Overview
Take a trip to Hue on your Vietnam Vacation
Located in central Vietnam, Hue was the country’s capital from 1802-1945, during the Nguyen Dynasty. Now the capital city of Thua Thien – Hue province, Hue is considered the most beautiful city in the country while on a Vietnam, vacation and has long been a major cultural, religious, and educational centre.
Hue is located about 700 km (438 mi.) south of Hanoi and about 1100 km (690 mi.) north of Ho Chi Minh City, on the banks of the Perfume River.
The Nguyen Lords held power in South Vietnam during the 17th and 19th centuries, eventually gaining control over all of Vietnam in the early 19th century, making Hue its imperial capital.
Although considered part of South Vietnam, Hue’s geographically central location placed it very near the border with North Vietnam, causing considerable damage and suffering by both sides during the Vietnam War, as the city got caught in the crossfire. Known as the Hue Massacre, the city was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days, with massive slaughtering taking place of anyone who supported the South, was educated, or was Christian.
Hue features a citadel located north of Perfume River, which includes the Imperial City, a walled structure surrounded by a moat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Imperial City features an imperial enclosure called the Purple Forbidden City, once reserved only for the Nguyen imperial family. Largely destroyed by the Vietnam War, the Imperial Enclosure, along with other remaining structures such as the Nine Holy Cannons, the Palace of Supreme Harmony, and the Halls of the Mandarins, are currently going through a major restoration.
With Hue’s old city and Citadel found on the north side of the Perfume River, including Thien Mụ Pagoda, Hue’s largest pagoda and city landmark, the more modern south side features French-style buildings, hotels, and restaurants. The banks of Perfume River themselves feature a promenade along with a park containing bizarre sculptures, all to be enjoyed on Vietnam vacation packages.
Hue features a citadel located north of Perfume River, which includes the Imperial City, a walled structure surrounded by a moat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Imperial City features an imperial enclosure called the Purple Forbidden City, once reserved only for the Nguyen imperial family. Largely destroyed by the Vietnam War, the Imperial Enclosure, along with other remaining structures such as the Nine Holy Cannons, the Palace of Supreme Harmony, and the Halls of the Mandarins, are currently going through a major restoration.
With Hue’s old city and Citadel found on the north side of the Perfume River, including Thien Mụ Pagoda, Hue’s largest pagoda and city landmark, the more modern south side features French-style buildings, hotels, and restaurants. The banks of Perfume River themselves feature a promenade along with a park containing bizarre sculptures, all to be enjoyed on Vietnam vacation packages.
At a Glance
Languages
VietnameseCurrency
Vietnamese Dong (VND)What do the experts say?
Vietnam doesn’t need to be paired with another country to fill a trip. From the culture to the coast, you can easily spend two full weeks here and barely scratch the surface
Vietnam has a way of welcoming you in. I’ve been invited into houses and shared meals with strangers, and those moments have shaped my love for the place
Vietnam stretches over 2,000 kilometers so weather can vary dramatically. March and April are ideal for visiting the whole country with moderate temperatures and light rain
Hoi An is a personal favorite, with its ancient architecture, multicultural roots, and unforgettable cuisine
Vietnam isn’t just conical hats and war stories. It’s a land of 54 ethnic groups, layered history, and vibrant culture that surprises even seasoned travelers.
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
HuePartly Cloudy
37°C / 99°F
38mm / 1.5"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
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ExcellentBased on 5,160 ReviewsWe recently completed a custom Vietnam tour organized by Goway, and it was everything we asked for and more. We would definitely choose Goway again. The true highlights of our trip, however, were our two guides: Vu Dang and Thien. They truly made our experience unforgettable. Both were incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, and kind. Their pride in their Vietnamese heritage shone through in every conversation, making our learning experience both deep and engaging. We learned so much in such a short time, and it was always fascinating. I would highly recommend these two guides to anyone visiting Vietnam!Laura DerbyshireEverything was expertly planned, from the drivers to the hotels to the tours to the flights. We particularly enjoyed Hobart and the animal sanctuary, Adelaide and the trip to Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and the evening tour with dinner and drinks, and Sydney with the private boat cruise of the Harbour. We will definitely use Goway again.SARA WiebeThere were 4 travelers on this trip. All of us were in our late 70's. We started planning this trip 6 months prior to our travel date and had a lot of questions regarding this trip. Our Goway Travel Specialist, Karen Larrota, always answered our questions in a timely and complete manner. We traveled to Quito, Ecuador, the Galapagos, The Sacred Valley in Peru, Machu Picchu, and Cusco in Peru. Not only were the destinations and accommodations excellent, but every tour guide and driver were beyond excellent. The entire trip went smoothly every step of the way, which was amazing given the fact that there were numerous flights and hotels included in our package. We found out that the tour company that Goway used, Condor Travel, checked on us with our guide to make sure we were doing OK which we thought was very nice but also amusing as we are fairly fit older adults. Would also like to mention that we did a cruise thru the Galapagos on the Galapagos Legend which was arranged thru Go Galapagos - Kleintouurs. This portion of our tour was also excellent as were the wildlife guides and staff. We continue to discuss how wonderful this trip was with our family and friends and how wonderful this experience was. Would definately use Goway for our travel needs in the future.DianneAfter spending some time with our agent, we felt that she understood exactly what we had in mind as far as the level of service, etc, we were hoping for. The trip exceeded our expectations. Lori kept us busy(not too busy!) and we had many, many very exciting experiences. Bruce BelshawAylin is an exceptionally proficient advisor. Coordinating my clients simultaneously often feels like herding cats, but she has remained patient and accommodating through every modification and delay. Goway continues to be my go-to for complex itineraries, and they never disappoint.Nick Cron, ACCMahalo Goway Travel for helping in planning our group Japan's trip. Lawrence was very helpful & patient with all the changes & additions we did. Also, mahalo to Natasa who helped planned my Australia trip past November. The planning from transportation to tours to hotels worked very smoothly. I'll continue to use Goway travel for all my International trips. I'll also will recommend to my friends & family to use Goway...MahaloTanya LaguatanMaria Spitman was wonderful to work with. She was very helpful in designing our trip to Japan and equally wonderful when we had to cancel it. I loved the service she gave us.Sandy WarrenMy daughter and I had a wonderful 2 weeks in New Zealand! The country is so beautiful and the people so friendly. Our destination specialist did a great job with planning and organizing the itinerary, choosing our hotels, and organizing transportation. The hotels were absolutely beautiful and we had great views. We felt right at home and found all of the staff to be friendly and accommodating. There were no issues with our itinerary and our excursions we were always on the list. Our transportation was always ready and waiting for us.
We want to thank Goway Travel for their hard work and patience with us in planning this trip. Any changes that needed to be made were communicated timely. We also want to thank you for the beautiful weather during the entire 2 weeks it was perfect every day 😀.
It was a memorable trip that we will never forget and we will think of Goway when we plan our next adventure. Because it was not just a vacation; it was an adventure!Connie WenhardtWe had a great travelling experience with GoWay !
Thank you all involved in organazing our trip!MaiaBrigitta Fuller is Amazing! She was my group coordinator. She understood the assignment and all the nuances I was trying to achieve. The itinerary she curated was fantastic. If you want someone who truly cares about her group and what they are trying to achieve. I will always reach out to Brigitta first for Europe groups. Kathryn Walker
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