Hue, the ancient capital, always has a strange attraction for those who want to find ancient beauty and peace. 24 hours in Hue is not long but enough for you to feel the slow pace of life, admire the unique architectural heritage and fully enjoy the typical culinary flavors of the Central region.
24 hours in Hue is not long but enough for you to feel the slow pace of life
6am - Dawn on the Perfume River
Along the Perfume River, the sound of oars, the sound of engines from boats going back and forth and a few old people walking early make the city appear both familiar and strange. Dawn on the banks of the Perfume River is like a silk strip embracing Azerai La Residence Hue, from the Superior Garden View room looking out with a green garden space with golden sunlight covering the entire space, highlighting the sophistication of the design here, the intersection between classic French beauty and passionate Vietnamese soul.
Start your day with gentle, relaxing yoga exercises specially prepared by Azerai La Residence Hue for beginners, to regain balance, reconnect with nature and connect with like-minded souls.
Dawn on the banks of the Perfume River is like a silk strip embracing Azerai La Residence Hue
8am - A slice of history in the contemporary world
Leaving the riverbank when the sun has just risen, visit the Imperial Citadel – the seat of power of the Nguyen Dynasty for more than a century. Through the Ngo Mon Gate, the moss-covered walls, curved tiled roofs and horizontal lacquered boards carved with Chinese characters appear in the early morning sunlight, like a slice of time in the heart of Hue. Stepping into Thai Hoa Palace, where the king once held court, the feeling is not overwhelming, but emotional. This heritage does not flaunt its glory, but quietly tells the story of the past with its own perseverance and solemnity.
Through Ngo Mon Gate, moss-covered walls, curved tiled roofs and horizontal lacquered boards carved with Chinese characters appear in the early morning sunlight.
10am - Return to the Indochina imprint at Azerai La Residence Hue
Noon in Hue is slower and more peaceful than in other cities. And if you choose Azerai La Residence Hue as your accommodation – a French architectural work located right next to the poetic Perfume River, you will understand what it means to “wake up in history”. This place used to be the residence of the French governor in the 1930s with a campus of more than 2.5 hectares with 122 elegant rooms.
And if you choose Azerai La Residence Hue as your accommodation – a French architectural work located right next to the poetic Perfume River, you will understand what it means to “wake up in history”.
The art deco beauty is reflected in the graceful curves, high ceilings, red-tiled corridors and cinematic decorative details... making the space seem like it came out of an Indochina era film. Not too ostentatious, but this place is calm, moderate, and present like Hue - proud, restrained, and full of identity. It is not surprising that Azerai La Residence Hue has just been introduced by The Times (UK) as one of the 16 most worth-experiencing hotels in Vietnam in 2025.
13:00 - Enjoy cuisine at Le Parfum restaurant
Azerai La Residence Hue's Le Parfum restaurant serves Vietnamese and Western dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also enjoy al fresco dining on the outside terrace with views of the poetic Perfume River.
Housed in a colonial building, Le Gouverneur Bar offers an elegant and sophisticated setting for cocktails, drinks, light meals and snacks. French doors open from the indoor lounge to a covered outdoor terrace, perfect for intimate afternoon tea.
14:00 – Explore the bustling Dong Ba market
The journey to explore Hue continues with a visit to Dong Ba market - the oldest and busiest market in the city. This place is not only a familiar shopping place for locals but also a treasure trove of traditional cuisine and specialties of the dreamy land of Hue.
Entering the market, you will immediately feel the bustling atmosphere and the attractive aroma of local dishes. The fragrant sour shrimp paste stall, the sweet and crispy sesame cakes, the attractive transparent banh loc or the soft and chewy banh nam are displayed so eye-catching that it is hard for you to take your eyes off. In addition, delicious seasonal fruits such as pomelo, lychee, plum… are also sold fresh.
Dong Ba Market - the oldest and busiest market in the city
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy on-site typical snacks such as fragrant roasted pork sweet soup, soft and smooth banh beo chen or flavorful grilled spring rolls, all creating a rich, diverse and unique culinary experience. This is also an opportunity for you to buy as gifts for your loved ones products with the bold flavors of Hue, keeping some sweet memories from the ancient capital.
4:00 p.m. – Wandering around Kim Long, touching the old rhythm of life
In the afternoon, when the sun has softened, Kim Long becomes more peaceful and poetic than ever. A drive along the tree-lined road, which used to be the royal residence of the Nguyen Dynasty, is enough to fully appreciate the ancient beauty without any explanation. On both sides of the road are rows of tea trees and areca trees, dotted with moss-covered tiled roofs of hundred-year-old houses quietly nestled behind wooden fences.
The space here seems to be whispering old stories, occasionally the sound of a temple bell echoes from a small temple hidden behind the foliage. On the porch, an old man sits sipping tea, his eyes calmly watching the flow of people passing by, a gaze that seems to have witnessed many seasons of leaf change in this land.
The ancient beauty of Kim Long from above
Kim Long does not flaunt nostalgia, nor does it cling to the past like a living museum. Everything here, from the tree shadows, the sunlight, the bright red bougainvillea trellis in front of the yard – is the embodiment of living memories. Perhaps, that is what makes Kim Long, and Hue as a whole, special: a quiet but powerful rhythm of life, where memories are not forgotten but still present in every daily breath.
6:00 p.m. – Watching the sunset in the ancient capital
Sunset in Hue is not as brilliant as the sea, but as gentle as an ancient poem. From the porch overlooking the river, the late afternoon sunlight pours gold onto the water, reflecting on the art deco roofs of Azerai La Residence Hue. A few dragon boats float quietly by, soft music playing. No need to go far, just sit there, look and breathe slowly, enough to see Hue's beauty in its own unique way.
Dragon boat, a unique feature in Hue
7pm – A Hue-style evening that awakens the taste buds
When the city lights up, Hue takes on a very unique look. The evening here is the ideal time to slowly explore the cuisine, not only to eat but also to feel. A choice worth trying is the traditional Hue meal with a full range of savory dishes, soup, stir-fries, raw vegetables and a bowl of savory fish sauce. At famous restaurants such as Tinh Gia Vien, Huong Xua or Cung Dinh, the meal is not only delicious but also presented like a ritual, from the dishes to the arrangement of the dishes, all exuding the sophistication of the ancient capital. Fragrant braised goby fish, sweet and salty braised meat, boiled vegetables with fish sauce, light and sour soup... All create a rich and cozy dinner like at home.
If you like the street food atmosphere, banh khoai, nem lui, and bun thit nuong are attractive choices. Banh khoai is crispy, filled with shrimp and meat, eaten with raw vegetables and spicy fish sauce. Nem lui has the fragrant smell of charcoal grilling, rolled with rice paper, vegetables and pickles, then dipped in a smooth broth with strong peanut and liver flavor.
In Hue, food is not meant to be eaten in a hurry. Whether sitting in an old restaurant or a small stall in a dark alley, the general feeling is still still calm.
8pm – A leisurely night by the Perfume River
Stroll along Nguyen Dinh Chieu walking street, where the banks of the Perfume River are dotted with rows of warm yellow lights. Street vendors selling sesame cakes, ginger candy and a few street artists performing gentle Trinh music… all create a space that is both nostalgic and relaxing.
If you want a private and poetic experience, you can choose a dragon boat trip on the river. Sitting on the boat, listening to Hue folk songs in the middle of the vast waves is a way to feel more deeply the silence and depth that the ancient capital still preserves. The melodious voice blends with the sound of water lapping against the boat, the lanterns swaying on the water surface - that moment makes people forget about time.
If you choose to stay at Azerai La Residence Hue, just return to the porch, order a cocktail to sip, sit and watch the river and listen to the light jazz from the garden corner, it is enough to fully appreciate the beauty of Hue at night.
24 hours in Hue is not long, but enough to see that: this city does not need to please anyone with its flashy appearance!
Azerai La Residence Hue, along with Azerai Ke Ga Bay in Binh Thuan, are two hotels under the Azerai brand of the legendary Adrian Zecha. Discover a summer vacation at Azerai La Residence Hue to receive exclusive accommodation privileges, providing a more complete vacation experience, with a 10% discount for Vietnamese guests.
Booking period: From now until June 30, 2025
Stay period: From April 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025
For more information or to make a reservation, please call 0234 3837 475, email reservations.laresidence.hue@azerai.com or visithttps://azerai.com/vi/offers/summer-sense-escape-in-azerai-la-residence-hue/
