Hue has long been famous for the quiet, gentle, and serene beauty of the Perfume River, Mount Ngu, tombs, and temples. However, in this poetic land, there are many intriguing destinations for backpackers. If you are looking for a new and exciting way to travel to the ancient capital, let’s take a look at the following destinations.

When is the best time to go backpacking in Hue?

Hue belongs to a transitional climate type from the tropical monsoon to the subtropical monsoon, affected by the monsoon winds. Therefore, Hue does not have all four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, but is divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season.

The rainy season lasts from October to March of the following year, influenced by the northeast monsoon, causing the temperature to drop to 20-22°C, especially at times when the temperature drops to below 15°C, very cold. November is usually the month of storms in Hue. The dry season usually lasts from March to September, with an average temperature ranging from 35-40°C, hot and oppressive weather, making it suitable for beach lovers.

If comparing the two types of weather, the dry season is obviously very favorable for backpacking in Hue. Especially during the periods from March to April and from September to October, which are considered the best times to travel to Hue. At this time, there is less rain, the weather is not too cold like the rainy season and not too hot like the dry season.

Adventure places in Hue.

Hai Van Pass.

Hai Van Pass is located about 80km from the city of Hue, over 500 meters above sea level, spanning 20km across Hue and Da Nang. It is considered one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Vietnam, becoming a desire for many adventurers to conquer at least once in their lives.

The reason why many adventurers want to challenge this pass is that it brings a lot of emotions. The Hai Van Pass road is extremely rugged, with many twists and turns, running along the mountains and standing out amidst the majestic mountain range. Standing on the Hai Van Pass, you can look out into the distance, with one side being the towering mountains and the other side being the vast and stunning blue sea, all creating a magnificent natural picture that will surely overwhelm you.

One of the stops on this pass is the Hai Van Quan. Not only does it have beautiful scenery, but it also has a solemn and historic beauty. From the pass’s peak looking south, you can admire the colorful and glittering city of Da Nang, or the beauty of Son Tra Peninsula and Cu Lao Cham. In the north, you can admire the tranquil Lập An Lagoon and Lang Co Bay.

If you’re looking to explore Hai Van Pass by motorbike, book a motorbike tour from Da Nang to Hai Van Pass right away.

Lap An Lagoon.

Lap An Lagoon is about 60km from the center of Hue, nestled at the foot of the Phu Gia Pass, near National Highway 1A, passing through Lang Co town, Phu Loc district.

Lap An Lagoon possesses the simple and rustic beauty of nature, being surrounded by the majestic Bach Ma mountain range on one side and the sparkling blue waves of Lang Co Bay on the other. If you visit Lap An Lagoon early in the morning, you can enjoy the gentle sunlight that shines through the Bach Ma range, creating a stunning view. At noon, the blazing sun shines on the water, making the lagoon glisten like diamonds, with the boats resting peacefully on the water. When the sky turns towards evening, the sun sets behind the Bach Ma mountain range, casting a red glow on the surface of the lake, creating an incredibly mystical golden orange hue.

During high tide, the local people begin their livelihood activities, with boats weaving in and out, creating a stunning harmony between humans and nature. When the water recedes, white sandy paths appear in the lagoon, creating a “split waterway” with the blue water on both sides, surrounded by majestic mountains.

The trip from Hue to Hoi An by motorbike tour allows you to explore Suoi Voi, Pha Tam Giang, Dam Lap An, Dragon Bridge, and Hai Van Pass

Pha Tam Giang.

Phá Tam Giang is a lagoon system in Thua Thien Hue province, with an area of about 52 km, located about 15 km south of the central city of Hue. This is the convergence of three large rivers, the O Lau River, the Huong River, and the Bo River before flowing into the sea through the Thuan An estuary.

If you have the opportunity to visit Phá Tam Giang, you will be amazed by the vastness of the land and sky here, worthy of being one of the largest lagoons in Southeast Asia. At any moment when you set foot here, the scenery and people are easy to make you emotional and nostalgic. If the morning dawn shines brightly on the sparkling water surface, then the late afternoon is when Phá Tam Giang carries the soul of the Vietnamese countryside, when the weather gradually changes to a grayish purple and the boats outside the lagoon arrive one by one after a hard day’s work on the vast waterways.

In addition, when you go on a Phá Tam Giang adventure, don’t forget to spend time exploring the Ru Cha mangrove forest; visit the simple and rustic Thai Duong Ha fishing village; or experience the floating market to buy and sell seafood; and especially enjoy fresh seafood.

Bach Ma National Park.

Bach Ma National Park is located in the provinces of Phu Loc and Nam Dong, about 40 km from the center of Hue city. This is one of 30 conservation areas for flora and fauna that have been rated as national level, with a height of about 1450m above sea level and a very diverse ecosystem and fauna and flora.

There are two ways to conquer the peak of Bach Ma National Park. If you have enough time and energy, choose trekking. The trekking time, hiking through the forest can last for a day with a distance of 19 km, you should prepare enough food, drinks, necessary equipment, and the most comfortable mindset. Or you can choose a 12-seater jeep to move to the top. A round trip costs 900,000 VND, if you go in a group, you can save costs, but if you go alone, you should arrange to come to Bach Ma early to wait to share the car with other groups.

From the first steps into Bach Ma, you will feel a cool air spreading everywhere. This is the common home of over 55 precious animal species and over 500 plant species, including many rare and precious species of trees.

A Luoi.

To reach A Luoi, you will have to traverse nearly 70 km of the winding Route 49 that connects Hue with this mountainous district, following the twisting mountain passes. Although one of the most beautiful roads in Hue, it is also extremely dangerous, so you need to move carefully and have a steady hand at the wheel to ensure safety throughout the journey.

Among them, the A Co Pass is the first challenge with one side of A Co being a mountain cliff, while the other is a deep abyss and dense forest. Despite the treacherous road, you will be rewarded with the scenic beauty of A Co under the golden morning sun, appearing as a charming colorful natural painting.

Currently, in A Luoi, there are 2 active and publicly accessible tourist villages, among which A Roang village, with the Akachi hamlet, stands out. If you come here for adventure, you will be taken by the local people to explore the surrounding villages, learn about the daily life of the Ta Oi ethnic group with traditional weaving, brocade, and farming activities.

Ho Son Tho

Ho Son Tho is located in Huong Tho commune, a mountainous area at the head of the Huong River, southeast of Huong Tra town, 12 km away from Hue city. This is one of the favorite places of young people in Hue, especially in summer.

As soon as you step into Ho Son Tho, you will be delighted to see a green space that seems endless. It is the green of distant teak tree groves behind the mountain ranges, the green of lush green grass and the green of the flat and calm lake surface. On sunny days, you will see white clouds reflecting on the lake surface.

If you have more time for your trip, you can experience stand-up paddleboarding, overnight camping or BBQ parties on the lake shore. Without too much preparation, just bring some fruits, sweets, drinks, a few grilling tools and a tent, and you can enjoy a great time with your friends.

Tips when traveling to Hue

• It is advisable to keep track of the schedule of festivals in Hue because these events are usually held on the lunar calendar every year, so you need to cross-reference with the Gregorian calendar to arrange your trip accordingly.
• Before deciding to travel to Hue, you should learn some local vocabulary for convenient communication because the pronunciation in Hue is quite difficult to hear, especially the local words.
• If you travel to Hue in the dry season, the weather will be very hot, so you should choose comfortable and simple clothes, prepare sunscreen, sunglasses, and water.
• Hue’s dishes are usually very spicy, so you should consider before eating or ask the seller in advance.
• You should ask for the price before buying, eating, or drinking because similar to some other tourist cities, services in Hue still have a place to “rip off” tourists.

Now, what are you waiting for? Pack your backpack and ride your motorbike to Hue to explore all of these destinations!