Hue has 128 kilometres of coastline, and Lang Co Beach has soft white sand backed by a fishing village, with fresh seafood available close by. Nearby Lap An Lagoon is surrounded by mountains and oyster farms. The winding Hai Van Pass links Hue and Da Nang, with panoramic views from several viewpoints. Pilgrimage Village is about ten minutes outside the city, while Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion Resorts has its own natural onsen mineral pools.
Visit the Imperial City, built in the early 1800s by Emperor Gia Long and inspired by Beijing's Forbidden City, which includes Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden Purple City, then take a dragon boat on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. The royal tombs of Khai Dinh, Minh Mang and Tu Duc each have distinct styles. Indochine Palace stands in the city centre, a fifteen minute walk from Truong Tien Bridge.
Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945, and was the seat of the Imperial Citadel and the Imperial City. Thien Mu Pagoda, built in the early 1600s on a hill, is known for its seven storey tower, which symbolises Hue. Hue cuisine reflects royal cooking, and violet ao dai are especially common here. Many sections damaged in wars have been restored. Indochine Palace has chandeliers and antique furnishings.
Bach Ma National Park protects 220 square kilometres of mountain forest, and the Tam Giang and Cau Hai lagoon, described as the largest in Southeast Asia, is 68 kilometres long. Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion Resorts sits in 50 hectares of preserved forest in the Truong Son foothills, with the Thanh Tan natural spring, about 30 kilometres north west of Hue city centre. The Thanh Tan spring contains calcium, bicarbonate and magnesium, with guided walks.
Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion Resorts offers an eight step Japanese onsen journey with indoor and outdoor mineral pools, plus spa treatments and wellness rituals. Pilgrimage Village has Vedana Spa, an authentic Vietnamese spa, with treatments inspired by Buddhist philosophy, and traditional pool houses with private pools, and a large swimming pool. Indochine Palace has 222 rooms, including Palace Suites, an outdoor pool and a full service spa with a steam room and reflexology treatments.
Hue cuisine is known for small, refined servings, a legacy of royal cooking, and is often spicy, with many vegetarian restaurants. Try bun bo Hue, a spicy beef noodle soup, banh beo, steamed rice cakes, and nem lui, lemongrass pork skewers. Pilgrimage Village has Valley Restaurant and Candle Bar, while Indochine Palace has a restaurant, a poolside bar and a cafe. Royal cuisine, once served to the Nguyen emperors, is still recreated at some restaurants.
Pilgrimage Village, styled on a traditional Vietnamese village, offers Honeymoon Pool Huts and Honeymoon Bungalows, and its traditional pool houses have private pools. Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion Resorts has Japanese gardens, ornamental lakes and bamboo pathways. At sunset, a dragon boat from the pier near Truong Tien Bridge suits an evening on the Perfume River. Indochine Palace is a fifteen minute walk from Hue Night Walking Street and eighteen minutes from the Perfume River.
Pilgrimage Village has Family Deluxe rooms with interconnecting rooms and a large pool, and its morning wellness programme includes yoga and tai chi. Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion Resorts has a water park zone and an organic farm. Families can explore the Imperial City together and ride a dragon boat on the Perfume River. Indochine Palace also has an outdoor pool with loungers and a garden. Pilgrimage Village also runs a conical hat painting class.
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