Where to stay in Hue in Central Vietnam is easy: foodies will want to stay in the centre of Hue city for the street food, markets, restaurants, and cooking classes; if you’re in Hue for history and culture then lodgings near the citadel, on the riverside or in the hills around Hue make a great base for exploring the UNESCO listed imperial city and tombs; while the beach resorts in Hue province are located on some of Vietnam’s most beautiful stretches of sand and close enough for a day trip into Hue.
It seems like everyone’s off to Vietnam. But while Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, Hoi An, and Saigon seem to be on most people’s itineraries, we’ve met few travellers heading to Dalat, Danang, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Hue, some of our favourite places in Vietnam. We’re going to try to change that: over coming weeks, we’ll be sharing itineraries and guides to those Vietnam destinations, beginning with a guide to where to stay in Hue and a one day in Hue itinerary.
Hue is often tagged onto a Hoi An trip or completely overlooked. Yet the former imperial capital on the banks of the Perfume River is one of Asia’s loveliest riverside cities, has a unique cuisine and fantastic street food, and boasts loads of UNESCO listed monuments in Hue and the surrounding forested hills. There are easily enough things to do in Hue to fill a few days’ stay. And Hue has some of Vietnam’s most affordable accommodation in every category, style and budget.
A warning: Hue is a place that grows on you the more time you spend there. Before moving to Cambodia, we lived in Vietnam, in Hanoi (on Food Street!) and Hoi An (on the mesmerising riverside), and have returned many times over the years for story assignments, eating trips, and to host culinary tours. We spent time in Hue on our first Vietnam trip, but it’s been over repeat visits that our affection has grown for the relaxed city with its leafy promenades and illuminated bridges.
Now before we share our tips for where to stay in Hue in Central Vietnam, we have a favour to ask. Grantourismo is reader-supported. If you find our advice helpful, please consider supporting the site by using our links to buy travel insurance; or book flights, transfers or accommodation on Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Wotif, ebookers, CheapOair, or Kiwi.com; book transfers, activities or tours on Get Your Guide; buy bus and train tickets on 12Go; or book a cooking class or meal with locals on EatWith. We may earn a small commission, but you won’t pay extra.
Where to Stay in Hue, Vietnam – Best Hue Hotels, Resorts and Homestays
These are our recommendations for where to stay in Hue in Central Vietnam, from the best hotels in Hue – from chic boutique hotels to charming budget homestays in Hue city – to a relaxing retreat in the surrounding hills, just 10-15 minutes into the centre, and luxurious beach resorts on the stunning coast in Hue province, an easy day trip away.
Our picks of the best accommodation in Hue is by no means an exhaustive guide; in fact, it’s a very selective list of lodgings that we’ve tried and tested, and if we haven’t stayed we’ve inspected the properties. We’ve got something for every budget, from luxury lodgings in the hundreds of dollars (Ancient Huế Garden Houses) to super affordable homestays that can go for as little as US$20/A$28 (Lavande Hue Homestay).
Best Hotels in Hue
Our picks of the best hotels in Hue city include something for every budget, everything from an atmospheric Art Deco 5-star boutique hotel on the riverside to stylish mid-range hotels in the city centre.
Azerai La Residence Hotel Hue
The splendid Azerai La Residence Hotel Hue is one of our top picks of where to stay in Hue. It’s one of our favourite hotels in Southeast Asia, not just in Vietnam, and one of the best luxury boutique hotels in Central Vietnam. Slap-bang on the banks of the Perfume River, overlooking Hue’s UNESCO World Heritage listed Citadel and Imperial City, the Azerai’s location on Le Loi Street is perfect for walking to loads of places when the weather allows.
After location and centrality, we look to history and charm when choosing hotels, and the Azerai La Residence has loads of both in spades: built as a residence for the French Colonial Governor in 1930, heyday of the Art Deco movement, the architecture has the hallmarks of the 1920s Streamline Moderne style with a handsome bowed façade, strong lines, and nautical touches, fitting considering the location.
We were doing stories on Vietnam on our first visit to Hue way back in 2012, and the luxurious La Residence was where we stayed, just seven years after the building’s first meticulous restoration, evident in the period details, from intricate iron doors to retro furniture, vintage lamps, and terrazzo floors.
Spread across two wings, the 122 rooms and suites are super-spacious and comfortable, with polished hardwood floorboards, curved Art Deco furniture, silk-covered cushions, and black and white photographs of old Hue on the walls. There are all the amenities you expect of a luxury hotel, from cotton robes to coffee machines.
The Superior River View rooms have small balconies, although the Deluxe River views are larger and have spacious sun terraces with even better views. If budget allows, however, the pick of the rooms with terraces and views are the Perfume River Suite (in the newer wing), and, even bigger, the Resident Suite, which occupies the entire top floor of the original Art Deco mansion, and is furnished in authentic Art Deco antiques rather than period-style replicas.
If you’re a lover of antiques and prefer settling into heritage lodgings, and don’t care whether you have a balcony or views, then book any of the rooms in the original governor’s mansions, such as one of the Deluxe Colonial rooms, some with four-poster beds and claw-foot tubs. Although note that each room is decorated differently, with city or garden views.
The Colonial Suite is special, with a curved wrap-around balcony with views of the whole property, gardens, pool, and river, while the Monument d’Egypt Suite has more colonial touches, including a four-poster bed, original Art Deco lights, wooden shutters on the windows, and garden and river views.
Having said all that, the public spaces are so beautiful, I think we spent more time on the stools at the bar, sipping martinis and playing billiards, and dining on the restaurant terrace with river views, which also overlooks the stunning 30 metre saltwater swimming pool.
You can play tennis or pétanque and staff can arrange picnic lunches in the pine forest of Thien An Hill, a Hue Cooking Class that begins with a cyclo ride to Ben Ngu market to buy fresh produce, and sunset champagne cruises on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Azerai La Residence Hotel, 5 Le Loi Street, Hue, Vietnam. Book Azerai La Residence Hotel Hue with our booking partner.
Ancient Huế Garden Houses
The enchanting Ancient Huế Garden Houses is another of our top recommendations for where to stay in Hue if you like the idea of stepping back in time and settling into atmospheric heritage accommodation that oozes history and charm. One of the real delights of spending time in Huế is getting to visit the ancient wooden houses with their wonderful gardens, some now home to restaurants and cooking schools; here, you actually get to sleep in one.
Located on the other side of the Perfume River, in the quiet, leafy, historic Kim Long neighbourhood away from the bustle of busy downtown Hue, these are lodgings like no other. Indeed, if you’re a lover of history and culture, don’t even think about staying anywhere other than historic Kim Long village and checking into the Ancient Huế Garden Houses.
From the exquisite property, it’s just a leisurely half hour’s stroll to the Citadel and Imperial City. Or a 10-minute drive if weather allows, if you’re not yet accustomed to Southeast Asia’s sultry heat, or you can’t face crossing busy Lê Duẩn road, which has its challenges. But there’s also plenty of atmosphere to soak up in the neighbourhood.
Rich in history, Kim Long village was described by French missionary Alexandre de Rhodes in the mid-1600s as being full of life, with beautiful homes, vibrant streets, and riverside markets – and this was well before the Nguyễn Lords established their imperial capital in Huế in 1687. Remnants of that history still lie behind many high walls.
Located just outside the citadel walls, the village was home to royal families and high-ranking officials, and there are still many grand homes and family shrines in the neighbourhood. Current residents of Kim Long call it “the living soul of old Huế”, with those tracing their ancestry to noble families still living a very refined everyday life, imbued with culture and rituals.
Ancient Huế Garden Houses is a remnant of that time, with its ornate garden developed according to feng shui principles and painstakingly-restored wooden Garden Houses. There are five to choose from, all exquisitely decorated with intricately carved screens, mural-covered walls, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, traditional music instruments, silk textiles, and red-lacquered chests, and terraces overlooking the gardens and pool.
If the hardwood Garden Houses are too dark for you, there are four French Villas decorated in a colonial style with spacious light-filled rooms with pretty decorative floor tiles, colourful floral-patterned wallpapered feature walls, antique telephones and lamps, vibrant art work on the walls, plush cushions, carpets and drapes, and balconies that overlook another stunning swimming pool. My pick is the Marguerite Duras with green shutters and French doors.
I’d happily stay at the Ancient Hue Garden Houses if there were no other facilities, so it’s a bonus that the food is also a big draw. In fact, we dined here (twice) over the years without even realising there was accommodation! Even if you don’t stay, do the same. We’ll share more about the divine food here in our guide to eating in Hue. Ancient Huế Garden Houses, Kiệt 104 Kim Long 47, Huế, Vietnam Book Ancient Huế Garden Houses with our booking partner.
Alba Spa Hotel
The only high-rise hotel I’ve included in our suggestions for where to stay in Hue, the Alba Spa Hotel in downtown Hue, has lots of character for a modern mid-range hotel and a bit of an eco-vibe going on. There’s a striking bamboo-lined lobby, potted tropical plants, and a small but lush spa with vertical garden and plunge pool, and arty design touches such as illustrated murals on doors.
The light-filled rooms are spacious, clean and minimalist with all the amenities you need but, best of all, there are balconies with gob-smacking views over Hue, which are an absolute bargain out of high season. If you love a great view as much as we do, when you make a booking for Alba Spa Hotel, make sure to add a note that you’d love a room on a high floor with views over Hue.
Alba Spa Hotel is also in an excellent location, a few blocks from the Perfume River and heart of Hue’s downtown, with a few of Hue’s best eating spots a short stroll away, including one of our favourite eateries, just around the corner: popular with locals and tourists alike, especially Vietnamese tourists, Quan Hanh is a fantastic place to try Hue’s local specialties. Alba Spa Hotel, Huế, Vietnam. Book Alba Spa Hotel Hue with our booking partner.
Best Resorts in Hue
Our picks of the best resorts in Hue include a tranquil retreat in the forested hills surrounding Hue to a serene beach resort on a stunning stretch of sand.
The Pilgrimage Village Resort and Spa
Located in a peaceful village on the outskirts of Hue, just a 15 minute drive to the Perfume River and Hue’s city centre, Hue’s Pilgrimage Village Resort and Spa is another of our top recommendations for where to stay in Hue. Set within lush gardens and surrounded by forest, the beautiful lodgings feature spacious brick bungalows, villas and rooms with four-poster beds, pretty tiled and slate floors, and balconies or terraces, many with private plunge pools.
The beautiful family-owned resort is in a fantastic location for forays into the forested hills surrounding Hue to visit the mosaic-covered tombs of Khai Dinh, Tu Duc and Minh Mang, monasteries and villages, and has two big gorgeous swimming pools to cool off after those sweaty excursions. (That’s the main pool in the image at the top of this post).
If you’re being picked up and dropped off by drivers and guides, you won’t notice the distance into town. The resort also offers a complimentary shuttle bus into Hue, can easily book taxis for you, there are shops right across the road, and the on-site restaurants and bars are excellent.
The Pilgrimage Village Resort and Spa is a great choice if you’re well into your trip and want to go slow in Hue. Or if we’ve persuaded you to settle into Hue for a while and you want to start or end a city stay with a couple of days in the hills. Pilgrimage Village Resort and Spa, 130 Minh Mạng, Thủy Xuân, Huế, Vietnam. Book The Pilgrimage Village Resort and Spa Hue with our booking partner.
Senna Hue Hotel
If you love the look of the Pilgrimage Village Resort’s stunning swimming pool, above, but you really want to be in the centre of Hue city, within walking distance of everywhere, then our next suggestion for where to stay in Hue is the Senna Hue Hotel, with a good-sized pool and garden in a large courtyard in the centre of the hotel.
The location of the Senna Hue Hotel is also hard to beat. It’s just a couple of blocks from the Perfume River, in the same neighbourhood as the Alba Spa Hotel and Lavande Hue Homestay, below, with plenty of coffee shops, banh mi spots, and craft beer bars in surrounding streets, including a Cộng Caphe, one of Vietnam’s popular retro-styled cafe chains.
For a big boxy hotel that can feel a bit like a business hotel in some of the public spaces, the Senna Hue Hotel has subtle touches of style that set it apart from characterless corporate lodgings: from the lotus leaf fans and mid-century modernist-inspired wooden furniture (so ubiquitous in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, which we nevertheless love) to the vintage-style round hanging mirrors in some rooms.
Make sure to book a balcony room with pool view, and while it’s easy to trade breakfast in for all the fantastic street food in the vicinity, do linger over a leisurely breakfast overlooking the lush garden at least once during your stay. The buffet breakfast is very generous, and a great option for families looking to fill up energetic kids. Senna Hue Hotel, 7 Nguyễn Tri Phương, Phường Phú Hội, Huế, Vietnam Book Senna Hue Hotel with our booking partner.
Best Homestays in Hue
Our recommendations for the best homestays in Hue include charming no-frills family-owned properties with personable service in some of the best locations in Hue.
Lavande Hue Homestay
The 3-star Lavande Hue Homestay is a brilliant option if you’re travelling on a budget, prefer not to spend a lot of money on lodgings, and appreciate a warm welcome and personable service, like someone to help carry your bags upstairs, book transport and tours, and provide local tips.
In the same neighbourhood as the Alba Spa Hotel and Senna Hue Hotel, there are lots of cafes, restaurants and bars within walking distance and the riverside is just a the compact rooms are clean and comfortable with big windows and balconies, some with stylish modernist furniture. Every room has air-conditioning, free wi-fi, private bathroom, a table and chairs, and desk (important for people like us).
This is the kind of the affordable accommodation we’ve long checked into in Southeast Asia if we’re on guidebook or story assignments and can’t find a decent apartment rental that fits our requirements, we’re going to be out and about most of the time so we’re not in write-up mode, and don’t need a kitchen. Huế, Vietnam. Book Lavande Hue Homestay with our booking partner.
Best Beach Resorts in Hue Province
These are our top picks of where to stay in Hue Province in Central Vietnam if you like the idea of some R&R at a luxurious beach resort on a stunning stretch of sand at the start or end of your time in Hue city, or you’re happy to visit Hue on day trips.
Banyan Tree Lang Co
One of our top picks of Central Vietnam luxury beach resorts, the Banyan Tree Lang Co Resort is around 1.5 hours by car from Hue. The resort offers daily shuttle buses to Hue, as well as Hoi An, as well as complimentary airport shuttles: Hue airport is 44kms away and Danang airport is 60kms.
Overlooking a crescent-shaped stretch of the stunning 3 kilometre-long Lang Co beach and the East Sea, the luxurious Banyan Tree Lang Co resort is our pick of where to stay in Hue province if your main aim is to relax with a good book and take walks along the beach, and punctuate that R&R with day trips into Hue city.
While the resort is almost equidistant from Central Vietnam’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the imperial city of Hue, atmospheric Hoi An, and the Cham ruins of My Son – there’s so much at the property to tempt you just to stay put. There’s an award-winning spa, for which the Banyan Tree resorts are famous, and a Sir Nick Faldo-designed golf course that meanders through rice paddies and streams.
The lovely villas have private terraces with sun-loungers and pools; book one on the ocean-side so you can stroll straight down to the sand. Activities include cooking classes to learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls and Bun Bo Hue and the chance to discover Lang Co’s lagoons and mangroves in a traditional basket boat.
The beachside Italian restaurant, Azura, is a brilliant spot for sundowners, while the brand’s signature restaurant Saffron will satisfy Thai food cravings. The only quibble we had was that there wasn’t a Vietnamese restaurant when we stayed, although the all-day diner, the Water Court, served Vietnamese dishes. But that’s a good excuse to get to Hue. Banyan Tree Lang Co Resort, Cu Du Village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc District, Huế Province, Vietnam. Book the Banyan Tree Lang Co with our booking partner.
Have you been to Hue and Central Vietnam? When it comes to where to stay in Hue, do you have a favourite hotel? Feel free to share your tips in the comments below.
