Ships for Hue dock at Chan May, between Hue and Da Nang. From the pier it is about 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 to Hue by car. Some websites say one hour. That is a bit optimistic.
Chan May is a basic port. There is no terminal building, no ATM and no wifi, only a few drink stalls on the quay. If you go out on your own, the gate where taxis wait is about 750 m from the ship, on a flat road with no shade.
In Hue you have the Imperial Citadel, the royal tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda and the Perfume River. Most first-timers pick the citadel and river tour. If you like villages more than palaces, there is a village tour with a cooking class.
Please don't try Hue and Hoi An on the same day. It is close to 7 hours in a car. Pick one. From October to December bring a rain jacket, it rains a lot in central Vietnam then.
A full day on a bicycle from Chan May port: country lanes outside Hue, three royal tombs (Khai Dinh, Gia Long, Tu Duc), a ferry over the Perfume River and a local lunch. Good if you are fit and like to move. Not good if you want air-con all day.
A full day around Hue. First Thanh Toan, an old tiled bridge from 1776 in the rice fields about 8 km out of town, one of only three of its kind left in Vietnam. Then Thien Mu Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba Market in the city.
If you are someone who enjoys rustic experiences in the villages of Vietnam, likes interacting with local people, then this is the tour for you. Combining a cooking class in Hue with a visit to Thanh Toan Village is an excellent way to experience both the culinary and cultural aspects of the region. Thanh Toan Village, located about 8 kilometers southeast of Hue, is known for its Thanh Toan Bridge, an ancient covered bridge, and its traditional agricultural activities.
