The outdoor recreation options around Hue are limited, but the Perfume River that runs through town is great for river cruises and Thuan An Beach is just a few minutes away if you and your kids want to wiggle your toes in the sand. The seas are quite rough around Hue, so water sports are not much of an option.

River Cruises
The Perfume River that runs through Hue is a lovely stretch of water. One of the most popular excursions to do in this town is hire a boat for the afternoon and take a cruise along the river. Most tours will want to take you to visit the Imperial Tombs, but it is also possible to simply hire a boat for a pleasure cruise to observe the riverside life.

Thuan An Beach
Hue’s local beach is 12 kilometres north of the city. Rough seas and crashing waves don’t make this the ideal spot for swimming, so most people come here to simply hang out and relax on the sand. The locals love spending their weekends here, so expect a lively and interesting scene. Fresh seafood and trinket vendors are readily available.

Trang Tien Bridge
This undeniably romantic bridge links the Citadel with Hue’s new town area, crossing the Perfume River. The bridge itself is a photographer’s dream and something of a national icon. At night it glows with winking lights as vendors cater to the couples who come to stroll across the river, but at any time it’s a fun scene with plenty to observe.

Hue is a travel destination where nearly everything revolves around its cultural and historic highlights. Culture junkies will enjoy exploring the royal tombs, catching a traditional dance performance at the Royal Traditional Theatre, and even testing their threshold for claustrophobia in the Vinh Moc Tunnels from the Vietnam War.

Ho Chi Minh Museum
Ho Chi Minh spent several years in Hue as a young man, and the city has built a museum to honour his presence. Hue’s museum features the standard collection of photos and memorabilia from Ho’s early years as an impoverished child in Vinh, but there is also an interesting exhibit archiving Hue’s history, which gives a nice oversight into the radical changes this city has undergone.

Imperial Tombs
Hue is littered with the tombs of its 13 past emperors. They are spread out along the Perfume River, so the best way to tour them is to hire a boat and guide for the day (a standard tour option in Hue). Some of the tomb complexes are as large as a small town, and all are wonderfully preserved and have many features within their compounds.

Royal Traditional Theatre
If there’s one performance in Hue not to miss, it’s the courtly dance known as nha nhac. So important is this dance to the culture of Vietnam that it has been declared a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Royal Theatre is located within the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, an ideal setting for this extraordinary dance. There are eight performances each day, and information can be found at the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre.

Tu Hieu
This authentic, working Buddhist temple is the real deal, offering an unparalleled look at what monks do within the confines of their temple. Visitors are welcome to explore the exquisite Zen-like temple grounds and watch monks in their brown robes going to meditate or do chores. The monks are quite friendly and often willing to have a conversation.

Vinh Moc Tunnels
Like their southern counterparts at Cu Chi, these manmade tunnels simply boggle the mind. During the Vietnam conflict, tunnels up to 20 metres below ground functioned as a complete community hideout. Ingenious entrances and ventilation shafts testify to the engineering skills of the Vietnamese. Visitors can tour about 300m of the tunnels (don’t wear your best clothes) and see some of the different rooms. A museum onsite displays great photos, maps and implements.

In reference to its regal heritage, Hue is well known throughout Vietnam for its imperial cuisine which is based around menus that were prepared for the emperor and his entourage. If you have the chance, an imperial banquet dinner is a fascinating dining experience. Typical Hue cuisine is quite different from other parts of Vietnam. An emphasis is placed on using light ingredients, epitomised by the ubiquitous fresh spring rolls.

Hue’s most famous dish is bun bo Hue, noodle soup with beef, pork and sliced green onion. Another tasty treat is banh khoi, thin crispy pancakes filled with sautéed vegetables and minced meat. For a sweet snack, try the local sesame candy. Street vendors are actually some of the best places in Hue to get local food, so don’t hesitate when an aroma grabs your senses.

Check out the restaurants along the river and the Hung Vuong district for more great choices. Hue residents have a tradition of eating vegetarian food, and the city boasts more vegetarian restaurants than anywhere else in the country. Every month on the first and 15th, Hue’s vegetarian restaurants are packed with patrons. Next to the street vendors, these are the cheapest places to eat.

The shopping options are not quite as alluring as the dining scene, but Hue still has a strong artisan tradition that produces some lovely products. One traditional industry is embroidery. Framed pieces of embroidery make wonderful artistic reminders of the town. Like much of Vietnam, tailoring is also a major craft in Hue. Visitors will find plenty of shops offering excellent hand-made pieces of clothing from silk and cotton.

To find a fun souvenir from Hue, head along Le Loi Street, where the souvenir stalls stand wall to wall. Many of the vendors sell tacky junk, but there are some decent items to be found if you look hard enough. Keep in mind that virtually nothing is authentic or as old as the vendor may claim.