Hue

Where to stay

Most budget hostels cluster on the south bank of the Perfume River along Hung Vuong and Chu Van An streets, a five-minute walk from the Truong Tien Bridge. A handful of cheaper guesthouses sit on the north bank near Dang Thai Than street, closer to the Imperial City gates but further from the main eating options.

Getting around

• Rent a bicycle from your hostel for a few dollars a day and ride out to the royal tombs (Tu Duc, Minh Mang) on your own. Organized tours to the same sites cost three to four times as much.
• Bun bo Hue, the city's spicy beef noodle soup, runs cheaply at the stalls around Dong Ba market on Tran Hung Dao street. The same bowl costs twice that at restaurants near the citadel entrance.
• The Imperial City (Dai Noi) now sells a combo ticket covering the citadel plus the royal tombs. Buy it instead of separate tickets, and go first thing in the morning before the tour buses arrive.

When to go

Hostels are easiest to book and cheapest from May through August when the heat keeps crowds thin. Availability tightens and prices rise from late January through April, especially around Tet and around the Hue Festival, which now runs every year in spring.