Hue Citadel tour from Da Nang by authentic train via Hai Van Pass

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/49

Duration9h–11h

GroupUp to 23

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Ride the scenic train through Hai Van Pass, then walk the Hue Imperial City with a local guide

A full-day guided tour from Da Nang to Hue Imperial City, traveling by authentic local train through the Hai Van mountain pass and stopping at Lang Co Beach. The tour includes entry to the Hue Citadel, Khai Dinh Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda (depending on your option), lunch with Vietnamese local cuisine, an English-speaking guide, and hotel pickup and drop-off in Da Nang. You can book with or without entry tickets, and choose between a small or large group.

9h–11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Hue Citadel tour via scenic train

Pick up in Da Nang city center
Depart to Da Nang Train Station
Board local train to Lang Co Station
Enjoy Hai Van Pass coastal views
Arrive at Lang Co Train Station
Transfer to Lang Co viewpoint rest stop
Explore Hue Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City
Visit Noon Gate entrance
Tour Thai Hoa Palace
Visit Kien Trung Palace
Explore Thien Mu Pagoda
Visit Khai Dinh Tomb
Return to Da Nang city

The Experience

The day starts with a 6 a.m. pickup from your Da Nang hotel and a short drive to Da Nang Train Station. From there, you board a local train for the 1.5-hour journey to Lang Co in Hue province. This is not a highway transfer—the route hugs the coast and winds through the Hai Van Pass, one of Vietnam's top ten most beautiful coastal roads. The train climbs through thick jungle, offering glimpses of secret beaches through the forest, then rises high enough to show views across Da Nang Bay. Your guide shares the pass's history as a strategic military location during the Vietnam War, adding context to the landscape rolling past your window.

After arriving at Lang Co Train Station, a driver meets you and you stop for about 15 minutes at a viewpoint overlooking Lang Co's white sandy coastline and clear waters—a chance to stretch, use restrooms and take photos before heading inland. Then you enter the Hue Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the political and cultural heart of the Nguyen Dynasty. With your guide, you explore the Hue Citadel's architectural blend of traditional Vietnamese design and French colonial influences. You walk through the Noon Gate, the U-shaped brick and stone entrance where emperors once processed during ceremonies, and visit Thai Hoa Palace, the central reception hall where important royal events took place. The palace's wood carvings, vibrant colors and peaceful gardens give a sense of the imperial court's grandeur. You also see the newly restored Kien Trung Palace, which served as the residence and workplace of Emperors Khai Dinh and Bao Dai, showing the fusion of Vietnamese royal design with French architecture.

Lunch is Vietnamese local cuisine, with vegetarian options available. Afterward, you visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Vietnam's oldest and most iconic religious sites, where the seven-story Phuoc Duyen Tower overlooks the Perfume River and surrounding countryside. Your guide shares stories about the pagoda's cultural and spiritual significance. If your option includes entry tickets, you also visit Khai Dinh Tomb, an elaborate mausoleum showcasing colorful mosaics, detailed carvings and ornate decorations that blend Vietnamese and European styles. The tomb sits nestled in scenic hills and lush greenery. Around 6 p.m., the bus returns you to your Da Nang hotel, ending a day that covers roughly 9 to 11 hours from start to finish.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Da Nang city center.
one-way train ticket from Da Nang to Lang Co by local authentic train.
entry to Hue Imperial City, Khai Dinh Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda (if your option includes tickets).
Vietnamese local cuisine lunch with vegetarian options available.
English-speaking local guide.
air-conditioned bus with a safe driver.
bottled water.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dacotours Co.,Ltd

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to reach Hue without driving yourself and prefer the coastal train journey over a highway route. Choose the small group option for a more intimate experience, or the large group option for a livelier atmosphere. Pick the option with entry tickets included if you want everything arranged, or without tickets if you prefer to decide on-site which sites to enter.