Hue Dragon Boat Tour: Perfume River & Royal Tombs

Cruise the Perfume River by dragon boat, then walk through centuries of Nguyen Dynasty architecture on land.

A full-day tour of Hue combining a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River with stops at Thien Mu Pagoda, Hon Chen Temple, and the tombs of emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide are included. You spend roughly half the day on the water and half exploring royal burial sites and temples on foot.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Thien Mu Pagoda45m · entry included
2. Minh Mang Tomb1h
3. Khai Dinh Tomb45m

Hue Dragon Boat and Tombs Tour

• Pick up at the hotel
• Drive to boat wharf
• Dragon Boat cruise on Perfume River
• Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
• Continue Dragon Boat ride on Perfume River
• Visit Hon Chen Temple
• Drive to Minh Mang Tomb
• Visit Minh Mang Tomb
• Drive to Khai Dinh Tomb
• Visit Khai Dinh Tomb
• Drop off at the hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at your Hue hotel, then moves to the boat wharf for a 30-minute dragon boat cruise down the Perfume River. You'll see both banks of the river and the landscape that inspired the city's poetic reputation. The boat docks at Thien Mu Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist temple over 400 years old, where the seven-story Phuoc Duyen Tower rises as a symbol of the site. After exploring the pagoda's gardens and grounds, you board the dragon boat again for another 30-minute stretch on the river toward Hon Chen Temple.

Hon Chen sits on Ngoc Tran Mountain overlooking the Perfume River and blends royal etiquette with folk beliefs, its architecture rooted in the Nguyen Dynasty. From there, a car picks you up and takes you to Minh Mang Tomb, one of the dynasty's most significant mausoleums. The complex spreads across lush grounds with intricate designs and feng shui elements that reflect the emperor's reign. The final stop is Khai Dinh Tomb, a striking departure from traditional Hue architecture: it blends Vietnamese elements with Western influences and uses concrete, ceramic, and glass, materials rare for the time, creating a visually distinct masterpiece.

You'll receive a life jacket for the boat portions, bottled drinking water throughout the day, travel insurance, and an English-speaking guide. The tour lasts around seven hours total. Entrance fees to Minh Mang Tomb (150,000 VND), Khai Dinh Tomb (150,000 VND), and Hon Chen Temple (50,000 VND) are separate and paid on-site.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• English-speaking guide.
• dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River.
• life jacket.
• bottled drinking water.
• travel insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:00

Book up to9h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Samtour Vietnam

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the boat wharf, and the guide speaks English throughout, so you get context at each stop without hunting for information.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

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 Thien Mu Pagoda and why is it significant in Hue?

Thien Mu Pagoda is an ancient Buddhist temple over 400 years old and a majestic symbol of Hue. Its seven-story Phuoc Duyen Tower overlooks the Perfume River and is considered a sacred landmark in the city's religious and cultural heritage.

How much time do I spend on the boat versus walking around temples and tombs?

You take two separate dragon boat cruises on the Perfume River, each lasting about 30 minutes, for roughly an hour on the water. The remaining time is spent walking through Thien Mu Pagoda, Hon Chen Temple, and the two royal tombs on foot.

What makes Khai Dinh Tomb different from other royal tombs in Hue?

Khai Dinh Tomb blends Vietnamese architecture with Western influences and uses concrete, ceramic, and glass: materials uncommon for the time. Its ornate carvings, mosaics, and elevated location create a visually distinctive masterpiece that departs from the classic Hue tomb style.

Does the tour include meals or drinks?

Bottled drinking water is provided throughout the day. Food and other beverages are not included and are your own expense.