Hue City Tour: Citadel, Perfume River Boat, Water Park
Hue's imperial past, a river cruise, and an eerie abandoned water park in one day
This full-day guided tour from Da Nang covers Hue's main historical sites: the Citadel (the former royal capital with the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City), Thien Mu Pagoda, Khai Dinh Tomb, and the abandoned Thuy Tien water park. Your guide picks you up at your Da Nang hotel, drives you over Hai Van Pass, and includes a 30-minute dragon boat ride on the Perfume River, lunch at a local restaurant, and all entrance tickets. The tour runs 8 hours with an English-speaking guide and a private vehicle with a safe driver.
Step-by-step itinerary
Hue city tour and sightseeing
- Pick up from hotel in Da Nang or Hoi An
- Transfer via Hai Van Pass and photo stop
- Visit Hue Citadel and Imperial City
- Boat ride on Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Visit Khai Dinh Tomb
- Visit Abandoned Water Park at Thuy Tien Lake
- Return to hotel
- Hue Citadel Entry included 1h 30m
- Thien Mu Pagoda Entry included 30m
- Perfume River Entry included 30m
- Khai Dinh Tomb Entry included 40m
What’s included
- Hotel pickup in Da Nang.
- private vehicle with a safe driver.
- English-speaking guide.
- entrance tickets to the Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Khai Dinh Tomb, and Thuy Tien Lake.
- 30-minute dragon boat ride on the Perfume River.
- lunch at a local restaurant.
- bottled water.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Da Nang Hoi An Private Tours & Shore Excursion
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with a pickup at your hotel in Da Nang, then a drive over Hai Van Pass with stops for photos before you reach Hue. Your first stop is the Citadel, the seat of imperial power until the French protectorate in the 1880s and the monarchy's fall in 1945. Out of 160 original buildings, 10 major sites remain (temples, courtyards, and the Forbidden Purple City) many still bearing bullet holes from 20th-century conflicts. The complex became a UNESCO site in 1993, and restoration work continues, so some areas may be closed on the day you visit.
Next is Thien Mu Pagoda, the unofficial symbol of Hue, which you reach by dragon boat on the Perfume River. The pagoda is an active Buddhist monastery founded in 1601. Inside is a car belonging to a monk who drove to Saigon in 1963 and set himself alight to protest the regime's treatment of Buddhist followers: a stark reminder of Vietnam's modern history. After the 30-minute boat ride back downriver, you'll have lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Khai Dinh Tomb, built between 1920 and 1931 on a steep hill outside the city. This tomb is unique for blending Western and Eastern architecture, a style unlike the other imperial tombs along the Perfume River.
The final stop is Thuy Tien Lake's abandoned water park, where a massive dragon-shaped aquarium dominates the landscape. Once elaborate, the structure now sits covered in moss and dust, its rooms filled with deteriorated equipment and debris. From the dragon's mouth you can see across Thien An hill and the quiet lake beyond: a strange, quiet scene that lingers after you leave. Your guide then drives you back to your Da Nang hotel.
Is this one for you?Pick this if you're starting from Da Nang or Hoi An and want to cover the Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Khai Dinh Tomb in one day with a driver handling the Hai Van Pass crossing.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is the Hue Citadel and what can I see there?
The Hue Citadel was the seat of imperial power for Vietnam's royal family until the French protectorate began in the 1880s. Ten major sites remain from the original 160 buildings, including temples, courtyards, and the Forbidden Purple City, though some areas may be closed for ongoing restoration work.
How do I get to Thien Mu Pagoda?
You reach Thien Mu Pagoda by dragon boat on the Perfume River. The 30-minute boat ride is included in the tour, and the pagoda itself is an active Buddhist monastery founded in 1601.
What makes Khai Dinh Tomb different from other imperial tombs?
Khai Dinh Tomb is unique because it blends Western and Eastern architecture. Built between 1920 and 1931 for the twelfth Emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, it took 11 years to complete and sits on a steep hill outside Hue, unlike the other imperial tombs along the Perfume River.
What is the abandoned water park at Thuy Tien Lake?
Thuy Tien Lake's abandoned water park centers on a massive dragon-shaped aquarium that once housed an elaborate facility. Now covered in moss and dust with deteriorated equipment inside, it has become a striking ruin. From the dragon's mouth you can see across the lake and surrounding hills.
What is included in the tour price?
The tour includes hotel pickup in Da Nang, a private vehicle with a safe driver, an English-speaking guide, the 30-minute dragon boat ride on the Perfume River, lunch at a local restaurant, and entrance tickets to all sites.
How long is this tour and what time does it start?
The tour runs 8 hours and starts at 8:00 AM with pickup at your Da Nang hotel. You'll return to your hotel at the end of the day.
Hue City Tour: Citadel, Perfume River Boat, Water Park
8h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 155 per person
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