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Hue Full Day Tour: Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, Dragon Boat & Royal Tombs
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Joined 2022
Hue was Vietnam's imperial capital for 143 years, and this full day takes you through the whole story at an easy pace. We walk the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City in the cool of the morning, then board a private dragon boat up the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. After a lunch of Hue-style dishes, we visit two royal tombs chosen for contrast: Minh Mang's serene, symmetrical garden tomb and Khai Dinh's dazzling porcelain-and-glass mausoleum.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel in Hue city centre
- I will meet you in your hotel lobby with our private car and driver waiting outside. Pick-up and drop-off are included for hotels in Hue city centre. If you are staying outside the centre, please send me your hotel name before booking.
Imperial City
We begin at the Noon Gate and walk through the citadel of the Nguyen emperors: the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the dynastic temples with their Nine Dynastic Urns, and the Forbidden Purple City. I explain how court life and ritual shaped the city you see today.
Dragon boat on the Perfume River
A private dragon boat carries us upstream along the Perfume River, past riverside villages and gardens, to the hill of Thien Mu Pagoda.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Founded in 1601, Thien Mu is Hue's oldest pagoda and its seven-storey tower is the symbol of the city. We visit the temple courtyard and gardens, then rejoin our car.
Lunch of Hue-style dishes
A sit-down lunch at a local restaurant serving Hue's refined imperial-city cooking. Vegetarian and other dietary needs can be arranged in advance.
Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang
Built in the 1840s, Minh Mang's tomb is a calm complex of courtyards, pavilions and lotus lakes laid out along a single axis – many visitors' favourite of all the royal tombs.
Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh
Completed in 1931, Khai Dinh's hillside mausoleum blends Vietnamese and European styles, with an interior covered in porcelain and glass mosaics. A striking end to the day.
Ending Point
Your hotel in Hue city centre
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
* Guide fee: private English-speaking licensed guide (Ngoc) for the full day
* Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Hue city centre
* Private air-conditioned transport with a professional driver: 4-seat car (1-2 guests), 7-seat car (3-4 guests) or 16-seat van (5-9 guests)
* Gasoline, road tolls and parking fees
* Private dragon boat on the Perfume River
* Entrance tickets: Imperial City, Minh Mang Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb (Thien Mu Pagoda is free)
* Food and drinks: lunch of Hue-style dishes at a local restaurant, plus bottled water all day
* Drinks with lunch (soft drinks, beer, coffee): about US$1-3 per drink
* Snacks and souvenirs: about US$5-20 per person, as you wish
* Tips for your guide and driver (optional): about US$5-10 per guest
* Travel insurance: please arrange before your trip (cost varies)
Tour Important Information
* Temples and tombs require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered.
* There are steps at Khai Dinh Tomb (about 127) and around 2 km of walking in the Imperial City.
* The order of stops can be changed on the day to avoid crowds or heat.
* Please tell me about any dietary needs when you book so lunch can be arranged.
* Children count as guests in the group price.
Important message from the supplier
I am a Hue-based guide but always happy to hear your request (such as whole Vietnam for 3 days)
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2022
About Tour Guide Ngoc L.
Working as a tour-guide in central of Vietnam since 2013 and guided thousand of people the beauty of Vietnam's culture, history and people. From 2018, I started to work independently and focused in organizing tours in my Hue city only.
Reviews
Victoria S.
“Excellent day ”
We had a great day with our guide Xi (organised by Ngoc). We changed plans and he was very flexible and rearranged us to go on the coconut boats outside of Hoi An and then Monkey mountain, Danang market and a great lunch spot! Highly recommend using him and his guides.
Gifford T.
“Imperial Citadel, Royal Tombs and guided transfer to Hoi An”
Matthew is a very knowledgeable guide about the history of Hue and very pleasant company to have over three days of tours. Everything was professionally organised. A 5 star guide; highly recommended
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Ngoc L.
Thank you very much for your compliments. I wish you both a great trip ahead! Best regards, Matthew
Catherine B.
“Wonderful guide”
We had an amazing experience with Matthew. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the Nguyen dynasty as well as a wonderful host who was patient and accommodating as we had to make some last minute changes. He is very personable and you can tell he has a great love for Hue.
Ngoc L.
Thank you so much for your compliments on me and my tour, Catherine. That was truly my pleasure to be your guide to show you all my city today. I wish you all a great trip ahead!!! Best regards, Matthew
$300/ per group
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