Wednesday deals: Huế
Three good spots to rest your head in Huế
Hi all,
You know when you’re going somewhere you haven’t been before and you open the interwebs search for “hotels in …” and you get eleventy billion results? No? Please tell me your secrets!
So where are we off to for the third edition? How about my favourite city in Vietnam, Huế? I’ve got a riverside place ideal for lovers who don’t want to spend the earth, a family-run family-friendly place in the Old Town, and a bargain-priced homestay also in the old part of town.
For each, I’ve looked up some prices on our partner Agoda, and listed them along with—as always—the direct contact details for each place. That way you can compare and figure out what works for you. Just a disclaimer here, Agoda is a Travelfish partner, so if you book a room through them a commission may be payable to us.
Lastly, if this sort of email is not your thing, please note, you can unsubscribe from this without unsubscribing from the main Travelfish newsletter. They are separate newsletters under the same umbrella, so it isn’t an either/or affair. You can manage what you receive from me here.
As always, suggestions are both welcome and appreciated. Many thanks to those who have sent me their favourites—they’ve been filed away.
Cheers
Stuart
Three cool spots to stay in Huế this November
For couples: Hue River Side Villa
Huế is deservedly famous for its beautiful riverfront, yet if you’d like a river view you’re generally restricted to uber fancy pants properties such as Azerai La Residence. That joint may well be fit for royalty—on one inspection a staffer told me I was in the favourite room of the now Thai King, which I have to say creeped me out more than enticed me—but you need not pay the earth for a river view in Huế. Easily my favourite joint in the whole city is Hue River Side Villa.
There’s not a lot of rooms, and rather than in a concrete block-house they’re chalet-style looking over a small garden with the water beyond. Rooms are well designed and furnished, with comfy beds and plenty enough space. I’ve also found the staff to be excellent on the occasion when I was actually able to get a room. Yes, with limited rooms and excellent prices, this is one you want to book in advance—go for an extra night if you can, to soak it up. There’s a good coffee house right by the river almost next door and the Old City is a comfortable walk away.
On Agoda there’s a double room on 1-2 November 2023 for US$41 all in, which is great value, but, like I said, rooms go fast. Want to compare these to their direct rates? You can contact Hue River Side Villa via the details below—I’m found them to be very responsive when I emailed them begging them to fit me in on my last visit to Huế … sadly they couldn’t.
Hue River Ride Villa: 16/7 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Huế. T: (234) 381 8018. https://www.hueriversidevilla.com/
Food hounds and families: Maison Vu Tri Vien
My number one rule when it comes to Huế is, with the exception of Hue River Side Villa, always always always stay in the old city. It has better food and less tourist nonsense, and a growing selection of small family-run properties. Maison Vu Tri Vien is one such place.
It might not look like much chop from the street front, but inside there’s a warm family atmosphere, and more than comfortable rooms for the money. We found the French and English speaking host to be particularly helpful, and when he said his place is popular with families it was easy to see why. His family live on site, so this is a true homestay, and we found it to be a relaxing hideaway in the Old City.
When we say hideaway, we mean it. Maison Vu Tri Vien is down a narrow rutted laneway which is not all that well lit at night, but a main thoroughfare with plenty of street food and endless coffee is a mere block away. Even if you’re not travelling with the family, this is a good option if you want Old City, but don’t want a hostel style place.
This place is especially popular with Europeans, and availability on a quick search for November was limited to say the least. On Agoda I did find a double room on 25-26 November 2023 for US$25 all in, which is great value for the location.
Maison Vu Tri Vien: 110 Nhật Lệ, Huế. T: (984) 699 433. No official website.
Budget beds in the Old Town: Le Robinet Homestay
At risk of repeating myself, Huế’s Old Town is where you want to stay, and down in the southwest corner within the city walls are a clutch of homestay/hostel style places of which I reckon Le Robinet Homestay is the best.
The best why? The rooms, while perhaps a little Spartan, are spotless—and I mean spotless. There’s plenty of open area to relax within the grounds. There’s excellent coffee shops literally around the corner. Staff are friendly and very accommodating. I mean, I really had no complaints whatsoever when I stayed here—especially at this price.
This corner of the Old Town is a bit quieter, there isn’t quite so much traffic noise, yet there’s enough racket to let you know you are still in the heart of a Vietnamese city. The eating in this area is solid—perhaps not quite as varied as around Maison Vu Tri Vien but you won’t starve—there’s also some great local ice cream by here.
On Agoda I found a room on 15-16 November 2023 for just US$16 all in, which is terrific value—contact them direct to see what else is on offer.
Le Robinet Homestay: 47B Trần Nguyên Hãn, Thành Huế. T: (93) 194 5757. https://www.facebook.com/LeRobinetHomestay
Past editions
So, that’s the wrap this week. I hope you found the above of interest, and if you did, please feel free to send it to whoever you’d like.
One request, if you’ve a favourite hotel somewhere in Southeast Asia, please feel free to send it to me, and I may well include it in a future edition.
Until next Wednesday then.
Safe and fun travels
Stuart