BASICS

See the Hue map for locations.

ATMs

VIETCOMBANK locations are found outside the Saigon Morin Hotel, Imperial Hotel and La Residence hotel. A main location is at 78 Hung Vuong St, 1km south of Trang Tien Bridge.

Bookstore

PHU XUAN (tel 054-522-000; 131 Tran Hung Dao St, facing Trang Tien Bridge; open 8am-noon & 1-10pm) Big bookstore with maps (about US$0.40), English-language books and Hue-music CDs on the second floor.

Emergencies

CENTRAL HOSPITAL (tel 054-822-325; 16 Le Loi St)

Laundry

If your hotel is charging legs and arms, HUONG XUAN (27 Nguyen Thai Hoc St) is the drop-off laundry spot that many hotels use. It’s about US$2 per kilogram.

Travel Agencies

EXOTISSIMO (desk at La Residence; 5 Le Loi St) High-end agent books half-day and day trips to tombs and the Citadel.

CAFÉ ON THU WHEELS (tel 054-832-241; 3/34 Nguyen Tri Phuong St) Motorbike tours of tombs and the Citadel.

MANDARIN CAFÉ (tel 054-821-281; [email protected]; 24 Tran Cao Van St) Long-time traveler’s café (in new locale) with good information on tours. Staff hand out free walking-tour maps, rent motorbikes for US$5 per day, arrange boat trips on the Perfume (US$10 up to 10 people, US$25 incl guide) or get you a private car to Hoi An (via Bach Ma and Hai Van Pass) for about US$75.

SINH CAFÉ (tel 054-823-309; www.sinhcafevn.com; 7 Nguyen Tri Phuong St) Staple travel agent, selling open bus tickets and area group tours.

STOP & GO CAFÉ (tel 054-827-051; [email protected]; 25 Trao Can Van St) Based at a small restaurant run by a South Vietnam vet/artist, fellow vets give super, private tours of the Hue area (by motorbike/car US$7/40 incl guide) and DMZ (by motorbike/car US$16/60 incl guide). A rare alternative to the same ol’ bus tours. Note: Address here has been edited to new location (October 2008). Map still shows old location.