THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!
A Double Dose of Beauty
- Address: Lang Co beach Hai Van Pass
Lang Co beach stands out from other Hue attractions due to its outstanding natural position. This is one of the destinations that you shouldn’t skip. Stretching for about 8 km, this pristine beach is suitable for diving, swimming and relaxing. The underwater habitat of the beach is diverse, with coral, lobsters, and a lot of valuable fish.
Hai Van Pass is a mountain road which connects Hue to Danang, taking you around the coastline of Lang Co. The views are spectacular, and this is a route that is incredibly popular with people traveling by motorbike. Parking at the highest peak of the pass to take in the view of Lang Co beach on one side, and the Da Nang city scape on the other, will form a picture perfect memory of your time in Vietnam.
Lagoon Lovin’!
- Address: Lap An lagoon – Nguyễn Văn, Lăng Cô
Lap An lagoon, located near Phu Gia Bridge of Lang Co Town, is a large area with a road that curves around the lagoon like a soft band of silk. The clean blue water reflects mountains, clouds, and the sky, making it a popular destination for photographers and explorers. As local people say, coming to Hue without a visit to Lap An lagoon, your trip is incomplete.
Lap An lagoon is notable for its sea cucumbers, a type of echinoderm like starfish and sea urchins, that are rich in protein and extremely good for your health. If you want to observe sea cucumbers first hand, all the while grasping the splendour of nature, look no further than Lap An lagoon.
A LITTLE BIT OF NATURE
Enchanting Forest
- Address: Ru Cha mangrove forest – Hương Phong, Hương Trà
This primeval mangrove forest is about 15 km from the centre of Hue. It belongs to Thuan Hoa village with an area of about 5 hectares. With its unique landscape, it is a must visit place for tourists when coming to Hue.
You will explore the uncanny Ru Cha in either a boat or a fishing ship. Throughout the excursion, there will be splendid views and a plethora of birds. Deep inside Ru Cha is a statue of a ship which is the shrine of the Sea God. Local fishermen go here before every long trip to the sea to pray for good luck and calm water.
Cool Off!
- Address: Khe Lanh waterfall – Bình Điền Hydropower, Bình Điền, Hương Trà
This is a small waterfall with fresh and cool water all round year. Located in Binh Dien town, it is around 1 hour from the centre of Hue by car.
Once you get inside the main gate, continue driving to the boat station for another 5 km. Board the boat and it will take around 45 minutes to come to Khe Lanh waterfall. It is not a huge waterfall but the water is perfectly blue. The cascade is beautiful and charming. Some local people also call this ‘Heaven Well’ because it appears as if the waterfall begins falling down from the sky.
PARKS & OUTDOORS
A Natural Haven
- Address: Bach Ma National Park – Phú Lộc
Located in the Annamite Mountains, Bach Ma National Park is a lush and verdant place, situated in one of the wettest regions in the country. With 2147 types of plants, 1493 species of animals, dense forests, and magnificent waterfalls, Bach Ma really gives you a glimpse of the majesty of nature, so you cannot miss setting foot here when in Hue.
From the pinnacle of Bach Ma, 1500m high, you’ll have access to a breathtaking view of Hue. Moreover, there are a lot of lakes and waterfalls to cool off in during the heat of the summer. The most famous one is Ba Be lake, one of many marvelous natural attractions in Bach Ma National Park. The emerald water is cool and crystal clear, so much so that you can even see the moss on the stones at the bottom of the lake.
Make a Splash
- Address: Elephant Springs – Xã Lộc Tiến, huyện Phú Lộc
Elephant Springs, 53 km from Hue, is an excellent natural spring which is well worth a visit. Particularly, on a hot day, you can splash around in the natural pool below a small waterfall. There are a lot of spots upstream to discover. With some imagination, you can find a boulder which looks like an elephant head, which gives these springs their name. The place is rather deserted during the week and during the off-season. For those looking to relax and enjoy some privacy, it’s a great choice. Be sure to take some snacks and drinks as the food stalls here are only open on peak days.
LET’S GET CULTURAL
Imperial City – Discover the Secrets.
- Address: Complex of Hue Monuments – MAP / LINK
This complex of royal buildings represents the power and splendour of the Nguyen Dynasty. Contained in this site are the Hue Capital Citadel, the Imperial City and the Forbidden Citadel, put together symmetrically and south-facing.
In the distance, to the west of the Citadel along the Perfume River, are the famous royal tombs and temples. These are masterpieces of architecture built by the Nguyen Dynasty. Each royal tomb aimed at creating a living space for royal pleasure before becoming an eternal resting place after the King’s death. This resulted in the architecture of these royal tombs being distinguished by unique characteristics. There is so much to see and discover, you could spend a whole day exploring this complex and still not have seen everything.
Steeped in History
- Address: Thien Mu Pagoda
Thien Mu Pagoda is the most famous pagoda in Hue. The 21m high octagonal tower was constructed in 1844 under the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri. It features golden images of Buddha at the base, along with a big bell cast in 1710, and a stone turtle holding a marble stele inscribed in the 17th century. This pagoda is also famous for being the monastery of the Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc who in 1969 travelled to Saigon and burned himself to death at a busy downtown junction to protest against the government.
Find Your Zen
- Address: Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery – Lộc Điền, Phú Lộc
About 40 km South from the centre of Hue, you will find Truc Lam Bach Ma Monastery. Gorgeously situated, it protrudes beyond the peaceful Truoi Lake into the expanse the mountains. Whether you have a heart for religion or not, a trip here is always worth it thanks to its ethereal surroundings.
To access the monastery, firstly you have to climb up 173 stairs. In Buddhist theory, one of the ways to see Buddha or to achieve Zen is to clear the mind. Climbing up the stairs while keeping count of the number of steps and breaths can actually free your mind from worries. In addition, the view from the top is stunning.
DON’T BE LAZY
Challenge Yourself!
- Address: Bach Ma National Park – Phú Lộc
Whether you want to climb the whole mountain is another thing, but the hiking trails here are great and take you through interesting forests, tropical as well as subtropical. One of the most spectacular sights is the five tiered 300m waterfall.
There is plenty of life in the forest as mentioned earlier, though it is questionable whether there are still tigers and leopards, the former of course being seriously endangered. There are several species of monkey, the most common being the languor. Only recently the muntjac or barking deer, a very small species, has been discovered, and the Park is home to the Saola, one of the world’s rarest mammals.
Adventure Time
- Address: Thanh Tan Alba Hot Spring Resort – Phong Son, Phong Dien
In the beautiful natural landscape of Thanh Tan mineral hot spring, you can enjoy some adventure sports such as Zipline and Highwire. Highwire is an outdoor activity that is composed of several wood panels mounted on cables tied to trees or concrete pillars. Players must concentrate to overcome the obstacles, such as climbing a net ladder, walking across boards, wood bridges, or only a rope! The biggest challenge for participants is the height and the tricky obstacles that sometimes make them lose their balance.
Think you are up for the challenge? Come here and try it out. While Highwire challenges you to keep your balance, zipline forces participants to overcome their fear of heights. This activity originated as a way of moving in the mountains, where it is difficult to build roads.