Spending ten days in Hue might seem excessive to travelers rushing along the coastal highway, but this slow-paced city rewards those who linger. By staying longer, budget travelers can bypass expensive tours, eat like locals for under 50,000 VND a meal, and explore hidden royal ruins at a fraction of the cost.
Here is how to spend ten days in Hue (ํ์ / ้กบๅ / ใใจ) without breaking the bank.
Day 1 โ The Citadel Moat and Street Food Introduction
Start your trip by exploring the outer walls of the Imperial City. Skip the 200,000 VND entry ticket on day one and walk the 6 km perimeter of the moat to appreciate the scale of the fortress.
For lunch, head to Han Thuyen street, a quiet strip known for cheap eats. Order a bowl of "banh canh" (thick tapioca noodle soup with crab or pork) for 20,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Walk through the quiet residential neighborhoods inside the northern walls of the Citadel. Unlike the tourist-heavy southern entrance, this area feels like a rural village with small gardens, wandering chickens, and cheap local coffee shops.
Day 2 โ The Royal Tombs by Bicycle
Rent a bicycle for 50,000 VND from your hostel or a rental shop near the backpacker quarter. Ride 7 km south along the river to the "Tomb of Tu Duc". Buy the three-tomb combo ticket (Citadel, Tomb of Minh Mang, and Tomb of Khai Dinh) for 420,000 VND, which saves you 180,000 VND compared to buying individual tickets.
Off-script suggestion: Stop at the Thuy Xuan incense village along Huyen Tran Cong Chua street. Skip the crowded front stalls set up for Instagram photos and walk into the back alleys where older artisans still roll the colorful bamboo sticks by hand.
Day 3 โ The Eerie Ruins of Ho Thuy Tien
Ride 8 km south of the city center to the abandoned waterpark at Ho Thuy Tien. While technically closed to the public, local guards at the gate often let travelers in for a small parking fee of 20,000 VND.
Spend the afternoon exploring the overgrown waterslides and the iconic concrete dragon structure sitting in the middle of the lake.
Off-script suggestion: Climb the rusty spiral staircase inside the dragon's throat for a panoramic view of the surrounding pine forest and the lake below.
Day 4 โ The Ultimate Hue Street Food Crawl
Hue has some of the cheapest and most distinct food in Vietnam (๋ฒ ํธ๋จ / ่ถๅ / ใใใใ ). Start your morning with a bowl of "bun bo hue" (spicy beef noodle soup) at Bun Bo Mu Roi on Nguyen Chi Thanh street for 40,000 VND.
In the afternoon, head to a local stall on Truong Dinh street to try "banh beo" (steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp and pork cracklings) served in small ceramic bowls.
Off-script suggestion: Visit the eastern edge of Dong Ba Market at 6:00 AM. This is when the local fishermen unload fresh river shrimp and clams directly to the market vendors, away from the main tourist stalls.
Photo by Minh Lรช on Pexels
Day 5 โ Ru Cha Mangrove Forest and Thuan An Beach
Rent a semi-automatic scooter for 120,000 VND and ride 15 km down the Perfume River to the Ru Cha mangrove forest. Walk the elevated concrete paths under the canopy of ancient trees. Entry is completely free.
Afterward, continue another 5 km to Thuan An beach to cool off in the ocean.
Off-script suggestion: Skip the expensive seafood restaurants lining the main beach road. Instead, buy boiled crabs and fresh clams directly from the local women walking the sand with metal pots. They will prepare them with chili salt for a third of the restaurant price.
Day 6 โ Salt Coffee and Hidden Temples
Start your day with Hue's famous "ca phe muoi" (salt coffee) at 10 Dien Bien Phu street for 15,000 VND. It is a rich, creamy blend of condensed milk, black coffee, and salted cream.
Spend the afternoon visiting Tu Hieu Pagoda, a quiet temple set in a pine forest where the eunuchs of the imperial court were buried.
Off-script suggestion: Walk to the back of the pagoda grounds to find the ancient cemetery. It is a peaceful, moss-covered site that most tourists miss.
Day 7 โ The Garden Houses of Kim Long
Head west along the river to the historic Kim Long district. Visit the An Hien Garden House (entry 35,000 VND) to see traditional 19th-century wooden architecture surrounded by orchards of pomelo and mangosteen trees.
Off-script suggestion: Find a roadside stall in Kim Long selling "banh uot thit nuong" (steamed rice sheets rolled with grilled pork and fresh herbs) for 25,000 VND a plate. It is a local specialty rarely found in the tourist center.
Photo by Minh Lรช on Pexels
Day 8 โ Day Trip to Bach Ma National Park
Instead of booking an expensive group tour, ride your scooter 40 km south to the entrance of Bach Ma National Park. The entry fee is 60,000 VND. The road to the summit is steep, so make sure your brakes are in good condition.
Off-script suggestion: Skip the crowded summit trail and hike the Five Lakes trail. The path leads down to Lake No. 3, a deep, cold mountain pool where you can swim in complete solitude.
Day 9 โ The Tomb of Khai Dinh and Vong Canh Hill
Use the final portion of your combo ticket to visit the "Tomb of Khai Dinh". This monument is a dramatic blend of European concrete and traditional Vietnamese glass mosaic work built into the side of Chau Chu mountain.
Off-script suggestion: On the way back to town, pack a cheap "banh mi" (pork sandwich) from a street cart and head to Vong Canh Hill. It is the best free sunset spot in Hue, offering a wide view of the pine trees and the winding Perfume River.
Day 10 โ Local Ferries and Farewell
On your final day, skip the expensive dragon boat cruises offered by travel agencies along the riverfront.
Off-script suggestion: Head to the ancient town of Bao Vinh on the northern edge of the city. For just 5,000 VND, you can board the local commuter ferry that crosses the river to the opposite bank, giving you a genuine view of local river life.
Practical notes
To keep transport costs low, rent a semi-automatic scooter rather than relying on ride-hailing apps for long trips to the tombs. Always buy the multi-site combo ticket at your first stop to save up to 30% on entry fees. For the cheapest meals, stick to the local street stalls located north of the Perfume River inside the Citadel walls.
Ultimo aggiornamento ยท May 30, 2026 ยท ricerca indipendente, mai sponsorizzata.
