Hue Imperial City Walking Tour: Citadel & Forbidden City

4.9 (373 reviews) Hue, Vietnam
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Duration2h 30m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 8 travelers

Overview

This Hue walking tour begins at the meeting point in front of Ngo Mon Gate. We will spend approximately 2.5 hours exploring the inner sanctums of the Hue Imperial City and the Forbidden City Hue.
* Thai Hoa Palace: The heart of the Imperial City, where major ceremonies and the Emperor's coronation took place.
* The Mieu Temple & Hien Lam Cac Pavilion: A solemn area dedicated to the worship of the Nguyen Emperors, offering a glimpse into spiritual traditions.
* Forbidden City Hue (Tu Cam Thanh): We move into the private residence of the Royal family.
* Kien Trung Palace: one of the highlights of the tour, showcasing the unique blend of European and Asian architecture, recently accessible to visitors.
* Thai Binh Lau & Royal Garden: Visit the Emperor's private reading pavilion and enjoy the tranquility of the royal gardens before concluding the tour.

Options

Private Imperial City Tour

1: 1a
2.Private Tour: *Meet you at the meeting point
*Entrance fee includes
*No hidden fees
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
3.Main sites at Imperial City: *See your guide at the meeting point
4.Walking (No Vehicle)
5: 5a

Private Imperial City & Pagoda

Imperial city & Boat trip: Taking a Taxi to go to Thien Mu Pagoda after Imperial City, enjoy the boat trip on Perfume River back to the center.
Private Tour
Imperial City, Pagoda : Imperial City, then moving to Thien Mu pagoda and going back city center by dragon boat.
Boat and Taxi

Group Walking Tour

Group Tour: Small group guided walking tour (Max 8 people)
Entrance fee NOT included
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Imperial and Forbidden City: *Main sites in Hue Imperial City & Forbidden Purple City
*See your guide at the meeting point
Walking (No vehicle)

Imperial City Sunrise/Sunset

Tea or coffee Experience: Enjoy tea or traditional Hue coffee inside the Imperial City
Private guided sunrise/sunset : *Enjoy coffee or Tea inside Imperial City
*Avoid the heat and crowd
*Included entrance fee
*No hidden fees

Duration: 3 hours
Main site: Imperial City: *See your guide at the meeting point
Walking (No Vehicle)

Imperial City + Royal Cuisine

Royal cuisine lunch or dinner : Enjoy the royal cuisine (Menu will be confirmed after Booking)

Private Tour: The ticket and meal are included
No hidden fees
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Royal cuisine: Lunch or Dinner
Imperial city and Meal
Walking and Taxi: *See your guide at the meeting point
*Taking a Taxi to the restaurant after the Imperial walking tour

What's included

  • Imperial City entrance ticket (Applied for Private tour option only)
  • Imperial City entrance fee: 200,000 VND/person (Applied for Group tour Option)
  • Meals not mention in the option
  • Tips for guide (optional)

What to expect

  1. The Noon Gate (Cua Ngo Mon)
    10m
    Meet your tour guide at the meeting point,
    Walk to Ngo Mon gate to discover the symbolic significance of Ngo Mon—the grand gateway used for royal ceremonies and major events during the Nguyen Dynasty.
  2. Thai Hoa Palace
    25m
    Step inside the most important hall of the Imperial City, where emperors held grand court sessions and coronations. Admire its elegant architecture and learn about royal rituals.
  3. 10m
    Marvel at this over-200-year-old pavilion, built to honor the Nguyen emperors. Your guide reveals stories of its cultural significance and surviving original design.
  4. 10m
    See the impressive bronze urns symbolizing the power and legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty’s nine emperors. Hear the meaning behind the urns.
  5. The Mieu Temple
    10m
    Visit the ancestral temple dedicated to past Nguyen kings. Discover how royal traditions are preserved in this sacred space.
  6. 10m
    Chuong Duc Gate is one of the 4 gates of the Imperial City, exclusively for women
  7. Hue Royal Palace
    20m
    The Forbidden Purple City is the name of the third enclosure within the Hue Imperial City, exclusively for the king's family, including his wives and children. Inside the Forbidden Purple City, there are many structures with different functions.
  8. 20m
    Tour the newly restored Kien Trung Palace, recently reopened after years of careful reconstruction. Experience the grandeur of imperial residence.
  9. 10m
    Thai Binh Lau (Peaceful Palace) was where the king would read books and enjoy the scenery. It is an extremely beautiful structure.
  10. 10m
    Thieu Phuong Garden, also known as the Royal Garden, has been restored with extremely eye-catching scenery. It was a place for the king and his family to stroll and enjoy the scenery.
  11. 10m
    Conclude your walking tour at Hien Nhon Gate, the entrance used by mandarins, offering a final look at the world of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Tour guide will wait for you at the 4 cannons.

End point

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • We do not include entry fee as you may want to buy COMBO TICKET with better value for Citadel and Tombs.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.9 (373)
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