Thing to do in Hue

Exploring the historic past of a city can often require a break for even the most adamant of history buffs. If you find yourself needing a change of scenery and pace after a couple days spent touring the citadel and surrounding temples or pagodas like we did, you’ll surely find something in Hue that’s right up your alley. Tours and daytime activities abound, and you’ll be hard pressed not to see numerous offers all throughout the city.

Do as locals do

To completely break away from the typical Hue tourist trail, why not act as a local and hop on a motorbike to tour the city? Le Family Riders Tour is one of the most exhilarating ways to catch all the sites that Hue and other Vietnam hot spots have to offer. Trips can be booked for 1-3 days, with stops in places like Hoi An for a quick ride on an elephant. (USD58 for 1-day tour)

A piece of local life & a beach

After a decent amount of time spent driving around on two wheels, we tried out the Tam Giang Lagoon and Wild Beach Tour with Top Gear Tours. For USD30, we were taken through traditional Hue villages to see how vegetable and fish farms operate. After being led and taught by locals for most of the day, a relaxing afternoon was spent on a beach just outside of Hue.

Foodies, read on!

For a food tour like you’ve never had before, try the I Love Hue Tour. While most food tours require long strolls through markets, this one had us on the back of two scooters, driven by some seriously outgoing and bubbly guides. USD30 bought us a branded t-shirt, food and guides for 4 hours, and more fun than we’ve had on the back of a motorbike in a long time.

For food enthusiasts who like getting their hands dirty, book a few hours with Hue Cooking Class. For USD29, you’ll learn how to cook three classic Vietnamese dishes while you sip on two included drinks. After giving the recipes a go first hand, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labour by chowing down with the rest of the class.

Going green

After taste testing all that Hue and Vietnam has to offer, a great way to get up and moving again is by joining one of Eco Nature Travel’s day tours. We opted to hop on some bicycles to explore the countryside of Hue, which turned out to be just as relaxing as it sounds. A 1 person full day tour is USD103, but the more people, the cheaper the cost.

For history buffs

For a full history lesson on the American-Vietnam war, take an enlightening 1 day tour with veteran, Mr. Duy. The DMZT 5 will take you outside of Hue to Hamburger Hill and Ashao Valley, where you’ll witness numerous sombering battle tales. Plan to pay at least USD165, depending on your group size.

Pamper yourself

Multiple days of non-stop touring necessitates some well-deserved rest, so we decided to spend a couple hours in pure relaxation at the Hue Shining Spa. There’s no better way to refresh yourself after being on the go than to let talented massage therapists rejuvenate your body with a stone therapy or Swedish massage. For USD20, we enjoyed over an hour of full head-to-toe bliss.

Private tours

For travellers seeking a fully-catered tour, we suggest Hue Happy Car’s 1 day private city tour. Let the experts take control and zip you all around the city in your own, personal car. You’ll see tombs, nearby villages, pagodas, and more. You’ll also benefit from the knowledge of an English-speaking driver to lead you through the sites. Better yet, you can enjoy a full day for only USD44.