Many people thought that traveling could be costly, however, this is not the case in Vietnam, where you can have a wonderful time with less than 100 USD. Especially in Hue, despite being a tourist city, Hue is much cheaper in comparison with other tourist destinations like Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh or Ha Noi. If you are traveling on a budget and wanting to save money in Hue, there are a few travel tips including Hue free attractions and transportations in Hue.

AVOID PURCHASING AT HUE TOURIST AREAS

No matter what country you go, the tourist areas are always more expensive than other places in town. However, since they are convenient for tourists, lots of tourists gather her. Therefore, you can not avoid tourist areas since they are parts of the fun, but you can still save a lot of money by not spending much money in these areas.

WHAT ARE THE TOURIST AREAS IN HUE

The tourist areas are places where the majority of travelers gather. They may be the famous attractions or the center of the city which has lots of services for tourists. In Hue, there are three main tourist areas in the city and several places near the famous attractions such as tombs and temples. The biggest tourist area, which is also the most expensive one is the “Western street” which located right in the center of the city. This area is full of hotels, bars, pubs, clothing stores, travel agency and tons of services for foreigners. Therefore, most visitors decided to stay in this area, as it is quite convenient for them.

Some of the most popular street for tourists:

Le Loi Street – Especially near the Truong Tien Bridge and the clubs and bars spot. This street is the brightest, as well as the most expensive street in Hue city, with several luxury hotels, clubs, shops. Most of the product here is more expensive due to its high renting fee.

Pham Ngu Lao Street – You may think this is not a Hue street when walking around this area because there will be more foreigner than local here. The price in the restaurants in Pham Ngu Lao is much higher than in other streets, however, the food is clean as they follow international standard, and there are English speaking waiters.

Chu Van An Street – The street is full of tailor shops, shoe stores, and hotels. The hotel price is average, however, some other services may be quite expensive.

Besides, the area around famous attractions such as the Citadel, tombs, or temples may have a higher price than average. Therefore, if you want to travel on a budget, buying souvenirs in these areas is not necessary.

HOW TO AVOID SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY THERE

It is hard to avoid spending money in these areas since they offer a wide range of services and essential products. However, there are some ways to avoid spending too much and save money in Hue, especially when you are staying in the tourist area

Remember to buy mineral water from the convenient store, not in the restaurant. If you want to have a nice smoothie or grab a slice of pizza, then the restaurants in the Western Street are worth the money due to the high standard. However, for a can coke or just a bottle water, there is no need to pay three times higher, especially when it is just the same.

Buy your souvenirs and essential things in the super market or book store to avoid getting rip off by the vendors. You can try bargaining in the market for a different experience. However, the price will always be higher than in the supermarket.

FIND THE RIGHT TRANSPORTATIONS IN HUE

Transportation might be quite costly if you are new in Vietnam. However, it will be surprisingly cheap once you get a hang of what to use. Therefore, here are some tips to save money in Hue.

TRAVELING TO OTHER CITIES

There are a few tips to help you pay the least when moving to another town and save money in Hue:

Public transport

If you want to go by train, book directly via their official website Vietnam Railways. Booking through an agent website may charge you higher. There are different types of seat and rooms, which are the hard seat, soft seat, bed, with or without the air conditioner. The ticket price for a comfortable trip with soft seat and air conditioner from Hue to Da Nang a is only 180.000 VND (9 USD).

There is an airport in Hue, which is called Phu Bai Airport. This is only a national airport, so if you want to go to Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh, you can book the direct flight from Hue. Many people do not know about this and have to book a flight from Da Nang, which cost them more to travel from Hue to Da Nang Airport.

Travel by sleeping bus or open tour bus may be a mess if you choose the bad company. The Sinh Tourist open bus tour is one of the most reliable ones to book a bus ticket. Even though the price may be a little higher than average, their bus is quite new and their drivers drive safer. Traveling from Hue to Hoi An or Da Nang only cost 200.000 VND (around 10 USD).

Private transportation

If you want to go by train, book directly via their official website Vietnam Railways. Booking through an agent website may charge you higher. There are different types of seat and rooms, which are the hard seat, soft seat, bed, with or without the air conditioner. The ticket price for a comfortable trip with soft seat and air conditioner from Hue to Da Nang a is only 57.000 VND (2.5 USD).

Even though traveling by public transport is usually cheaper, if you travel with a group of friends, booking a private car and divide the cost to the whole group could be quite reasonable. You will have a whole car for yourselves. It is not only comfortable, but you can also have the freedom to visit any landmark on the way. A private car from Hue to Hoi An is around 60 USD, which is quite cheap when dividing to 4 or 5 people.

The route from Hue to Hoi An is one of the most popular routes in Vietnam, which is picturesque and thrilling, especially with the Hai Van Pass. If you want to learn more tips about transportation from Hue to Hoi An, find out in the article: 5 best ways to travel from Hue to Hoi An

ENJOY THE FREE ATTRACTIONS IN HUE

Hue is famous for many ancient historical sites such as the Imperial City, the Tombs, etc. However, the entrance fee is may scare you from visiting many interesting places. Therefore, if you want to save money in Hue and still see many attractions, here are some Hue free attractions.

NEAR THE CITY CENTER

Within walking distance, there are several places that you can visit when you take a stroll around the city. Despite being free, these locations are quite interesting and cultural, since most of them are museums and local buildings which have historical value. Let’s take a look at this list of Hue free attractions to find out what you are looking for.

free attractions in hue

Here are some Hue free attractions:

Quoc Hoc Hue – Century old high school in Hue – the most famous high school in the city, it was built in 1896 by the French and is currently in use, so it is still a well-maintained French colonial-style building now. Ho Chi Minh – the Vietnamese famous president used to go to this school.

Truong Tien Bridge – The famous bridge which was built by Gustave Eiffel, the person who constructed the Eiffel Tower. The area around Truong Tien Bridge is also full of street food and souvenirs, so this will be a fun place to go to.

Ho Chi Minh Museum – If you are interested in the Vietnam War and the life of Ho Chi Minh President, then let’s take a look at the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Located on the Perfume river bank, this will be an interesting experience for any history lovers.

Thien Mu Pagoda – As one of the oldest bridges in Hue as well as in Vietnam, Thien Mu Pagoda will not disappoint you with the amazing view of the river and its high-spiritual atmosphere. In addition, there will be many legends and historical stories related to this ancient pagoda.

OUTSIDE OF HUE CITY

Despite being quite far from the city center, visiting these place would be a good chance for you to get away from the busy city to somewhere more peaceful and quiet, and save money in Hue. Just hire a private car or a bike, or book a motorbike tour in Hue and get going.

free attractions in Hue

Here are some free attractions

Thuan An beach though it’s one of Central Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches, it’s ridiculously undeveloped with just a scattering of shacks in various stages of decline. The recent addition of Beach Bar Hue may start to change the scene, as this shabby chic spot is well on the way to being one of the most popular day trips from Hue – it’s worth heading out of town for if you feel in need of escaping the stifling city heat from May through till September. The owners have hooked up with Hue Backpackers to provide a minibus service from town to beach every morning at 08:00 and another at 11:00, with return runs at around 17:00. The bar comprises a really cool fishing boat bar, beach cabanas and a basic restaurant, plus there are some dorms and a couple of private rooms. Entrance is 100,000 VND, which is fully refundable with food and drink purchases (you might also think of it as a minimum consumption charge).

Thien An Hill and Thuy Tien Lake

Thien An is a complex of many pine-covered hills in the south-west of Hue city, near Khai Dinh tomb.

Thien An monastery is located at the top of the hill. Around the hill, there are Thuy Tien lake and the ancient Ba Vanh tomb, where the trace of an old event remains. With quiet scenery and pure atmosphere, Thien An hill and Thuy Tien lake prove to be interesting place for relaxation on the weekend. A plan to create a large recreation site establishment in the near future has been initiated.

Thien Mu Pagoda – As one of the oldest bridges in Hue as well as in Vietnam, Thien Mu Pagoda will not disappoint you with the amazing view of the river and its high-spiritual atmosphere. In addition, there will be many legends and historical stories related to this ancient pagoda.

Truong Tien Bridge – The famous bridge which was built by Gustave Eiffel, the person who constructed the Eiffel Tower. The area around Truong Tien Bridge is also full of street food and souvenirs, so this will be a fun place to go to.

Dong Ba Market is the biggest commercial center of Thua Thien – Hue province and the adjacent regions

Location and history

Dong Ba is the biggest commercial center of Thua Thien Hue Province and the adjacent regions. It stands along the north bank of Huong River, on Tran Hung Dao Street of Hue City and stretches from Trang Tien Bridge to Gia Hoi Bridge.

Before the opening of Dong Ba Market, there was a grand market named Qui Gia Thi outside of Chanh Dong Gate in the reign of King Gia Long. The name Qui Gia Thi referred to the return of Nguyen Dynasty to Phu Xuan (Hue nowadays). In the summer of 1885, the capital city was attacked and Qui Gia Thi Market was burned to ashes. Not until 1887 did King Dong Khanh rebuild the market and rename it as Dong Ba Market. Since then, the market has functioned as the main resource of food for the palaces, hospitals, army camps and dormitories of the national universities such as Quoc Hoc, Dong Khanh, Binh Linh, Thien Huu, etc. in 1899, during the Western-style reconstruction project of King Thanh Thai, the market was moved to the nowadays position. Even though Dong Ba Market has undergone several projects since the beginning of the 20th century, nowadays, it still embraces many old features.

If you want some natural attractions, check out our articles about Bach Ma Mountain and Hue beaches for more choices.