Hue is a city where the main visitor draw sits on one side of a river and the streets you will actually spend your evenings on sit on the other. The Perfume River divides the walled Citadel and its imperial enclosure from the southern bank, where the restaurants, travel agents and places to sleep are concentrated.
For a visitor, the practical question is which bank to base yourself on. The southern bank around the Pham Ngu Lao area puts you in the middle of the guesthouse and hotel cluster, within walking distance of the river and a short hop from the Citadel. This guide covers the areas the sources name, who each one suits, and what to expect at each price level.
Best areas to stay in Hue
1. Pham Ngu Lao and its side streets
This is the largest cluster of places to stay in the city, built around the short lane of Pham Ngu Lao and the streets that run off it, including Le Loi, Hung Vuong, Chu Van An and Nguyen Cong Tru. It is a definite tourist magnet, though not as large or as backpacker-oriented as the similarly named area in Ho Chi Minh City. You will find cheap hotels and mid-market hotels here, along with guesthouses tucked into the side streets and alleys.
It suits first-time visitors, budget travellers and anyone who wants to walk out of their door into the thick of things. Walking around the side streets is how you find the cheapest rooms, and prices offered online are sometimes a fair bit higher than what you get by showing up in person. In Pham Ngu Lao itself the same money often only buys a dorm bed, so walking a short distance around the corner is usually worth the effort.
2. The Le Loi and Nguyen Cong Tru lanes
The small, calm side streets off Le Loi and around Nguyen Cong Tru hold quieter guesthouses and hotels while keeping you close to the Pham Ngu Lao cluster. Some sit up alleys off the main road, so you get a quieter night without giving up the location; one alley off Le Loi is described as a backpacker hotel alley with a small sign at its entrance.
This suits travellers who want the convenience of the main cluster but not the noise of the main lane, and couples or small groups who value a balcony and a calm street over a central address. Rooms here are typically budget and lower mid-range, and several places rent bicycles and motorbikes, which matters because the Citadel and the riverfront are a short ride rather than a stroll from some of these lanes.
3. The Perfume River and city centre
The area around the Perfume River and the city centre, including Ngo Quyen and Pham Van Dong, puts you on the southern bank with the river in front of you and the Citadel a short walk away. One hotel here is described as a ten-minute walk to the Hue Citadel, and another sits near the Perfume River with a riverside location.
This suits visitors who want to be near the river and within walking distance of the imperial enclosure, and it works for mid-range travellers and those on a splurge budget. The riverside stretch along Le Loi is also where the city's grand old colonial-era properties sit, within walking distance of the train station. Expect mid-range and upscale places rather than the cheapest guesthouses.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: Guesthouses and small hotels in the Pham Ngu Lao cluster and its side streets and alleys, often with a small TV, a fridge and a proper bathroom, and Wi-Fi widely available. Dorm beds and very cheap doubles are concentrated here, and rates are frequently negotiable.
- Mid-range: Hotels in the same central cluster and along the river, with air conditioning, cable television, minibars and often a restaurant, pool or breakfast included. Some offer train station pickup if you book ahead.
- Splurge: A small number of large, established properties, including riverside colonial-era hotels and a renovated colonial-style hotel within walking distance of the train station, with the largest pool and spa in the city among them.
Best area for a first visit
Base yourself in the Pham Ngu Lao cluster and its surrounding side streets. It is the largest concentration of places to stay in the city, it puts you within walking distance of the river and a short ride from the Citadel, and it covers every budget from dorm beds to mid-market hotels. If you want quiet, choose one of the lanes just off the main street rather than the main lane itself.
Frequently asked questions
Should I book online or find a room when I arrive?
Prices offered online are sometimes a fair bit higher than what you are quoted if you simply show up in person, particularly in the Pham Ngu Lao area where there are more guesthouses than can be listed. Booking ahead is still useful for mid-range and upscale properties, and some of those include train station pickup when you reserve in advance.
Which area is quietest?
The small side streets and alleys off Le Loi and around Nguyen Cong Tru are described as calm and quiet while remaining close to the main cluster. One guesthouse alley off Le Loi is specifically noted for its quiet location, and rooms set back from the main lane are less exposed to street noise.
How close are the main areas to the Citadel?
The city centre area near the Perfume River is around a ten-minute walk from the Hue Citadel. From the Pham Ngu Lao cluster you are on the same southern bank but further from the enclosure, so plan on a short ride or a longer walk.
Is Wi-Fi easy to find?
Yes. Wi-Fi is widely available across the city, as it is in most parts of Vietnam, and it is standard in budget guesthouses as well as mid-range and upscale hotels.
Compare live prices for the area you have chosen using the booking tools on this page.