buildings built by the Americans; however, they have been retrofitted for use by the Vietnamese.

Quán Chay Thanh Liễu

Totally vegan. You eat with the locals. Great food. The hot pot is fantastic and can be had for 50,000 dong (June 2017). The portions are huge. Great atmosphere. The staff is lovely.

Closed · opens 9 am

Quán Cơm Chay - Nhật Lệ

Popular vegetarian restaurant. You only need to let the owner know if you want a rice or noodles dish and she would do the magic for you. The soy milk and lotus seed milk are also very refreshing. Delicious grilled vermicelli.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Perched on a bluff over the river and housing some very fine gold and silver Buddha images. The Thien Mu Pagoda overlooks the Perfume River and is the official symbol of the city of Hue. Thien Mu means "elderly celestial woman", and refers to an old legend about the founding of the pagoda. Brimming with opportunities for great photos. And don't forget the historical Austin (car) of Thích Quảng Đức!

Free

Tomb of Dong Khanh

Built in 1917. Beautiful interior murals. The tomb area is a colorful construction of marble and ceramics. The 100 or so stairs may be an issue for people with mobility difficulties.

Adult 50,000 dong, children free

Tomb of Gia Long

The most remote of the tombs, quiet and fallen into disrepair as Gia Long, the first Nguyen emperor, was notoriously despotic.

Adult 50,000 dong, children free

Tomb of Khai Dinh

Dating from 1925, this is the best preserved of the lot and, while comparatively compact, quite grand at first sight. While it follows the classic formula of forecourts leading up to the tomb of the emperor, complete with statues in attendance, architecture buffs will spot some European influences. The tomb itself is completely over the top with incredibly detailed and opulent mosaics of cavorting dragons. Try to get to this one early, as it is a favourite stop for Asian tour-bus groups. Also, you may want to leave the tourist path and head up the hill on the right side of the tomb, where a small temple stands. You will have a great view of the tomb and the valley it faces.

Adult 150,000 dong, children 30,000 dong

Tomb of Minh Mang

In this opulent complex, the main buildings are arranged on an east-west axis, including a courtyard surrounded by warrior statues and several temples and pavilions. Several bridges cross two lakes before the axis ends before the vast burial mound (which is circled by a fence). The mausoleum features large gardens and lakes: a pleasant place to sit and relax. If you're dropped off by boat note that there is a stretch of souvenir sellers to navigate during the short walk to the mausoleum entrance.

Adult 150,000 dong, children 30,000 dong

Tomb of Thieu Tri

Built in 1848. This emperor and his wife were the most revered and loved throughout the country. Although he only ruled for 7 years, he was the most sorely missed. In a time of strife and economic problems, he was careful with the country's treasury and improved his people's living standard. His last wish was to be placed in a tomb that was not extravagant, parting ways with the tradition of creating lavish final resting places for emperors.

Adult 50,000 dong, children free

Tomb of Tu Duc

Built between 1864–1867, the complex served as a second Imperial City where the emperor went for "working vacations". Tu Duc's contemplative nature and poetic spirit is reflected in the landscape and arrangement of the 50 buildings that at one time stood here. A vast, sprawling complex set around a lake, with wooden pavilions and tombs and temples dedicated to wives and favoured courtesans (Tu Duc had 104 to choose from). The courtesans' quarters are in ruins, with only outlines and crumbling walls left amid waves of overgrown grass and silence, but other areas are stunningly well-preserved. The emperor's tomb itself, tucked away in the back, is surprisingly modest. The final courtyard is nearly empty with just a stone coffin in the middle. (The tombs of Empress Le Thien Anh and Emperor Kien Phuc, who briefly ruled in 1884, are also here.) Try to dodge the crowds for this one. The emperor himself was not buried here, and was instead buried in a secret location somewhere else in Hue that has yet to be re-discovered, as the 200 workers who buried him were all beheaded after their work was done.

Adult 150,000 dong, children 30,000 dong

Đường bánh canh Hàn Thuyên

The food is good, sold until late at night so everyone can eat comfortably. 15,000-20,000 dong for a bowl (April 2022). Sitting on the roadside is cool.

Ancient Hue Royal Cuisine and Gallery

One of the biggest restaurants in the city. Prices are good, food is excellent, extremely clean. It is also a complex of ancient houses among a huge garden area. Nice food carvings.

B4 Bar-Café

A charming Belgian-Vietnamese owned bar, with a welcoming interior and free pool.

Blind Massage

At the institute for the blind. All of the staff work and live in this facility and speak a little English. Popular with the locals.

40,000 dong/hr for massage and 30,000 dong/hr for steam-bath

Healing the Wounded Heart Shop

A humanitarian project of the Spiral Foundation. This shop sells eco-friendly handicrafts made by disabled artisans in Hue. Many of the products are made from recycled items, including recycled drinks cans and recycled telephone wire baskets. All profits fund heart surgeries for poor children in the Hue area.

Closed · opens 8 am

Hope Center

The Hope Center offers disabled and disadvantaged people a place to learn and work. Garment manufacturing is the mainstay. However, a range of handicrafts are also made. In particular the beautiful handwoven cloth by A Luoi women is unique in its design and manufacture. Scarves, hand bags, purses and hand crafted jewellery are for sale. Well-worth a visit.

Closed · opens 8 am