Over the last year 89% of organizations experienced at least one container or Kubernetes security incident, making security a high priority for DevOps and security teams.
Despite many DevOps teams’ opinions of Kubernetes not being secure, it commands 92% of the container market. Gartner predicts that 95% of enterprises will be running containerized applications in production by 2029, a significant jump from less than 50% last year.
While misconfigurations are responsible for 40% of incidents and 26% reported their organizations failed audits, the underlying weaknesses of Kubernetes security haven’t yet been fully addressed. One of the most urgent issues is deciphering the massive number of alerts produced and finding the ones that reflect a credible threat.
Kubernetes attacks are growing
Attackers are finding Kubernetes environments to be an easy target due to the growing number of misconfigurations and vulnerabilities enterprises using them are not resolving quickly – if at all. Red Hat’s latest state of Kubernetes security report found that 45% of DevOps teams are experiencing security incidents during the runtime phase, where attackers exploit live vulnerabilities.
The Cloud Native Computing Foundations’ Kubernetes report found that 28% of organizations have over 90% of workloads running in insecure Kubernetes configurations. More than 71% of workloads are running with root access, increasing the probability of system compromises.
Traditional approaches to defending against attacks are failing to keep up. Attackers know they can move faster than organizations once a misconfiguration, vulnerability or exposed service is discovered. Known for taking minutes from initial intrusion to taking control of a container, attackers exploit weaknesses and gaps in Kubernetes security in minutes. Traditional security tools and platforms can take days to detect, remediate and close critical gaps.
As attackers sharpen their tradecraft and arsenal of tools, organizations need more real-time data to stand a chance against Kubernetes attacks.
Why alert-based systems aren’t enough
Nearly all organizations that have standardized Kubernetes as part of their DevOps process rely on alert-based systems as their first line of defense against container attacks. Aqua Security, Twistlock (now part of Palo Alto Networks), Sysdig, and StackRox (Red Hat) offer Kubernetes solutions that provide threat detection, visibility and vulnerability scanning. Each offers container security solutions and has either announced or is shipping AI-based automation and analytics tools to enhance threat detection and improve response times in complex cloud-native environments.
Each generates an exceptionally high volume of alerts that often require manual intervention, which wastes valuable time for security operations center (SOC) analysts. It usually leads to alert fatigue for security teams, as more than 50% of security professionals report being overwhelmed by the flood of notifications from such systems.
As Laurent Gil, co-founder and chief product officer at CAST AI, told VentureBeat: “If you’re using traditional methods, you are spending time reacting to hundreds of alerts, many of which might be false positives. It’s not scalable. Automation is key—real-time detection and immediate remediation make the difference.”
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Wood Beaded Chandelier
I added a few new (and secondhand!) pieces to our bedroom late this summer that I haven’t shared yet, so I thought I would do a little bedroom update in here as we’re heading into fall.
Before I talk about the additions, if you missed it one of my favorite finds a few months ago is our secondhand Ethan Allen Quincy bed from Facebook Marketplace. Even though it was my dream bed for this room, I was in no way expecting to get one (at least any time soon.) But I took a little peek at Marketplace “just in case” and much to my surprise, there it was! The rest is history, as they say.
This bed feels like it was meant to be in our home. I love the style. The whimsical curves remind me of waves (if you’re new here our home is on an island and our room has a view of the Salish Sea in Washington state). I really love the chunky solid wood, the weight of the frame adds a wonderful presence in the space. And of course, I adore the robin’s egg blue color which keeps the mood soft and pretty.
Striped Lumbar Pillow // Coverlette // Red and White Shams
Once the bed was set up, I began thinking about nightstands. The white ones that we had in here were a bit too wide and not the style, shape or color I envisioned. This is a fairly compact room and as you can see on the bed wall there is very limited space for nightstands or lamps.
My husband and I were out walking a few weeks ago and stopped into a vintage store that was going out of business. I decided to look around the store “just in case” there might be a table that would be the right height and size to sit next to the bed. You can see how little space we have.
Again, I wasn’t expecting to find anything especially since I needed such a specific size, but there it was! The right size, shape and a pretty warm wood, too!
White Waffle Knit Blanket on Bed
There was only one, not a matched pair, but I think that’s part of what gives a room soul and character. When everything isn’t expected, or in matched sets or pairs, it tells a much more interesting story.
As long as I could find a similar size and scale table for the other side, I knew a mismatched “pair” would be just right.
We already had a pair of small white lamps I could use (I may get new wall sconces down the road, after we repaint or add grasscloth wallpaper) plus two vintage plates to hang above, so we already had plenty of pairs! It was time to mix up the formula.
The day after we found the first bedside table we went to at a local vintage market. The first thing I saw was THIS TABLE so I made a beeline for it. It’s almost exactly the same size as our other table. While it’s not the same wood as the other, it’s a little darker finish, that didn’t matter. Finishes can be changed but I like mixing woods for more character and warmth. For $20 it was a deal, too!
Plus I’m not sure if you can see it very well in the photo but it has a little scalloped edge! CUTE! A few curves around the room on some of our furnishings really complement the bed, too, so I am very pleased with this table. It fits just right, too, which was important.
Mirror // Cane Lidded Boxes and Lidded Basket on Shelf // White Wood Lidded Boxes on Shelf
One other thing I wanted to look for going into fall was a full length mirror. Our closet is so small we don’t have enough space to get ready in it and we didn’t have a full length mirror in our room or bathroom. When I saw this stunning mirror at Kathy Kuo I was so excited to have the chance to feature it over on Instagram during one of their sales!
The texture and style is a lovely addition to our coastal room, plus it’s a floor mirror so it can lean anywhere (and you can attach it to the wall for safety.). Notice the curves on the mirror, too! Meant to be.
Mirror // Blue and White Buffalo Check Curtains (chambray color, more options available) // Acrylic and Brass Rod / Rug Details
People often ask me where I got our bookcase! This is a piece we’ve had for a long time. It was actually in my dad’s home office many years ago! We painted it white while we lived in our last home. I love the shape and detailing on it— and look at those curves on the base! Love the subtle curves on several pieces. This piece landed in our room when we moved because we really didn’t have another place for it, but it’s been handy to have some storage and a place for items on shelves.
Patchwork quilt from here (this particular one no longer sold but shams available and other styles)
The teal chair is also a piece I’ve had for many years, but I did a post recently on some similar chairs if you are looking for something like it! It’s so comfy and Lily LOVES it so I would hate to move it from this room. Plus it’s cozy for me to sit in and sometimes I even work from it with my laptop, in fact, it is where I am typing this right now!
Lily has also decided she loves being on our bed. She really didn’t get up here much until recently, usually she would just be on the back of the chair.
Maybe it gives her extra comfort to be closer to mom and dad now that she is an only pup. She is so precious, I just want her to feel safe and loved.
You’re invited! This fall in HomeBody Gathering Place we’re learning impactful, insightful and practical design principles. I love to help others with their homes, so I create exclusive lessons and teach our community every week. People can also post their home photos, ask questions and work on their rooms! It’s so fun, we have a really lovely group of HomeBodies.
This October in the HGP community we’ll be choosing one room to make into a cozier sanctuary. I’ll be sharing my tips and own cozy updates as I make them in a new room in our home (one I haven’t shared or talked about much here!).
It will be fun to share with the community and make progress. HomeBodies, come join us and share your home, too! We’d love to meet you there.
More Recent Posts about My Bedroom:
Decorating the Bedroom: A Statement Rug + Chair Legs
Our Small Deck Makeover (off our bedroom–the reveal and the 6+ ways to use this clever outdoor wicker plant stand!)
Fresh as a Daisy: Adorable Summer Sheets & Facebook Marketplace Quincy Bed is finally in our room!
The Tale of My Dream Bed found on Facebook Marketplace (and a new light fixture!)
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is an invaluable tool for driving relevant traffic and generating leads for your website. With more than 68% of online experiences beginning with a search engine, SEO can have a substantial impact on traffic, leads, and profitability. In the UK, many companies are actively using SEO tactics to improve their online visibility, making it a competitive landscape where knowing when and how to invest in SEO is crucial to staying ahead.
At Koozai, we are specialists in SEO with nearly 20 years of experience helping businesses enhance their search engine rankings. Drawing on our extensive experience, this article will guide you through the key scenarios when it makes the most sense to invest more in SEO.
When the Keyword Data Shows You’re Missing Out on a Big Opportunity
One of the clearest signals that it’s time to invest more in SEO is when keyword data reveals significant opportunities that you aren’t yet capitalising on. By using Google’s Keyword Planner, first identify the keywords people are using in relation to your products or services and the search volumes associated with them. High search volumes for relevant keywords indicate a robust market, signalling potential untapped growth for your business that could be capitalised on via SEO.
Next, examine your website’s performance for these keywords using Google Search Console. If you find that you’re not ranking well for high-volume and highly relevant keywords, it’s a strong indication that there’s an opportunity to improve your SEO efforts. Investing in targeted SEO strategies can help you capture this untapped market, driving more traffic and, ultimately, more leads to your site.
When the Data Suggests That Your Website Has Technical Issues
Technical issues can severely hinder your website’s ability to rank well in search engines, making it critical to address them promptly. Google Search Console provides some reports on various technical issues, such as pages not being indexed, mobile usability errors, and slow page loading speeds.
Additionally, a sudden and unexplained drop in traffic could indicate a technical problem. If your website was previously driving leads but isn’t anymore, this is a clear sign that technical SEO issues might be at play. In these cases, if quick fixes don’t resolve the problem, investing in professional SEO services to diagnose and fix these issues is essential to restoring your website’s performance and ensuring it continues to generate valuable leads.
When Your Website Lacks Authority
A website’s domain authority plays a crucial role in its ability to rank for competitive keywords. Tools like Moz, SEMrush, and Ahrefs allow you to compare your website’s domain authority against your competitors on a scale of 1 to 100. If your domain authority is significantly lower than your competitors, it’s possible that this is holding your site back from ranking well in search engines like Google. In this scenario, investing more in SEO (and specifically link building or digital PR) may be key to boost your website’s performance.
One of the most effective ways to improve domain authority is through link-building or digital PR campaigns. These campaigns aim to secure high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites, such as online news outlets or industry blogs, which positively impact your site’s credibility in the eyes of search engines. It’s advisable to start with a comprehensive backlink audit to determine if links are indeed a problem and then work with SEO professionals to build a strategy that improves your site’s authority.
When Your Website Isn’t Ranking for Relevant Long-Tail Keyword Opportunities
Long-tail keywords are often less competitive but highly specific search phrases that users make when they are looking for answers to questions or more in-depth information on products, services, or issues related to your area of expertise. Ranking for these keywords can be a great way to capture the attention of target audiences early on the customer journey or when they are doing product research.
Creating long-tail editorial content also helps to build “topical clusters” of related articles or content assets around a specific topic or service area related to a keyword pool you want to target. This can support search rankings for long-tail keywords and enhance your website’s overall relevance in search engines for key topics. To identify these opportunities, use Google Keyword Planner to find long-tail keywords and then check Google Search Console to see how you’re currently ranking for them. If there are lots of relevant long tail keywords you should be ranking for, it may be an opportunity to invest more in on-page SEO and content production.
When There Isn’t Intense Competition for Your Target Keywords
If there are lots of high-volume, high-intent keywords related to your products or services with relatively low competition, this represents a prime opportunity for SEO investment.
Tools like Google’s Keyword Planner will allow you to conduct keyword research to find this out, while tools like SEMrush can provide a gauge on the competition level for keywords and identify areas where your business can easily gain visibility.
Investing in SEO when keyword competition is low can help you establish a strong foothold before your competitors catch on, especially if the search volume and user intent is correct.
When You’re Relying Too Heavily (or Only) on Paid Ads
Paid advertising, such as PPC, is an effective way to generate immediate traffic and leads. However, over-reliance on paid ads alone can become costly over time.
If your PPC campaigns are driving significant traffic for particular keywords, this may also indicate that ranking organically for those keywords could be highly lucrative.
Investing in SEO to improve your organic rankings for these keywords reduces dependency on paid ads, improving your overall ROI and cost per acquisition. In the long term, this also frees up your PPC budget to be used more strategically elsewhere, such as for targeting new markets or launching more targeted digital marketing campaigns.
When the Data Shows That Organic Traffic Already Converts into Valuable Leads
Google Analytics allows you to track how organic traffic is driving conversions on your site (if you have the right goals set up). If you find that even limited organic traffic is already generating a decent percentage of your conversions, this is a strong indicator that further investment in SEO could be highly beneficial.
Enhancing your SEO to attract more organic traffic can lead to a proportional increase in valuable traffic or leads, making it a wise area for further investment. Prioritising SEO in this context can significantly boost your overall business performance by capturing a larger share of the market.
When You Can’t Find Your Business on Google
It may seem basic, but if your business doesn’t appear in Google search results, there’s likely a significant issue with your website’s SEO. This could be due to technical issues, such as improper indexing or a Google penalty, that are preventing your site from being visible in search engines.
In such cases, it’s crucial to invest in a technical SEO audit to diagnose and fix the underlying problems. Ensuring that your website is discoverable on Google is fundamental, even if your business primarily operates offline. Potential customers or partners searching for your company’s brand name, location, contact details, or services need to be able to find you easily, or you risk losing valuable opportunities.
When Your Target Audience Goes to Google for Products or Services First
If market research or keyword analysis shows that your target audience frequently turns to Google to find products or services like yours, it’s a clear sign that you should consider investing more in SEO. Understanding what keywords your potential customers are searching for and the search volume associated with them will help you prioritise your SEO efforts.
When the data confirms that your audience relies on search engines for purchasing decisions or service inquiries, enhancing your SEO can lead to significant growth in traffic, leads, and revenue. Failing to invest in SEO under these circumstances could mean missing out on a substantial portion of your market.
When Not to Over-Invest in SEO
While SEO is often a worthwhile investment, there are situations where over-investing may not be the best strategy. For instance, if your target audience isn’t searching for your services in search engines, or if your product or service is so new that consumers don’t yet know they need it, SEO might not yield immediate results. In these cases, focusing on more proactive marketing strategies, such as paid social media advertising or PR, may be more effective.
Additionally, if your market research shows that your audience doesn’t use search engines for the products or services you offer, you may not wish to over-invest in SEO. According to research, 51% of shoppers use Google to find new products. However, if your product doesn’t fall within that category, it may be better to allocate resources to other marketing channels, such as PR.
The Bottom Line on When to Invest in SEO
Deciding on when to invest more in SEO requires a holistic analysis of multiple factors, from keyword opportunities and technical issues to competition levels and audience behaviour. You may also want to consider how far your resources or budget could stretch when it comes to SEO. Ultimately, the decision to invest more in SEO should be guided by comprehensive data analysis. Consider all the points discussed in this article collectively rather than in isolation to make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals. While SEO can provide long-term benefits and substantial ROI in most cases, it’s also essential to recognise when other marketing channels, such as PPC, paid social media ads or PR, might be more suitable.
Cutting Operating Costs and Meeting Net Zero Goals with Commercial Solar
1. Cutting Operating Costs
One of the biggest reasons Foundation Energy invested in solar for their Saltwater Treatment Plant in Calvin, OK was to reduce operating costs. For the next 30 years Foundation will not only have a commercial solar panel system that will reduce emissions for their site, but they will also be able to take advantage of the tax credits associated with the project.
One of the most persuasive reasons for businesses in Oklahoma to invest in a commercial solar panel installation is the potential for significant cost savings. With electric rates on the rise in the state, the ability to generate your own electricity can lead to considerable reductions in operational costs over time. Solar Power of Oklahoma’s commercial solar services are leaps and bounds ahead of anyone in the state and we can attest to our Commercial Solar Division and their attention to detail they bring to our commercial solar customers throughout all stages of the project.
The benefits of solar energy for commercial buildings begin day one, offering a sustainable way to decrease monthly energy expenses. As businesses look towards maximizing efficiency and cutting costs, solar power continues to emerge as a compelling solution.
2. Access to Attractive Government Incentives
The financial viability of commercial solar installations is further enhanced by government incentives. For instance, the 2023 updates to the U.S. Department of Energy policies include a 30% Investment Tax Credit for commercial solar projects under 1MW AC. Additionally, we have assisted businesses with REAP Grant applications offers up to 50% coverage of solar project costs for rural small businesses.
These incentives not only lower the initial investment for industrial solar panels, but also improve the return on investment for the entire projects, making commercial solar panels a savvy financial decision for Oklahoma businesses and municipalities.
3. Commitment to Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
ESG, Net Zero Goals, and corporate responsibility in relation to sustainability is growing at a rapid pace in Oklahoma. Our Commercial Solar Division can create carbon emission models to meet net zero goals for individual business locations to apply to a larger corporate goal.
The City of Norman has been leading the way in sustainability for years, and in 2020 they invested in commercial solar panels for their UV Composting Plant, just south of highway 9 near the university. This 78-panel project not only reduced the site’s operating costs, but also added to the city’s ongoing sustainability goals.
Adopting solar power allows businesses to visibly commit to sustainability and environmental responsibility. This commitment can strengthen a company’s brand image and appeal to a growing segment of consumers and clients who prioritize green initiatives. By generating renewable energy, businesses can reduce their carbon footprint, contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and support the global movement towards achieving net zero goals.
4. Enhanced Energy Independence
Solar power provides businesses with a pathway to energy independence, reducing their reliance on traditional power grids. This independence is not only a step towards sustainability but also offers a buffer against rising energy costs and potential supply disruptions. With their own solar installations, businesses can ensure a more predictable and stable energy supply, which is particularly valuable in sectors where energy demand and reliability are critical to operations.
5. Long-Term Reliability and Low Maintenance
Solar power systems are renowned for their durability and low maintenance requirements, making them an ideal long-term investment for businesses. Modern solar panels are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and can provide reliable energy generation for decades. With over 120,000 solar panels installed in Oklahoma, SPO can proudly say that our commercial solar panels will stand the test of time. Additionally, our Commercial Solar Division aims for long-term partnerships that will serve our customers for years to come, which is why we also offer O&M contracts to service and monitor panels when necessary.
In conclusion, commercial solar panel systems present Oklahoma businesses with a unique opportunity to reduce energy costs, benefit from government incentives, demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, achieve energy independence, and enjoy the reliability of a low-maintenance energy solution. As the state and the nation move towards a greener future, businesses that adopt solar will not only lead the way in environmental stewardship, but also enjoy a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Rapid yen appreciation in this year’s third quarter attracted policy attention when it triggered a brief-but-disruptive volatility surge across major asset markets. The precise contagion emerged quickly. The unwinding of yen carry-trades estimated in the order of several hundred billion dollars ignited a vicious cycle of forced liquidations. As currency gains lifted the repayment costs of yen loans funding non-yen investments, attempts to sell non-yen assets in haste to repay yen debt exacerbated both the yen rally and the local currency assets rout.
Even though market sentiment eventually rebounded and volatility fell, the existence of substantial fair-weather carry-trades — made possible by institutional foreign currency borrowing — attracted policy attention. A mirage of “plentiful liquidity” that comingles “sticky” money supply with “transitory” flows likely overstated the financial system’s resiliency and market depth.
In the context of Warren Buffett’s remark that “You don’t find out who’s been swimming naked until the tide goes out,” transitory liquidity from carry-trades were part of a recent phenomenon that kept markets’ “water level” artificially high and swimmers content, at least until 3Q 2024 demonstrated the fleeting nature of “liquidity-on-loan.”
In a subsequent interview, BIS Economic Adviser and Head of Research Hyun Song Shin reflected on the implications of the yen carry-trade unwind. Prior to the volatility episode, asset markets were recipients of inflows from institutional currency borrowing, commonly known as FX swaps. Such swaps bridges sources of cheap liquidity — like Japan — with markets of higher-yielding assets — like the United States. Amid rising FX swap flows, the yen carry-trades gradually evolved from retail investors in Japan putting yen savings into higher-yielding foreign currencies to market-moving institutional “yield-seeking” flows.
Figure 1.
While FX swaps originally served the goal of currency hedging, Shin noted that financial uses of the FX swaps to convert borrowed cash into foreign currencies now represent the lion’s share of this market. Thus, institutions “not constrained by the funding currency” can source liquidity anywhere that is economic to do so, and FX swaps “project” these funds from one market to another, potentially drowning out local monetary measures and market signals.
Shin proposed that if money is already “fungible across currencies” in the current system, then such borderless money erodes the importance of local money supply managed by national central banks. This also rationalizes the puzzling coexistence of high interest rates and buoyant asset valuations. If money supply is tight in the United States but loose in Japan, FX swaps can turn cheap liquidity under BOJ’s easing regime into “fungible dollars” to buy US assets and erode the effect of Fed tightening.
This also explains the 3Q 2024 volatility spike and subsequent risk sentiment rebound seen in Figure 2. Both did not coincide with material changes in U.S. domestic liquidity conditions. For carry-trades inject or drain “transitory” liquidity unrelated to domestic liquidity conditions under the Fed’s purview.
Figure 2.
Borderless, Flighty Liquidity Complicates Policy Transmission and Heightens Market Volatility
Under contemporary central bank frameworks, asset prices are key to monetary policy transmission. The state of risk appetite in equity and corporate debt markets, short-term and long-term interest rates, and currency valuations act as central banks’ conduit to influence activities in the real economy. Numerous financial conditions indices (FCIs) would measure the effective policy stance transmitted to the economy:
Easier FCI: Markets relay looser policy to the economy via higher equity prices, lower yields, cheaper currency.
Tighter FCI: Markets transmit restrictive policy via lower stock prices, higher yields, and stronger currency.
The existence of substantial carry-trade flows therefore adds “noise” to policy transmission by easing or tightening FCI on its own. If a national central bank intends to tighten policy, large carry-trade inflows enabled by cheap liquidity abroad and FX swaps erode such policy stances. Conversely, a carry-trade unwind reduces the easing effect of rate cuts.
To asset markets, weaker policy influence on financial conditions implies greater hurdles to assess liquidity risk premium. Money supply suggests one liquidity condition, while “transitory” institutional carry-trades further modifies that calculus. The policy and market challenges together suggest higher symmetrical market volatility. In other words, euphoric rallies from inflows that eclipse policy tightening vs. asset routs from panic-induced unwinds that fuel calls for policy easing.
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Air quality (AQ), and the policies enacted to improve it, is becoming an increasingly important issue. It is also becoming increasingly politicised; exemplified by arguments over clean air zones like London’s ULEZ, low traffic neighbourhoods and even moorland burning (Weber et al. 2023). The negative impact of poor AQ on health, particularly for the most vulnerable people, is well established yet understanding the drivers of air quality and, thus the ways it can be improved, is challenging.
AQ is generally defined in terms of the concentrations of key pollutants which negatively impact human health, for example nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Their concentrations are determined by the balance of pollutant sources (local emissions, longer range transport and production in the atmosphere) and sinks (loss to terrestrial or aqueous surfaces and dispersion in the atmosphere). Thus, understanding AQ requires knowledge of meteorology,atmospheric chemistry and aerosol science. While an extreme example, the London Smog of 1952 which resulted in at least 10,000 deaths, cannot be understood without considering both the anti-cyclonic behaviour which led to a temperature inversion, trapping air close to the ground, and the chemistry which converted the sulphur dioxide emitted by the burning of low quality coal into sulphuric acid.
The dependence on prevailing meteorology can make evaluation of interventions, such as clean air zones, challenging, particularly in the short term because it can be hard to determine the extent to which any AQ change (or lack thereof) following an intervention is due to changes in local emissions (which the intervention can influence) and/or the extent to which it is due to prevailing meteorology and longer-range transport of pollution.
The assessment of clean air zones is beyond the scope of a single blog post but here I present a summary of how some key, widely measured pollutants have changed in Reading over the last 10 years, explore how simple analysis can point to their source(s) and demonstrate how machine learning can be used to assess the influence of different variables on their concentrations. I focus on Reading, but this analysis could be done with data from any of the ~270 air quality monitoring sites maintained by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) around the UK as well as those maintained by local authorities and the ever-growing number of air quality monitoring sites around the world.
Comparison to AQ Targets
I use the DEFRA air quality monitoring site located in Reading New Town, an urban background site (i.e. not next to a busy road) in this case and make use of the excellent Openair R package from David Carslaw and colleagues at the University of York. It is important to recognise that the concentrations of shorter-lived pollutants can vary across an urban region due to varying proximity to local sources and the (lack of) mixing due to orography, for example the street canyon effect. Therefore, to construct a complete picture, multiple sites across a city or town should be considered.
The most recent WHO air quality targets recommend that daily mean NO2 and PM2.5 concentrations should not exceed 25 μg m-3 and 15 μg m-3 respectively for more than 3-4 days per year (~1%)viii. Plots of daily mean NO2 and PM2.5 for 2014-2024 (Fig 1) demonstrate just how frequently these pollutants have exceeded this limit over the last 10 years (30% and 10% of the time respectively). Of course, care must be taken when applying a limit proposed in 2021 to years prior but it is nevertheless informative.
Daily mean NO2 and PM2.5 concentrations with 2021 WHO target (black line) and 2005 WHO target (dashed black line, PM2.5 only).
Longer Term Trends
Analysing the longer term trend however paints a slightly different picture. NO2 exhibits a consistent decrease (p<0.001) over 2014-2024 (Fig 2a) while PM2.5 shows a much slower decline (p<0.05) (Fig 2b). The reduction in NO2 is likely driven by improvements to the vehicle fleet given traffic’s role as a major NO2 source (see later). Early 2020 does appear to exhibit relatively low NO2 which could be attributed solely to the COVID19 lockdown’s reduced traffic flow. However, this lower NO2 starts before lockdown began and is likely due, at least initially, to the meteorological conditions . January, February and early March 2020 experienced more westerlies (i.e. air originating from less polluted regions) and higher wind speeds than late March and April 2020 which also had more easterlies (air coming from more polluted areas). Therefore, pre-lockdown meteorological conditions were conducive to relatively low NO2 while after the start of lockdown, meteorological conditions favoured higher NO2, suggesting the observed low values were due more to emission reductions.This one example highlights the complexity of understanding the drivers of air quality.
The rate of PM2.5 decrease is around an order of magnitude lower than that of NO2 which is due in part to traffic contributing a smaller fraction to PM2.5 emissions than NO2.
While NO2 and PM2.5 show decreases, O3 exhibits a steady increase (p<0.001) (Fig 2c). This increase is in part due to the reduction in NOx(=NO + NO2); in particular, the increase in O3 levels in early 2020 coincided with the Covid lockdown.This highlights a key challenge in AQ policy; under certain chemical environments, reducing NOx will increase O3 (Grange et al., 2021).
Monthly mean concentrations and trend for (a) NO2, (b) PM2.5 and (c) O3 from the Reading New Tow sensor. Numbers in green show slope and values at 95% confidence.
These trends are also seen in the exceedances. NO2 drops from ~50% exceedance in 2014-2017 to <10% in 2023 (with a COVID19 dip also visible) while PM2.5 shows slower improvement (Fig 3).
Percentage of years each year when daily mean NO2 and PM2.5 exceeded the WHO 2021 limit for Reading New Town.
The Detective Work Begins
Of course, from a policy perspective, the key aim is to understand the relative importance of difference sources of air pollution so that measures – local, regional, national, or even international – can be designed to improve the situation.
The diurnal and weekly cycles of NO2 and PM2.5 (Fig 4) provide some clues as to their sources and so how they might be affected by policies. During the week, NO2 shows strong peaks in the morning and evening rush hour, supporting the dominant role of traffic. In contrast, PM2.5’s morning peak is much smaller, and the evening peak occurs slightly later, suggesting the reduction in boundary layer height and greater confinement of pollution closer to the surface is more important for PM2.5 than NO2 (local emissions from domestic heating may also play a small role in the winter). Over the course of a week, NO2 also exhibits a much greater reduction at the weekend as the flow of commercial vehicles, a major source of NO2, is greatly reduced; however, PM2.5 exhibits little weekday-weekend variation, further supporting the argument that a greater fraction of PM2.5 comes from non-traffic sources.
Diurnal, weekly and annual variation in normalised NO2 and PM2.5 concentrations.
Local Emissions vs. Longer Range Transport
If we combine the AQ data with meteorological data from the University of Reading’s atmospheric observatory, the influence of wind speed and wind direction on pollutant levels can be examined. The polar plots in Figure 5 show normalised NO2 (left) and PM2.5 (right) concentrations as a function of wind speed and direction. NO2 concentrations are highest at very low wind speeds (i.e. centre of plot) while stronger winds from East-North-East (ENE, ~the Greater London region) are also associated with higher NO2. Higher wind speeds from other directions are associated with low NO2, suggesting the dispersion of local emissions is outweighing any longer range transport. The story is quite different for PM2.5: low wind speeds do yield higher than average concentrations but, by far the highest pollution arises when there are strong winds from ENE. This presents strong evidence that NO2 is primarily governed by local emissions, with a smaller contribution from longer range transport, while PM2.5 is driven much more by transport of pollution. Therefore, policies to reduce local emissions (e.g. a Reading clean air zone) are more likely to improve NO2 (which is already decreasing steadily anyway) than PM2.5. Of course, the situation may be very different in another town or city; just because it appears (at least from preliminary analysis) that a clean air zone in Reading would have little impact on PM2.5, this does not mean such a policy would be ineffective for PM2.5 everywhere.
Polar plots of NO2 and PM2.5
The Rise of the Machine (Learning)
As in many fields, machine learning can be used *with great care* to understand the variability of a particular parameter (e.g. NO2) to a range of explanatory variables. In this case, I use the deweather package developed by David Carslaw and colleagues to construct a statistical model of pollutant concentration from contemporaneous meteorological and temporal data (e.g. wind speed, hour of the day).
After building the model, I explore the dependency of a pollutant to each variable in turn – the so-called partial dependency – by sampling the model with many different values of that variable while holding all other variables at their mean value. This provides information as to how each variable in isolation can affect air quality and the magnitude of its influence (Fig 6). Of course, this requires the user to have included all the important factors and, in this case, we have used a basic set of explanatory variables, omitting more complex ones such as air mass origin which can be useful for tracking long range transport of pollution.
The plots for PM2.5 and NO2 (for 2021-2024) show that both pollutants are predicted to decrease with higher wind speeds (U10) but note the slight increase at high speed for PM2.5, most likely driven by the behaviour seen in Fig 5. Increasing temperatures (Td) are also associated with lower pollution, possibly due to a higher boundary layer and therefore greater mixing of pollutants away from the surface, although the cause of the uptick in concentration from PM2.5 remains unclear.
Higher levels of pollution are also associated with winds from the east (i.e. those which have passed over Greater London) but this is more influential for PM2.5 than NO2 (in agreement with Fig 5). The diurnal cycles seen in the observational data are broadly reproduced but this factor is more important for NO2 than PM2.5, reflecting the greater role of traffic in NO2 production. The model returns a similar weekday-weekend pattern as observed in Figure 4.
For both pollutants, the trend is the single most influential component. This can be thought of as the variability not captured by the other explanatory variables and will include the impact of longer term emission changes but could also include the impact of factors not included in the explanatory variables, such as varying air mass origin in this case, and so should be interpreted with care.
An obvious use of this statistical model is to predict pollutant concentrations under counterfactual situations. For example, if a clean air zone is implemented, such a model can be used to predict the concentration of pollutants which would have occurred had no such policy been put in place (Grange et al., 2021). The difference between the modelled counterfactual concentration and measured concentration at a given time is the true impact of the policy and a better metric than the oft-used approach of comparing air quality values at an (often arbitrary) time before and after a policy’s implementation. These models are thus powerful tools for analysing the impact for policies but great care must be taken to ensure model biases – which are inevitable – are not conflated with a policy’s impact.
Partial dependencies for PM2.5 (left) and NO2 (right). U10 is 10 m wind speed, Dirn10 10 m wind direction and Td dry bulb temperature.
References and Further Reading
For analysing air quality data, the Openair package offers a wide range of analysis and data visualisation tools. Grange et al (2018) presents the use of deweather in analysing PM while Grange et al (2021) demonstrates predicting the counterfactual to analyse the impact of changing emissions. The R scripts used to generate the plots are available on request from the author.
Weber, James; Val Martin, Maria; Bryant, Robert (2023). Impact of Moorland Fires on Sheffield Air Quality on 9th October 2023. The University of Sheffield. Report. https://doi.org/10.15131/shef.data.24356629.v1
Stuart K. Grange, James D. Lee, Will S. Drysdale, Alastair C. Lewis, Christoph Hueglin, Lukas Emmenegger, and David C. Carslaw, (2021). COVID-19 lockdowns highlight a risk of increasing ozone pollution in European urban areas. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4169-2021
Stuart K. Grange, David C. Carslaw, Alastair C. Lewis, Eirini Boleti, and Christoph Hueglin, (2018). Random forest meteorological normalisation models for Swiss PM10 trend analysis. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-6223-2018
Dacre, H.F., Mortimer, A.H. and Neal, L.S., 2020. How have surface NO2 concentrations changed as a result of the UK’s COVID-19 travel restrictions?.Environmental Research Letters, 15(10), p.104089. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abb6a2
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Data shows leaders and laggards for total electric school buses and combined investments driving electric school bus conversion.
Introduction
Each year, more than 490,000 school buses shuttle children back and forth across the United States –to school, field trips, sporting events and more. As most of these buses burn diesel fuel, children and drivers are exposed to harmful pollutants that are linked to asthma, other health issues and cognitive development problems.
Conversely, electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions, and therefore offer a cleaner, healthier alternative to diesel buses. This report finds the number of these zero-emission vehicles are growing in school districts around the country, thanks in part to big investments from Congress and states to transition to electric school buses.
Federal Funding
As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress authorized up to $5 billion to help school districts transition to electric school buses via the Clean School Bus Program (CSBP). The program provides grant and rebate funding opportunities to school districts, nonprofit school transportation associations and tribal organizations to replace older, diesel buses with newer, electric or low-emission models.
The first round of funding applications under the new program solicited applications from May through August 2022, and the EPA received approximately 2,000 applications requesting nearly $4 billion for 12,000 buses. Due to the high demand, the agency nearly doubled its initial $500 million rebate pool. The awards for that round of funding are shown below.
2022 Clean School Bus Rebate Program Awards
Source: EPA Clean School Bus Program Rebate Awards as of 8/15/24
In 2023, the EPA opened a second funding opportunity through the 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program, which provided grants rather than the previous rebate. Winners were selected based on their applications and prioritizing high need and rural school districts.
2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program Awards
Source: EPA Clean School Bus Program Grant Awards as of 8/15/24
In September 2023 a third round of funding opened in the form of a rebate. On May 29th, the EPA announced awards for the 2023 rebates, shown in the table below.
2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program Awards
Source: EPA Clean School Bus Program Rebate Awards as of 8/15/24
The Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Grant Program
The Inflation Reduction Act sets aside $1 billion to fund the transition to zero-emission heavy duty vehicles including zero-emission Class 6 or Class 7 school buses via the Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles (CHDV) Grant Program. This program was open to other heavy duty electric vehicles in addition to Class 6 and 7 school buses, including dump trucks, transit buses, delivery trucks and others. Applications for grants opened in April 2024, and the application period closed in July 2024. Information about awards for the CHDV program will be posted on the EPA Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Program website.
The EPA plans to notify grantees in November 2024 and award the grants in February 2025.
State Funding
In addition to the EPA’s monumental investment in the transition to electric school buses, states from across the country have adopted legislation of their own to support school districts in replacing older diesel buses with cleaner electric ones.
Below is a list of the top 10 states based on the total state and federal funding dedicated to electric school buses as of May 29, 2024.*
*Data from Atlas Public Policy, accurate through May 29, 2024. Does not include dollars from the 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program that were categorized as a mix of fuel types.
A complete list of states ranked by public funding for electric school buses can be found in Appendix A.
Number of electric school buses by state
Using data from the World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Dashboard, the following table shows the status of total committed electric school buses (ESBs), awarded ESBs, ordered ESBs, delivered or operating ESBs, and the number of students riding ESBs for each state. The World Resources Institute considered electric school buses “committed” while in any of the four stages of adoption: awarded, ordered, delivered or operating — so long as “a school district or fleet operator has been awarded funding to purchase it or makes a formal agreement to purchase to purchase it from a manufacturer — not when they have only expressed intent to acquire one.”
At the time the data was collected in May 2024, 48 states had electric school buses delivered or in operation, with the exceptions of Wyoming and Idaho.
As of August 1, 2024, the top states for committed electric school buses are listed below:
Top 10 states for committed electric school buses as of 8/1/2024
Source: Electric School Bus Data Dashboard, State ESB Adoption tab, World Resources Institute, data accessed 8/1/24
States with the fewest committed electric school buses included Delaware, Alaska and Wyoming. For a complete ranking of committed electric school buses by state, see Appendix B.
Recommendations
For school districts
Set a goal to end the purchase of new fossil fuel buses and transition to a 100% zero-emission fleet. This can send an important market signal and help bring the school community together behind a single goal.
Have an account on www.SAM.gov, which is a precursor to applying for federal funds. It is free to set up an account and three additional rounds of funding will be available through 2026.
Explore all possible financing options:
Start a conversation with your utility company as early as possible to see what resources they can provide. Many utilities offer consulting services to assess wiring and charging needs or rebates to reduce the costs of the wiring upgrades and infrastructure installation. In addition, work with your utility to ensure a competitive charging price system is in place.
For lawmakers
Dedicate dollars to zero-emission, electric school buses
Identify and remove barriers to incentivize utility companies to develop effective and consistent rates for electric school bus charging, particularly around peak demand rates.
Support research and development in electric school bus technology, including vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-building technology.
For utilities
Continue to increase renewable energy capacity on the grid, making electric buses even cleaner.
Develop turnkey programs to assist school districts in assessing their charging needs and providing incentives for charging infrastructure.
Financially support research and development in electric school bus technology, including vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-building technology.
Establish bulk purchase savings programs to lower costs for school districts.
Create pricing structures that incentivize school districts to use vehicle-to-building and/or vehicle-to-grid opportunities from school buses
For parents and students
Call on your school board to convert to electric school buses by passing a resolution to transition the fleet to 100% electric buses and only purchase electric school buses moving forward.
Share information about electric school buses at PTA meetings and other educational forums to increase understanding of the benefits for students and school districts. Organize an event where students, parents and the community can experience riding an electric school bus.
Recruit volunteers to help with grant writing for smaller school districts to compete for this money.
Resources
Appendix A
Federal and State Funding for Electric School Buses (5/29/24) – data from Atlas Public Policy
Rank
State
Total Funding
1
California
$684,092,571
2
New York
$237,705,929
3
Illinois
$223,820,312
4
Texas
$184,792,970
5
Michigan
$167,740,803
6
Florida
$160,042,734
7
Georgia
$159,529,307
8
Louisiana
$144,141,664
9
Pennsylvania
$143,859,350
10
Massachusetts
$138,167,785
11
Wisconsin
$127,931,889
12
North Carolina
$106,486,639
13
Ohio
$104,654,779
14
Virginia
$96,688,873
15
Minnesota
$93,502,994
16
Missouri
$93,358,781
17
Mississippi
$91,613,989
18
Oklahoma
$79,774,605
19
Colorado
$76,139,322
20
Arizona
$75,376,503
21
South Carolina
$73,935,000
22
Connecticut
$73,264,508
23
Washington
$69,208,805
24
Oregon
$63,962,000
25
New Jersey
$60,074,725
26
Indiana
$59,783,065
27
Tennessee
$57,629,250
28
Kansas
$41,570,000
29
Kentucky
$40,013,020
30
Arkansas
$38,605,000
31
New Hampshire
$34,865,000
32
Maryland
$33,986,421
33
Montana
$27,690,382
34
Nebraska
$26,735,000
35
Alabama
$25,242,558
36
Rhode Island
$23,470,000
37
West Virginia
$22,345,000
38
Maine
$20,550,000
39
Iowa
$20,500,000
40
North Dakota
$19,442,375
41
Utah
$19,155,660
42
Nevada
$17,579,604
43
District of Columbia (D.C.)
$14,450,000
44
Vermont
$11,972,791
45
New Mexico
$11,521,687
46
Idaho
$8,295,000
47
Hawaii
$4,844,660
48
South Dakota
$3,127,857
49
Delaware
$965,681
50
Alaska
$802,465
51
Wyoming
$0
Appendix B
Committed Electric School Buses Ranked by State as of 8/1/24
Rank
State
Committed ESBs
Awarded ESBs
Ordered ESBs
Delivered or operating ESBs
Students riding ESBs
1
California
3,107
726
1204
1,177
63,675
2
New York
764
566
80
118
4,853
3
Illinois
609
425
52
132
4,938
4
Florida
467
229
72
166
7,715
5
Pennsylvania
460
360
63
37
1,736
6
Maryland
439
53
50
336
30,254
7
Massachusetts
434
288
84
62
3,444
8
Texas
424
359
35
30
561
9
Virginia
385
83
66
236
16,174
10
Georgia
341
222
31
88
3,716
11
Michigan
315
188
67
60
2,153
12
New Jersey
306
167
2
137
5,553
13
Louisiana
283
259
4
20
1,359
14
North Carolina
263
178
14
71
4,002
15
Oregon
246
189
14
43
2,048
16
Missouri
229
159
14
56
2,227
17
Washington
222
128
15
79
2,498
18
Connecticut
211
166
0
45
2,444
19
South Carolina
195
181
0
14
832
20
Arizona
186
161
7
18
756
21
Mississippi
165
107
0
58
2,610
22
Ohio
165
150
9
6
285
23
Colorado
144
70
28
46
2,070
24
Wisconsin
141
117
4
20
745
25
Oklahoma
138
62
11
65
2,925
26
New Hampshire
117
113
0
4
200
27
Indiana
104
65
4
35
1,352
28
Kentucky
104
47
6
51
2,219
29
Minnesota
101
88
4
9
325
30
West Virginia
99
52
37
10
470
31
Tennessee
86
41
26
19
1,059
32
Montana
81
64
1
16
334
33
Rhode Island
79
45
24
10
561
34
Arkansas
78
72
2
4
196
35
Maine
78
36
20
22
1,133
36
Alabama
70
48
14
8
331
37
Kansas
64
50
0
14
638
38
Iowa
60
41
1
18
671
39
Nevada
57
25
10
22
1,094
40
Vermont
39
21
1
17
847
41
Utah
36
14
0
22
1,270
42
New Mexico
34
23
5
6
464
43
Hawaii
23
20
0
3
149
44
Idaho
23
10
13
0
0
45
Nebraska
23
19
0
4
33
46
North Dakota
18
11
0
7
130
47
South Dakota
8
2
0
6
132
48
Delaware
5
3
1
1
82
49
Alaska
2
0
1
1
82
50
Wyoming
0
0
0
0
0
Source: Electric School Bus Data Dashboard, State ESB Adoption tab, World Resources Institute, data accessed 8/1/24
Appendix C
Committed electric school buses by state alphabetical as of 8/1/2024
State
Committed ESBs
Awarded ESBs
Ordered ESBs
Delivered or operating ESBs
Students riding ESBs
Alabama
70
48
14
8
331
Alaska
2
0
1
1
82
Arizona
186
161
7
18
756
Arkansas
78
72
2
4
196
California
3,107
726
1204
1,177
63,675
Colorado
144
70
28
46
2,070
Connecticut
211
166
0
45
2,444
Delaware
5
3
1
1
82
Florida
467
229
72
166
7,715
Georgia
341
222
31
88
3,716
Hawaii
23
20
0
3
149
Idaho
23
10
13
0
0
Illinois
609
425
52
132
4,938
Indiana
104
65
4
35
1,352
Iowa
60
41
1
18
671
Kansas
64
50
0
14
638
Kentucky
104
47
6
51
2,219
Louisiana
283
259
4
20
1,359
Maine
78
36
20
22
1,133
Maryland
439
53
50
336
30,254
Massachusetts
434
288
84
62
3,444
Michigan
315
188
67
60
2,153
Minnesota
101
88
4
9
325
Mississippi
165
107
0
58
2,610
Missouri
229
159
14
56
2,227
Montana
81
64
1
16
334
Nebraska
23
19
0
4
33
Nevada
57
25
10
22
1,094
New Hampshire
117
113
0
4
200
New Jersey
306
167
2
137
5,553
New Mexico
34
23
5
6
464
New York
764
566
80
118
4,853
North Carolina
263
178
14
71
4,002
North Dakota
18
11
0
7
130
Ohio
165
150
9
6
285
Oklahoma
138
62
11
65
2,925
Oregon
246
189
14
43
2,048
Pennsylvania
460
360
63
37
1,736
Rhode Island
79
45
24
10
561
South Carolina
195
181
0
14
832
South Dakota
8
2
0
6
132
Tennessee
86
41
26
19
1,059
Texas
424
359
35
30
561
Utah
36
14
0
22
1,270
Vermont
39
21
1
17
847
Virginia
385
83
66
236
16,174
Washington
222
128
15
79
2,498
West Virginia
99
52
37
10
470
Wisconsin
141
117
4
20
745
Wyoming
0
0
0
0
0
Source: Electric School Bus Data Dashboard, State ESB Adoption tab, World Resources Institute, data accessed 8/1/24
By Danny Katz, Executive Director, CoPIRG Foundation, U.S. PRIG Education Fund
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This article is all about where to stay in Hue. Other Vietnamese cities, such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, often overshadow this wonderful spot, but Hue has an abundance of charm that makes it well worth exploring.
Hue dates back millennia and the ancient Imperial City for which it’s most well known stands as a place of historical importance within Vietnam. Whether heading here for your first time or simply looking for the best time, I’ll cover everything you need to know. Without further ado, let’s look at the best areas to stay in Hue.
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Best Areas to Stay in Hue
Pham Ngu Lao: Best Place To Stay in Hue for Your First Time
The best neighborhood in Hue for first-timers is Pham Ngu Lao. This lively district is centrally located and within easy walking distance of major attractions like the Imperial City, Dong Ba Market, and the picturesque Perfume River.
It’s a hub for tourist amenities, with plenty of tour agencies, currency exchanges, and transportation options; making it nice and easy for newcomers to navigate the city. The area’s array of hotels ensures plenty of choice to suit every traveler’s budget.
Pros of Staying in Pham Ngu Lao
Central Location: Ideal for many of Hue’s tourist attractions.
Variety of Accommodation: Serving all budgets the area is home to many hotels, apartments, and hostels.
Vibrant Atmosphere: Lastly, the lively streets are filled with cafes, restaurants, and bars.
Cons of Staying in Pham Ngu Lao
Noisy and Crowded: The lively atmosphere can be noisy and crowded, especially at night.
Touristy Vibe: The area can feel overly touristy, with a higher concentration of Western restaurants and bars.
Pushy Vendors: There are often persistent hawkers and vendors selling tours and souvenirs.
Best Places to Stay in Pham Ngu Lao
There are many great accommodation options around Pham Ngu Lao, offering some of the best places to stay in Hues’ center. Here are a few of my top recommendations:
1. Huong Giang Hotel Resort & Spa: Catering to travelers seeking that true vacation vibe, this hotel has it all. It features an outdoor pool, spa, and fitness center, and also includes free parking and breakfast. Click here for details.
2. Dragon Hue Hotel: A free airport shuttle, seasonal outdoor pool, and great WiFi, make this the perfect option for sightseers wanting a comfortable central hotel from which to base themselves. Click here for details.
3. Boutique Hue K L Y: Hundreds of reviews rate this option as superb and one of the best hotels in Hue. Despite its ideal location and stylish design, nightly rates are incredibly affordable. Click here for details.
Top Things to Do in Pham Ngu Lao
The Imperial City, Hue.
Hue is jam-packed with fun experiences and cultural sights. Pham Ngu Lao is considered by many to be the best area to stay in Hue to explore several of the main attractions. Here are a few top suggestions;
1. Visit the Imperial City: One of the biggest attractions in Hue is the Imperial City. The 17th-century walled citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit! Check out this guided tour, it’s the best way to see and learn all about its history.
2. Stroll Through February 3 Park: Take in the beauty of the Perfume River and enjoy a retreat in calming surroundings in this delightful urban park. Some excellent river tours and a floating restaurant can be found along the banks. Click here for directions.
3. Visit La Ba Dang Art Museum: A unique museum dedicated to the works of renowned Vietnamese artist Le Ba Dang. Set amid lush gardens, the gallery is a serene environment befitting the nature of Le Ba Dang’s art. Click here for directions.
Where to Eat and Drink in Pham Ngu Lao
Pham Ngu Lao is the best of the Hue neighborhoods for places to eat and drink. Staying here is a great option for foodies wishing to be right in the heart of everything. Take a look at these great spots:
1. DMZ Bar & Restaurant:Featuring nightly events, live music, excellent tap beer, and a great selection of traditional and Western food, DMZ is a Hue institution. It’s a fun and vibrant place with a dive bar feel. Click here for directions.
2. Brown Eyes Bar: One very cool bar with free pool, excellent deals on cocktails, and some of the friendliest staff in Hue! Open until 3 am, it’s a popular late-night party spot. Click here for directions.
3. Street Bar – Whatever You 1:A well-loved street vendor with some of the cheapest beer and cocktails in town. What’s more, the proprietor is known to entertain his guests with rap and karate moves! Click here for directions.
Le Loi: Best Area in Hue for Nightlife
The best place to stay in Hue for nightlife is Le Loi, which is where I based myself during a fun stay in the city. Le Loi Street runs along the Perfume River and is one of Hue’s most scenic and lively spots at night.
It’s home to many of the city’s bars, clubs, and late-night eateries. Consequently, staying here places you at the center of Hue’s nightlife, with plenty of options to enjoy live music, riverfront bars, and a lively evening environment.
Pros of Staying in Le Loi
Scenic Riverside Location: Le Loi Street runs along the Perfume River, offering some spectacular views.
Cultural Hotspot: The area is home to several art galleries, boutique shops, and cultural sites.
Vibrant Nightlife: Here, you’ll find numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants plus a lively nightlife scene.
Cons of Staying in Le Loi
Limited Parking and Traffic Congestion: Unfortunately, finding a parking spot can be a challenge, and traffic can be a challenge.
Higher Accommodation Costs: Hotels and guesthouses tend to be more expensive compared to other areas in Hue.
Noise Levels: Due to its central location and active nightlife, Le Loi Street can be quite noisy, especially at night.
Best Places to Stay in Le Loi
Le Loi is the go-to spot when deciding where to stay in Hue for nightlife; it’s the perfect base for anyone looking to enjoy Hue’s energetic evening scene. Here are a few top accommodation choices:
1. The Chum Boutique: Hue hotels near nightlife don’t come much more stylish than the Chum Boutique. Elegantly appointed rooms with unique finishes make this one classy place to stay. Click here for details.
2. Saigon Morin Hotel: With all the trappings of a luxurious resort, this hotel is perfect for families seeking a relaxing getaway. It’s ideally located for exploring in the morning and chilling in the spa or by the pool in the afternoon. Click here for details.
3. Muong Thanh Holiday Hotel: Located across from Hue Ferry Terminal, Muong Thanh Holiday Hotel offers contemporary rooms with a spa, a fitness center, and views of the river. Click here for details.
Top Things To Do in Le Loi
Staying in Le Loi, you’ll be among the best neighborhoods in Hue for sightseeing and cultural activities. Here are a few ideas to start adding to your itinerary:
1. Motorcycle through the Hai Van Pass: Can you truly say you’ve visited Vietnam without hoping on a motorcycle? Do it in style and explore the Hai Van pass that links Hue to Hoi An and Da Nang on this amazing guided motorcycle tour. Click here for more information.
2. Explore Hue’s Food Scene: I loved all the food in Vietnam – it’s so diverse and different from anything I’ve tried before. Explore the wonderful tastes of Hue with a guided foodie tour, which can be taken by foot, cycle, or moped. Click here to book.
3. Hue Museum of Royal Antiques:Take a short walk across the Perfume River and explore an excellent museum featuring ceramics, textiles, coins, and Nguyen dynasty costumes. It’s a great way to spend a morning. Click here for directions.
Where to Eat and Drink in Le Loi
Le Loi is a great area for day drinking and nighttime fun, but there’s also an excellent foodie scene. Whether it’s quick and cheap street food you’re seeking, or more high-end options, here are a few suggestions across the spectrum in the Le Loi area:
1. An Nhi Chay: An excellent vegetarian restaurant that serves quality, fresh dishes at very reasonable prices. The bright and spacious restaurant is charmingly decorated and many of the dishes are presented elegantly! Find it here.
2. Le Cercle Hue:Offering stunning river views and an outside patio that’s perfect for al fresco dining, Le Cercle has an extensive menu of Vietnamese dishes and a few Western favorites. Click here for directions.
3. Why Not? Bar and Restaurant: For good, solid Mexican food and cheap drinks, Why Not? is the ideal place to head. With a homely decor inside and a nice outdoor seating area, be sure to swing by at least once during a visit to Hue. Find it here.
Pho Di Bo / Walking Street: Coolest Place to Stay in Hue
Pho Di Bo, also known as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street or Walking Street, is the coolest part of Hue. It’s a fantastic place for travelers and should be a top consideration when looking for places for groups to stay in Hue.
This lively pedestrian street runs parallel to the river and comes alive at night. With a range of hip cafes, stylish bars, and boutique shops, the area highlights Hue’s youthful and modern side. There’s lots of fun to be had in this city region!
Pros of Staying in Pho Di Bo
Vibrant Social Scene: This area is Hue’s social hub, with street performances, live music, and pop-up markets.
Unique Shopping Experience: The street is lined with trendy boutiques, craft shops, and local artisan stalls.
Art and Culture: The area also often hosts art installations, pop-up galleries, and cultural performances.
Cons of Staying in Pho Di Bo
Limited Tranquility: The constant buzz of activities can make the area noisy and unsuitable for those seeking a peaceful stay.
Street Closures and Restrictions: As a pedestrian-only zone during certain hours, access by car or motorbike is restricted.
Higher Prices for Food and Drinks: Due to its trendy status, expect to pay higher prices in some cafes, bars, and restaurants.
Best Places to Stay in Pho Di Bo
You’ll have no problem deciding where to stay in Hue city center – the city offers an abundance of excellent accommodation. Check out these great options I found Pho Di Bo:
1. Romance Hotel: A fabulous hotel offering plenty of luxurious touches without the hefty price tag. With 2 restaurants, an onsite bar, and a delightful rooftop pool, it’s undoubtedly a perfect inner-city retreat in Hue. Click here for details.
2. Maika Guest House: There aren’t many BnBs in the city center but Maika stands out as the best guesthouse option in Hue. Friendly staff, super clean rooms, and attention to detail make this a great option. Click here for details.
3. Mickey Homestay Hue: Simple, but bright and comfortably appointed rooms with great access to Walking Street and all of Hue’s attractions. Prices are affordable given the central location and included breakfast. Click here for details.
Top Things To Do in Pho Di Bo
As well as the many great bars and exceptional nightlife, being centrally located in Hue means easy access to some of the city’s best attractions. Here are a few great activities to consider:
1. Visit the DMZ: Visit the former demilitarized zone that separated the contending North and South armies during the Vietnam War. Amazing tours include visits to the Vinh Moc tunnels and tell the story of the region’s contested past. This is a great tour that I highly recommend, click here to book yours.
2. Tu Dam Pagado: Within easy reach of Walking Street is the Tu Dam Pagado. A stunning 17th-century Buddhist temple and complex that was also the site of numerous anti-war protests in the 1960s. Click here for directions.
3. Learn About Vietnamese Coffee: Coffee is a big deal in Vietnam and each region has a specialty take on the drink. Learn about both the country’s and Hue’s versions with this epic coffee culture and Vietnamese coffee-making class. Click here to book your spot.
Where to Eat and Drink in Pho Di Bo
By its very nature, Walking Street is a prime drinking spot; designed for visitors to be able to hop easily between a selection of great bars. And for those more interested in eating than drinking, you’ll never be far away from plenty of excellent food options too, check these out for starters:
1. Bar Lab: An excellent cocktail bar that offers all your favorites and a few specialty house options. An idyllic spot with an outside patio that’s perfect for people-watching. Click here for directions.
2. Thi’s Kitchen: Among the best Vietnamese food I ate in Hue. For exceptional local dishes and a warm and welcoming ambience head to Thi’s Kitchen. Find it here.
3. Mew Secret: With cheap drinks and a portrait of the Godfather on the wall, this was always going to be somewhere I gravitated towards! A cool spot and a nice vibe day or night, with prices that are tough to beat. Click here for directions.
Nguyen Cong Tru: Best for Digital Nomads
I’m a full-time digital nomad so during my stay in Hue, Nguyen Cong Tru Street quickly became a go-to spot. It’s home to plenty of cozy cafes and a few handy coworking spaces offering reliable WiFi. It was the perfect area for getting work done.
The area’s affordable accommodations and quieter vibe allowed me to stay productive. The laid-back atmosphere also made it easy to connect with other ex-pats and there’s a nice sense of community to be found here. It’s undoubtedly the best place to stay in Hue for digital nomads and remote workers.
Pros of Staying in Nguyen Cong Tru
Great Work-Friendly Cafes: The street has cozy cafes and co-working spots with reliable WiFi.
Quiet Yet Central Location: This area has a peaceful vibe compared to the busier parts of Hue.
Convenience at Your Doorstep: Essential amenities, local markets, and eateries are all within walking distance.
Cons of Staying in Nguyen Cong Tru
Limited Nightlife: While the area is great for work, it lacks the nightlife scene found in other parts of Hue.
Fewer Luxury Options: Accommodation is mostly budget to mid-range, there aren’t any luxury hotels or resorts.
Limited Green Spaces: The area lacks large parks or green spaces for taking breaks from work.
Best Places to Stay in Nguyen Cong Tru
With its large ex-pat contingency, Nguyen Cong Tru is considered a safe neighborhood in Hue for visitors and there are many excellent affordable to mid-range hotel options. Take a look at these picks:
1. Canary Boutique: Decorated in a stylish modern Vietnamese design, this boutique hotel is ideal for digital nomads who seek comfort and luxury without the price tag. Click here for details.
2. Le Petit Homestay: Spacious and bright rooms with a balcony and city views. This small homestay hotel has work spaces in every room and high-speed WiFi throughout. Click here for details.
3. River Side Villa: If you’re looking for more of your own space during a digital nomad break in Hue, opt for this amazing riverside villa. It’s Vietnam, so prices are still super affordable, and over 500 reviews rate this place as superb. Click here for details.
Top Things To Do in Nguyen Cong Tru
The Old Quarter in Hoi An
Be sure to take a break from your digital nomad schedule to plan lots of activities. Here are a couple of things that are worth closing the laptop for during a stay in Hue:
1. Visit the Dieu De Pagoda: A historic Buddhist temple with a tranquil atmosphere and traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in the 19th century by Emperor Thieu Tri, the pagoda is a beautiful cultural, and serene spot. Click here for directions.
2. Take a trip to Hoi An: Hue is not too far from one of my favorite Vietnamese cities – Hoi An – and booking a luxury private transfer from Hue costs less than you might think. Be sure to check out my digital nomad guide to living in Hoi An for more info.
3. Cultural Food Tour: Learn more about the culture of Hue through its food. Enjoy tales and tastes along the Perfume River. I highly recommend this tour, you’ll leave feeling stuffed and well-informed! Click here to book.
Where to Eat and Drink in Nguyen Cong Tru
Although this area is away from the main drag of Walking Street, there are still some great hidden gems that you should check out. Here are a couple of excellent finds to consider:
1. Ngoc Nu Restaurant: Walk across the Pham Van Dong Bridge and you’ll encounter a fantastic traditional street food restaurant. The number of daily local patrons tells you all you need to know about this place! Click here for directions.
2. Chaleng Thai Food: The best Thai food in Hue. It’s another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, hole-in-the-wall establishment but the food is insane. Click here for directions.
3. 75Dope: A cool dive bar and grill. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but the staff are friendly and the drinks are cheap. Click here for directions.
Vy Da: Best Place in Hue on a Budget
Overall, Hue is not an expensive place to stay or live, especially when compared with many Western countries and cities. But for the budget-minded traveler, there are still pockets within even Vietnam’s most touristy cities that are more affordable.
Vy Da takes you out of the main city center and the prime tourist spots around the Imperial City. Crossing one of just two bridges to get there, this area is considered more residential, and subsequently, prices are more akin to what locals pay.
Pros of Staying in Vy Da
Lower Prices: Across the board, expect to pay less for accommodation, food, and drink.
Fewer Tourists: If you enjoy being away from busy tourist areas and embracing local communities, Vy Da is an ideal spot.
Great for Exploring by Bike or On Foot: Less traffic also makes Vy Da a much better region to explore without a car or moped.
Cons of Staying in Vy Da
Limited Nightlife Options: Vy Da is not known for its nightlife, there are very few late-night spots.
Less Westernized Amenities: Most facilities are set up for locals, so there are hardly any Western conveniences.
Away From Main Attractions: Hue’s prime sights and cultural delights are predominantly in another part of the city.
Best Places to Stay in Vy Da
Vy Da is the best area for cheap places to stay in Hue. If you’re on a budget, and even factoring in transport costs to the city center, you’ll save money staying outside the main tourist area. Here are some particularly affordable options I found:
1. Purple Hue – Riverside: Budget doesn’t necessarily mean low quality. Standards are generally high in Hue and this riverside hotel offers a little luxury, plenty of comfort, and convenience for a low nightly rate. Click here for details.
2. Robin House: This guesthouse boasts hundreds of superb reviews and is located close to one of the main bridges into the center. It offers the perfect blend of affordability and location for reaching the city center. Click here for details.
3. Lam Garden Boutique: Another fine example of a quality hotel with budget prices. An exceptional breakfast is included to further assist your daily budget and it’s only a short stroll from the riverside. Click here for details.
Top Things To Do in Vy Da
The Golden Hand Bridge at Ba Na Hills
Staying across the bridge takes you away from the main attractions but with reliable and very affordable transport links, everything is still within easy reach:
1. Visit the Island: Con Hen is a small charming island in the center of the Perfume River. Small boats regularly make the short hop across from the river banks and it’s a fun and unique place to spend a morning walking around. Click here for for directions.
2. Thuan An Beach: If city life gets too much, always head to the beach! In less than 30 minutes from Vy Da, you can be on the sand at Thuan An Beach. It’s a beautiful stretch of coast and a nice reprieve from the city. Click here for directions.
3. Go to Ba Na Hills: The iconic Golden Hand Bridge is accessible via a day trip from Hue. This stunning structure forms part of a hilltop theme park that makes for a fantastic day out. There are local tours but I recommend booking ahead, click here for details.
Where to Eat and Drink in Vy Da
Embrace being in a more traditional area of town and enjoy plenty of quality Vietnamese dishes and street food options in Vy Da. Feast for less than a few bucks a meal in one of the best places to stay in Hue for local restaurants. Consider adding these to your list of places to visit:
1. Vuon Hue Coffee & Restaurant: A great spot for coffee but the traditional dishes are excellent here too. A loaded menu, thankfully with pictures to aid Westerners like me, is ideal for sampling different Vietnamese plates. Find it here.
2. Cang Restaurant: With close proximity to the river and sea, the seafood in Hue is routinely very fresh and affordable. Consequently, Cang is a great place to go in Vy Da if you’re craving fish. Click here for directions.
3. Vy Da Xu’a: Do not miss this one! A stunning place for lunch or dinner along the Perfume River. This is a quintessential Vietnamese dining experience that ticks all the boxes. Click here for directions.
Where to Stay in Hue: FAQs
Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions about where to stay in Hue:
What area of Hue is best for tourists?
The best area of Hue for tourists is Pham Ngu Lao. This lively neighborhood has easy access to popular attractions, a wide range of accommodation options, vibrant nightlife, and numerous restaurants and cafes.
Where should I avoid staying? (Where NOT to stay in Hue)
You should avoid staying in areas far from the city center, such as the industrial zones or remote outskirts like Phu Thuong or An Hoa. These areas lack convenient access to tourist attractions, restaurants, and amenities.
What is the safest place to stay in Hue?
Hue is generally considered a very safe place to visit. However, the safest place to stay in Hue is likely around Le Loi, a well-lit and popular area along the Perfume River frequented by tourists and locals alike.
Does it matter where I stay in Hue?
Yes, it does matter where you stay in Hue. The location can significantly impact your experience. Areas like Pham Ngu Lao offer vibrant nightlife and convenience, while places further from the city center may lack amenities and attractions.
Where to stay in Hue to be close to everything?
To be close to everything in Hue, stay in Pham Ngu Lao. This central location is walkable to many of Hue’s major attractions, restaurants, cafes, and nightlife. It’s also a convenient base for exploring the city.
Is Hue, Vietnam worth visiting?
Hue is absolutely worth visiting. The Imperial City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws visitors from around the world. Its central location within Vietnam and the blend of tourist buzz and local culture make it a top destination to visit.
In Conclusion
Well, there you have it, the best places to stay in Hue. I hope this article has given you lots of food for thought when planning your own trip.
Vietnam has provided me with many wonderful memories and Hue, especially, is a destination I’m so glad to have visited and explored. Whatever your travel plans or budget, you’re sure to enjoy a trip to Hue!
