Hue Nightlife And Things To Do In Hue At Night

Introduction To Hue Nightlife

Hue is known as the once-imperial city of Vietnam, with several magnificent monuments. Nowadays, Hue has developed into a splendid blend of the modern and the traditional. Its mixed charm has turned it into a tourism hub for travelers who enjoy a serene urban vibe. Among the gracious beauty of sights and relics, Hue nightlife has a distinctive appeal.

Though nightlife in Hue may not surprise tourists like in other cities, it gives them enough energetic activities and a deep reflection. Visitors can join vibrant beer shops, cozy up in lovely bars, watch gentle flows, and so on. Whatever your choices for nightlife are, Hue offers its kindest welcome to you.

Culture Pham Travel‘s blog will reveal more details about Hue Vietnam nightlife, aiming for a deeper insight for visitors. Let’s discover the 10 best things to do at night in Hue.

By the way, travelers planning to visit Hue City should look over high-quality transportation by private cars, such as:

• Da Nang Airport to Hue transfer – 61 USD/sedan
• Hoi An To Hue private car – 65 USD/sedan
• Laguna Lang Co to Hue private car – 40 USD/sedan
• Vedana Lagoon to Hue private car – 40 USD/sedan

Besides, we recommend Hue City Tour Full Day and Hue Group Tour for those keen on more experience in Hue during the daytime.

Things To Do In Hue At Night

Listen To Hue Folk Songs On The Perfume River

The Perfume River is the biggest and most famous natural attraction in Hue. Its moderate flow meanders through the whole province, adorning Hue with its serenity. Enjoying performances of Hue folk music on such a wonderful river is a must-do during your nightlife.

Listening to folk music is a one-of-a-kind form of art activity for both locals and tourists that has been kept alive for years. It promises to be a real fascination when you take a dragon boat trip, listen to Hue folk songs, and feel Hue’s soul through its delicate art form. However, recently, musicians have been playing not only traditional musical instruments but also modern ones to please a variety of visitors.

Tips you should know:

• Tour recommended: Perfume River Sunset Cruise (with dinner)
• A ticket to join a dragon boat trip with folk music performances costs VND 150,000 per person.
• Apart from the evening, dragon boat cruises are also available in the daytime.

Visit Hue Citadel At Night

Visitors usually pay a visit to Hue Citadel in the daytime, but its nighttime appearance is also intriguing to drop by. Not all but some of the beautiful spots in Hue Citadel are open at night, namely the Mieu Temple, Dien Tho Palace, Truong Sanh Palace, Tu Phuong Vo Su, and Hoa Binh Gate. Admiring the Citadel at night is truly mysterious, as it’s greatly different from the daytime. Hue unveils another facet for visitors to discover.

Moreover, you will find loads of locals hanging out there to fly kites, go skateboarding, or do street dancing, giving an insight into local lifestyles.

More importantly, on the top of Ky Dai, the largest bastion in Hue Citadel, there has been the Holy Cannon Performance at 9 p.m. every Saturday since 2018. Nine cannons are displayed surrounding the Ky Dai bastion. The ceremony will last after nine shots of cannons to show respect for the deceased Emperors who established the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century.

Nightlife in Hue Imperial Citadel video

Tips you should know:

The opening time is from 6:30 to 10 p.m. every day.

While the Imperial Citadel entrance fee costs VND 200,000 (VND 40,000 for kids) during the day, it costs nothing to visit at night.

Here is our recommendation for excellent Hue restaurants within the Hue Citadel area if you have plans to do some nightlife:

• Huong Sen Restaurant: 96B Nguyen Trai
• Les Jardins de la Carambole: 8 Dang Tran Con
• Banh Khoai Hong Mai: 65 Dinh Tien Hoang
• Tu Phuong Vo Su Lau: Hoa Binh Gate, Hue Imperial City

Stroll On Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street

Set in the heart of Hue City, alongside the Perfume River and Truong Tien Bridge, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street should be a lively spot for nightlife sightseeing. It is comprised of eleven house blocks for business units as well as traders to sell souvenirs and Hue’s specialties. One interesting thing is that there are loads of art plays, acoustic shows, street paintings, or flash mob dances that appeal to both locals and tourists.

This turns the walking street into one of the ideal places for hanging out and having fun at night in Hue.

Shop Around Hue Night Markets

Hue boasts a couple of exciting night markets for travelers eager to immerse in the locals’ daily lives. Three prominent recommendations are Dong Ba Night Market, Pham Ngu Lao Walking Street’s Night Market, and Truong Tien Bridge Night Market.

You might know Dong Ba Market, the most noted traditional market in Hue, at its daylight appearance with tons of items and bustled trading activities. At night, however, it shows another beauty with diverse food stalls, opening a space for culinary culture in this city. Dong Ba Night Market opens at 6PM every day on the front side. As a popular cuisine destination in Hue, it contributes to the vibrancy of Hue nightlife with che, bun bo Hue, snail dishes, nem lui (pork lemongrass skewers), grilled meats, etc.

Another Hue night market is inside Pham Ngu Lao Walking Street, known as “Western Town”. It possesses over 100 stalls selling a wide range of products, from food to souvenirs. Moreover, there are usually music shows, game shows, special events, etc. on the weekends. As it’s part of the Western Town, you can visit both places at the same time. It opens from 6PM-2AM every day on Pham Ngu Lao Street.

Last but not least, we want to suggest Truong Tien Bridge Night Market. Open from 4PM-2AM under the well-known Truong Tien Bridge, it always attracts a lot of visitors. This area offers souvenir shops, food stalls, and a dreamy view of the Perfume River. If you’re not interested in the hustle and bustle in Western Town, you can go for a soft walk here and watch the poetic Hue nightlife along the iconic river.

Watch Hue Nightlife From Truong Tien Bridge

Truong Tien Bridge, an icon of Hue ancient citadel, wears a different jacket at night. From 7PM-11PM, it is lit up with color-changing lights, creating an impressive vision. Walking along this bridge, you can watch the Perfume River, chill out with friends, and take fuzzy souvenir photos. It’s believed to be the best way to understand the heart of this city – gentle, loveable, profound, and somehow melancholy.

Get Around Hue By Cyclo – Experience A Part Of Hue’s Culture

Admiring the citadel and streets filled with houses, stores, and street stalls at night is doubtless a must-do when you happen to visit Hue. That experience will be even more incredible if you do it by Cyclo, a long-standing cultural feature in Hue. With the relaxing speed of a cyclo, you can lay back and take in all the beauty of Hue City.

Sometimes, cyclo drivers would be truly tour guides, as they have really good knowledge of the monuments’ history in Hue. Therefore, it will be a miss if you don’t chat with cycle drivers. That’s the reason why traveling by cyclo appeals not only to locals but also to tourists.

Tips you should know:

• Tour recommended: Hue Cyclo Tour

What to eat during a cyclo trip?

• Ba Do Restaurant: 8 Nguyen Bind Chime
• Hang Me: 12 and 16 Vo This Sau Street
• Nam Pho Restaurant: 54 Nguyen Cong True Street
• Ba Phuong: 5 Nguyen Du Street
• Hue Imperial sweet soup: 31 Nguyen Hue Street

Pedestrian Zone – A Vibrant Space Amid The Peaceful City

Established in 2017, the Hue Night Walking Street, also known as the “Western Town” in Hue, is situated in the streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An, and Vo Thi Sau. As we call it the pedestrian zone, it does not allow vehicles in the evening, creating a dynamic space for Hue nightlife.

It opens from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday and Saturday and from 6. p.m. to midnight every Sunday. Apart from eateries, clothing stores, souvenir shops, and bars are touring attractions here.

Similar to Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street, this pedestrian zone is a wonderful spot for enjoying music performances, street art, and other nightlife activities. One interesting thing is that there is a performance of Hue folk songs at the house of Buu Y (a renowned translator) at 9 Pham Ngu Lao Street on Saturdays. It welcomes all visitors, especially foreigners, to come and learn about Hue folk songs.

What to eat in the Western Town?

• Lan Que Phuong Restaurant: 19 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street (best local choice)
• Ta Vet: 11 Vo Thi Sau Street (best local choice)
• 2 Ahjussi: 8 Pham Ngu Lao Street
• 912 Factory: 38 Chu Van An Street
• Missy Roo Restaurant: 11 Pham Ngu Lao Street
• Golden Rice Restaurant: 40 Pham Ngu Lao Street
• La Carambole: 19 Pham Ngu Lao Street
• Gecko Pub: 9 Pham Ngu Lao Street
• T’House Coffee Kangaroo Hue Restaurant & Cooking Class: 31 Vo Thi Sau Street

What to eat in Hue Vietnam

Enjoy Hue Nightlife At The Bars

If you are looking for a lively spot amid Hue, local bars will be the perfect nightlife destination for you. While Hue is so well-known for its peaceful atmosphere, bars reflect the modern vibes of this city. Spirited senses from Hue bars promise you a great time with your buddies and a glass of wine, beer, cocktail, or mocktail.

Some popular bars in Hue:

• DMZ Bar: 60 Le Loi Street
• Brown Eyes Bar: 56 Chu Van An Street
• Why Not Bar & Restaurant: 26 Pham Ngu Lao Street
• Le’s Garden Bar: 14 Pham Ngu Lao Street
• Hangout Coffee and Bar: 48 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street and inside Cherish Hotel at 59 Ben Nghe Street
• Cococlub: 53 Ham Nghi Street

Taste Hue Street Food

Hue is likened to the kingdom of cuisine thanks to its extraordinary dishes, such as bun bo hue (beef noodles), bun hen, banh nam-banh loc, banh khoai, etc. Why not take a bite of these dishes on your way to discover Hue nightlife?

When visiting Hue City, despite being in the city center, you may not feel the hustle and bustle like in the larger cities, including Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Thus, having a snack at night may bring an unexpected pleasure. Hue night street food is the most buzzing in Dong Ba Market’s area, around the cultural center, under the Trang Tien bridge, or along the Perfume River.

Several of Hue’s specialties that you should taste are beef rice noodles, grilled pork sausages, thick noodle soup, dumplings of Hue (water fern cake, flat rice dumplings, tapioca dumplings, or steamed rice sheets), and sweet soups (also called che).

• Tour recommended: Hue Street Food Tour

Some street stalls to drop by:

• Beef Rice Noodles My Tam: 24 Le Duan Street
• Breads (banh my) under Trang Tien Bridge
• Thick Noodle Soup Han Thuyen: along Han Thuyen Street
• Che Hem Hung Vuong (Hue sweet soups): 29 Hung Vuong Street
• Pho O Tung: Mai Thuc Loan Street
• Eel Soup Mr.Nen: Block A5 Phan Van Truong Street
• Grilled Pork Sausages Nhu Y: 102 Nguyen Sinh Cung Street
• Dong Ba Market food stalls

Sip A Cup Of Coffee

If you’re a night owl and want to explore the depth of Hue nightlife, chilling out at a coffee shop is a good option. Hue accommodates loads of wonderful cafes with amazing scenery and flavorful coffee. Hence, it must be terrific to sit in a café and admire Hue when the lights are up. There are various coffee shops with good concepts and views of the charming Perfume River, especially at the nightlife, namely:

• Noise Café (35 Nguyen Thien Thuat Street): open from 7AM-2AM
• Tron Café (22A Dien Bien Phu Street): open from 6AM-3AM
• Tram Retro Coffee (54 Nguyen Khanh Toan Street): open 24/7
• Chon Cafe and Beer (20A Nguyen Thien Ke Street): open 24/7 
• Vi Da Xua Coffee (131 Nguyen Sinh Cung Street): open 6:30AM-10PM, Perfume River views

Conclusion

You have just looked over the 10 best things to do in Hue at night. In short, Hue nightlife might not be as lively as other cities, but it has its own charm that attracts visitors to experience the city’s culture and traditions. From listening to Hue folk songs on the Perfume River to visiting Hue Citadel at night and strolling on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street, there are plenty of things to do and see in Hue after dark.

If you’re planning a trip to Hue, don’t miss out on exploring the city’s vibrant nightlife scene. It’s a unique and unforgettable experience that will leave you with lasting memories of Hue’s beauty and culture.