Hostels in HUE, VIETNAM

City Hue - The World Heritage Site of Vietnam

The epicentre of Buddhism and a World Heritage Site - Hue – is a part of Central Vietnam located on the banks of Huong River. This ancient city is home to several pagodas and temples built almost three centuries ago. Hue is also famous for its palatial buildings and palaces, the standing testimonies of French architecture. Besides, the city is popular for its royal music, traditional cuisine, tea culture and souvenirs.

Hue attained prominence during 17-19th century as a capital of Nguyen Lords. It was renamed as Phu Xuan in 1775 under the reign of Trinh Sam. The Nguyen dynasty ruled the city for 50 years (1802-1945). In 1802, Emperor Gia Long made Hue the national capital. The capital status of the Hue city was taken over by Hanoi in 1945 and then Saigon in 1949 when French annexed Vietnam.

The most catapulting event for the city was the Vietnam War (Battle of Hue) in 1968 that caused an irreparable loss. The historical city was restored miraculously and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 1993.

Accommodation Options
The centrally located star (5, 4, 3, 2) hotels, palace hotels and boutique hotels are synonymous to comfort and luxury. These hotels offer a picturesque view of Huong River/Perfume River or the city. The hotels also provide special services like boat trips covering major tourist spots, sauna and massage parlors. There are also budget accommodation options in the form of Hostels and guesthouse.

Popular Places
The major tourist attractions in the city are Lang Co Beach, Tam Giang Lagoon, Vong Canh Hill, Hue Imperial Citadel, Tomb of Khai Dinh and Thien Mu Pagoda. The Royal Fine Arts Museum exhibits the conventional artifacts of the city. The rustic tea-houses tickle the taste buds of travelers by the exotic taste of their teas available in wide varieties.

The nearby getaways include Bach Ma Mountain, Hai Van Pass, Lac Tinh Garden, Duong No Communal House and An Hien Garden House.

Getting Around
Boat is the best transportation mode as the city has rivers and canals. Cyclos (a bicycle rickshaw with three wheels) makes the passenger to take the front seat with driver pedaling from the back seat. It proves to be a blessing, since some of the tourist spots allow only two-wheelers and cyclos. One can also hire motorbike/car on rent accompanying a local guide. Buses, mini buses, taxis, taxi-motorbikes and taxi-bikes are the other available options.

Places of Entertainment
The Souvenir and handicraft shops and art galleries in the streets, the largest market Dong Ba, are the ideal places for buying traditional souvenirs, conical hats, worshipping paintings and artifacts. The cine lovers can watch classic Vietnamese films at Dong Ba Complex.

Gourmets can satisfy their palate by Bun bo (Beef noodle soup), Tom Chua (Hue Sour Shrimp) or various teas, principal to Hue cuisine, in aplenty restaurants and cafes. The nocturnal freaks can rock their night in the bars and pubs of the city.
 
Language(s) Spoken
The principal languages spoken in the city are Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Russian and French.

Currency
Vietnamese Dong abbreviated as VND is the official currency of the city. The one unit of VND equals 10 hao which again equals to 10 xu. The notes are of 2, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 dongs while coins are of 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5,000 dongs. One can view the news whether in print or internet to know the currency exchange rates. 

Group accommodation in Hue | Cheap hostels & budget hotels