Things to do in Hue for Autumn Festival 2023

Autumn is a beautiful season to visit Hue and enjoy this ancient city's traditional and cultural values. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching at the end of September, there are special attractions worth exploring for travelers, such as Truyen Lo Festival, Unicorn Festival, Lantern Festival or Lion - Dragon performance on the street, and others.

The lively Hue Festival is held every year in the Imperial City of Hue, Thua Thien - Hue Province. Photo: Hue Tourism

Starting in 2023, the Hue Festival is designed as a four-season festival to organize a series of festive activities throughout the year, promoting the unique values of Hue and Vietnamese culture and showcasing scenic spots, spiritual tourism, and local cultural activities to attract tourists.

On the occasion of Hue's Autumn Festival, in addition to 12 cultural events, Booking.com has just suggested some wonderful destinations for travelers to explore during their stay in Hue.

Watch the sunrise and enjoy fresh seafood at Chuon Lagoon

Chuon Lagoon, offering natural and charming scenery with extremely unique cuisine, is a must-visit attraction in Hue. Part of the Tam Giang Lagoon system, Chuon Lagoon is known for its pristine beauty and welcoming people. The massive skyline of Chuon Lagoon makes it the perfect place to watch the sunset and sunrise.

The magnificent Chuon Lagoon, Hue City. Photo: Tamgianglagoon.com

Travelers who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the cities can experience the life of a local fisherman by renting a boat and water house, catching seafood in the lagoon, and cooking it to enjoy while it is still fresh! For a full-day experience that includes cycling through the village, visiting an aquaculture farm, and taking a tea break at the nearby Thu Le Temple, visitors can book a Hue Sunset or Sunrise Tour.

Visit Hue's gorgeous temples and pagodas

Hue is one of Vietnam's three largest Buddhist centers, with more than 300 temples and Buddhist recitation halls. The pagodas and temples in Hue are famous for their ancient, sacred, yet unique architecture that blends in harmony with the natural landscape.

Travelers should not miss a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist temple built in the 1600s, which has become a symbol of Hue today. Some others to consider for your spiritual adventure are Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda, Tu Dam Pagoda, Tu Hieu Pagoda, and Bao Quoc Pagoda. In four hours, the bike tour of ancient Hue and the Perfume River at sunset can take you through ancient Hue to visit the iconic attractions of the old city.

The Thien Mu Pagoda. Photo: Hue Tourism

Travel back in time to visit citadels and imperial tombs

From moss-covered towers hidden in the hills to faded stone warriors proudly guarding the dead, Hue Citadel and Imperial Tombs evoke the feeling of a forgotten, almost mythological world. The Hue Citadel complex was where nine Nguyen lords and 13 Nguyen Dynasty emperors chose to live and rule the country. The construction of the citadel took 31 years, from 1802 to 1833.

The kings of the Nguyen dynasty designed their tombs, reflecting their different temperaments, philosophies, and priorities. Visitors can sign up for a full-day Hue sightseeing tour to explore the imperial capital and local villages. For those who prefer a shorter tour of the imperial citadel complex or royal tombs, a half-day tour of the imperial city with a boat ride or a half-day tour of Hue's royal tombs will meet their needs.

Hue Imperial Palace. Photo: Traveloka

Try natural hot mineral springs

Soaking in hot mineral springs is an easy, fun vacation activity that has great health benefits, including stress relief, improved circulation and respiration, stronger muscles, bones and joints, and nourished skin. If you love hot springs, the good news is that there are two attractions in Hue to try: My An and Thanh Tan Hot Springs.

My An mineral spring was discovered by the Hydrogeological Group 79 in June 1979 while drilling for water exploration and contains high levels of sulfur and other valuable minerals. Thanh Tan Hot Springs was founded by the famous French doctor Albert Sallet in 1928 and still remains the spring with the highest amount of dissolved minerals in Vietnam.

A hot spring tour, zipline, and high wire experience tour will take you to experience Alba Thanh Tan hot spring and participate in some fun physical activities such as zipline and high wire to cross the Ma Yen Hill, the longest free-hanging zipline in Vietnam.

Thanh Tan Hot Spring. Photo: Suoi Khoang Nong Thanh Tan