Even though it is only 24 hours, every moment in the ancient capital is enough to soothe the souls that are busy with the pace of modern life. So, if you only have one day, what will you do to fully experience the “soul of Hue”?
Morning: A gentle start with Hue flavors
Hue morning is as gentle as classical music, starting with a bowl of steaming Hue beef noodle soup. The aroma of rich broth from stewed bones, the spicy taste of chili satay, and the sweetness of beef and pork leg make diners exclaim. A small restaurant on Phan Chu Trinh street, simple but always crowded, is the ideal place for tourists to start their journey to explore Hue.
Coming to Hue, you cannot miss the famous delicious Hue beef noodle soup.
After breakfast, head to Muoi Coffee on Dang Thai Than Street. A cup of coffee is not just a drink but also an emotional experience, where the bitterness of coffee blends with a bit of salty salt and the sweetness of ice cream, just like the tranquility of Hue. Enjoying coffee in a peaceful space, next to moss-covered walls, you will feel like time has stopped.
Salt coffee in Hue has a very different flavor compared to other places.
Don’t rush, take some time to stroll around the streets of Hue in the early morning. The first rays of sunlight shining through the old royal poinciana trees on Le Loi Street, the slow tapping of the street vendors, all like a slow-motion film, bring you into a rare state of serenity.
Lunch: Immerse yourself in heritage and cuisine
At noon, Hue puts on a brilliant coat of Central Vietnam sunshine. This is a great time to enjoy banh beo, banh nam, banh loc - dishes that bear the mark of Hue. Each cake is wrapped in banana leaves, with a flavorful shrimp and meat filling, dipped in a delicate fish sauce, as if containing the rustic countryside love.
Simple cakes carry the quintessence of Hue cuisine
The journey continues with a visit to the Imperial City of Hue, the heart of the ancient capital's heritage. Along the paved roads leading to the palace, visitors seem to hear the echoes of history, of the golden days of the Nguyen Dynasty. Moss-covered tiled roofs, ornate decorative motifs on pillars, and the peaceful scenery in the Royal Garden create a poetic space.
Take time to wander around and find the golden age of a dynasty at the Imperial City
When the heat subsides, visit Bao Vinh market, a small but attractive market. Not only a place to buy and sell, Bao Vinh market is also a place where visitors can clearly feel the daily life of Hue people, with stalls selling handicrafts and rustic gifts.
Visit Bao Vinh market, immerse yourself in the slow, ancient pace of life in the old town
Evening: Let your soul wander with romantic footsteps
In the evening, Hue offers a unique culinary experience with Hue pressed cakes. The thin, crispy, hot cakes, served with raw vegetables and sweet and sour fish sauce, are a familiar yet sophisticated street food.
A unique and delicious pressed cake dish worth trying
After dinner, visitors should definitely try Hue sweet soup, a typical dessert with a rare variety. From green bean sweet soup, sweet potato sweet soup, sweet corn sweet soup to the unique tapioca pearls sweet soup with roasted pork, each type of sweet soup is a highlight in the culinary picture of the ancient capital.
Roasted pork sweet soup - a dessert "for the king"
To end the day, take some time to stroll on the ironwood bridge along the Perfume River. The bridge is like a soft silk strip across the water, sparkling with colorful lights. In that space, visitors will hear the chattering laughter of groups of young people, the sound of guitars ringing in the distance, blending with the sound of waves quietly under the bridge.
Walking on the ironwood bridge, looking at Truong Tien bridge and the peaceful Perfume river
Join the vibrant nightlife of Hue's youth
A day in Hue is not only a geographical journey, but also a journey deep into the soul. Every street corner, every dish, every person is like a musical note, blending into a gentle symphony, making anyone who has ever set foot there carry with them an unforgettable nostalgia. Time may pass, but the emotions left from 24 hours in Hue will forever be a beautiful memory in the heart of the traveler.
