7 Amazing Day Trips From Hue, Vietnam

Famous for its ancient architecture, poetic scenery, and iconic pagodas, Hue is the kind of place where you’ll want to spend a few days exploring. It’s also a great base to visit the surroundings. Here are my favorite day trips from Hue with excellent tips.

Phong Nha national park

Phong Nha national park is one of my favorite day trips from Hue. This place is home to hundreds of large and small caves, meandering rivers, and majestic mountains. 

Walking inside Phong Nha cave, you’ll see beautiful stones and impressive underground lakes. Don’t forget to bring a jacket when going there as it’s a tad bit cold. Also, don’t miss Paradise cave, a dry cave with stalagmites and stalactites illuminated by colorful lights. 

Tips: You can join a day tour from Hue to either Phong Nha cave or Paradise cave. The tour includes transportation, lunch, and a tour guide, so you’ll have an expert leading the way.

Dark cave is another adventurous experience. Having no artificial lighting installed, you’ll have to squish through the muddy path using only your head torch to illuminate. You then walk back out to the entrance and try kayaking on the Chay River. Zipline is my favorite game here, in which you can slide the zipline and plunge into freshwater.

Vinh Moc tunnels, Quang Tri

Vinh Moc tunnels are the miniaturized image of a deep underground village. On the way to Vinh Moc as a part of the DMZ tour from Hue, you can admire the beauty of nature and many coffee farms. 

Made of clay, the tunnel can be a bit slippery, so be careful! When going deep under the ground, you’ll see a museum that provides insight into local lives during the Vietnam war. You also can take pictures or film your adventure into the ground. 

In addition to Vinh Moc tunnels, the DMZ tour will also take you to Khe Sanh Combat Base, the outpost of the United States Marine Corps.

If you travel by bike, you can stop by Con Co island off the coast from Vinh Moc. It’s an important point of the Ho Chi Minh trail on the sea as most supplies were moved to the island via the tunnels. 

Bach Ma national park

For those who love trekking and hiking, don’t miss your trip to Bach Ma Mountain. 

Bach Ma national park is charming with streams, lakes, and waterfalls and is a natural habitat for many rare creatures. Important species like the Asian elephant, white-cheeked gibbon, and red-shanked douc langur reside in this park. 

To admire the shimmering beauty of Rhododendron Falls (Do Quyen Falls in Vietnamese), you must walk past Five Lakes, where you can stop for lunch and bathing. Don’t miss Hai Vong Dai Peak, the highest point in Bach Ma National Park, where you can view Lang Co Bay, Truoi Lake, and the mountain range hidden in the clouds.

Also, stop by Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery! While taking a boat to Truc Lam Monastery, you can see the majestic sight of the Shakyamuni Buddha statue sitting in a meditating posture. 

If you love hiking or trekking, I highly recommend joining the Bach Ma trekking day tour. Challenge yourself with the trails of Bach Ma National Park and enjoy the great outdoors!

Hoi An

Designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, Hoi An is an amazing day trip from Hue. Wandering around the city, you can visit museums, stunning beaches, and peaceful temples while enjoying delicious local food.

For a hassle-free experience, you can sign up for a day tour from Hue to Hoi An.

An Bang beach is a popular option for soaking up the sun and enjoying plenty of seaside activities. Along the coastline, you can find heaps of seafood restaurants, hippy bars, and beachfront resorts. 

After treating yourself to An Bang beach, My Son Sanctuary is a must-visit place, taking you closer to architecture and ancient civilizations. 

At night, hang around Hoi An market to see glowing lanterns and photograph the majestic Japanese Bridge. Nightlife in Hoi An is pretty awesome!

Tam Giang lagoon

Tam Giang lagoon is a fantastic place for those who want to have a taste of the local village life in Hue. It’s framed by the mountains on the west and a strip of land separating it from the ocean. 

Start your day earlier by watching the breathtaking sunset and visiting the fish market. As the lagoon water is shallow, you can walk to the boats nearby, which come in with the fresh catch of the day. 

While walking around, you’ll see prawns swimming in the water and clams hidden in the sand under your feet. You can even go to the boats and try negotiating to get seafood for lunch. I love watching the fishermen pulling their small boats and washing their nets. 

Lang Co beach

Located at the foot of the famous Hai Van pass, Lang Co beach is an excellent stop near Hue Imperial City. It’s an enthralling beach with palm-shaped soft white sand, a crystal-clear turquoise lagoon on one side, and a long beachfront on the other. The background of majestic green mountains adds to a stunning beach view. 

With beautiful natural coastal landscapes, nothing beats relaxing or renting a boat to go around, including a trip to Son Cha Island. There’s a local market in the middle of the village selling fresh seafood. 

While driving over the Hai Van pass, stop at Elephant Spring to explore small waterfalls and ponds. 

Lap An lagoon

Surrounded by the beautiful Bach Ma Mountain range and Lang Co Bay, Lap An lagoon is one of the remarkable natural landscapes in Hue. I fall in love with the mixture between beautiful sky clouds and the greenery of the mountains.

In addition to poetic nature, Lap An lagoon is home to many aquatic animals like oysters. Spending a day roaming around fishing villages, you can find yourself close to the daily living of local people.

Also, don’t miss out on seeing how people spread the net to catch fish in the immense lagoon, pick scallops hidden in the sand, or see the oysters.