Hue Imperial City tour: Royal Tombs and Citadel with dragon boat

Glide past ancient citadels on a dragon boat before a royal-style Vietnamese feast

A private shore excursion through Hue's Imperial City UNESCO World Heritage site, visiting the walled Citadel, the Tomb of Tu Duc, Khai Dinh Tomb, Thien Mu Pagoda and cruising the Perfume River by dragon boat. An English-speaking guide leads the full day, with Vietnamese lunch, all entrance fees, and port pickup and drop-off included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Hue Citadel2h · entry included
2. Perfume River30m · entry included
3. Thien Mu Pagoda30m
4. Khai Dinh Tomb1h · entry included
5. Tomb of Tu Duc1h · entry included

Explore Hue Imperial City and Surroundings

• Visit Hue Imperial City
• Take a dragon boat cruise on Perfume River
• Explore Thien Mu Pagoda
• Visit Khai Dinh Tomb
• Visit Tomb of Tu Duc

The experience

The Hue Citadel is the centerpiece: a walled fortress and palace built over 27 years starting in 1805 as the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. It sprawls across 520 hectares on the northern bank of the Perfume River, planned by Emperor Gia Long and completed under Minh Mang's reign. Your guide walks you through the grandeur of this massive structure, explaining how thousands of workers and millions of cubic meters of stone went into what became the most imposing imperial complex in Vietnam's history.

The day branches into the royal tombs. Tu Duc's tomb reflects the emperor's love of art and poetry. It remains the most romantic and imposing of all royal mausoleums in Vietnam. Khai Dinh Tomb, built between 1920 and 1931 on Chau Chu mountain about 10 kilometers from the city, blends Eastern and Western architecture and is the smallest but costliest of the Nguyen tombs. Both stand as monuments to the dynasty that ruled from 1805 until 1945.

Thien Mu Pagoda sits on a hillside overlooking the river, built centuries ago after a mysterious legend of a heavenly lady who promised prosperity to the land. The dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River (a tradition dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty itself) gives you a water-level view of the city's landscape and connects these historical sites. Lunch is Vietnamese traditional cuisine, and your private vehicle handles all transport between stops and back to the cruise port.

What’s included

• Private professional guide in English.
• all entrance fees to the Citadel, royal tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda.
• dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River.
• Vietnamese traditional lunch.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• private vehicle pickup and drop-off at the cruise port.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 12:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Maximus Travel Vietnam

Is this one for you?The tour runs 7 to 12 hours depending on your pace and interests, so confirm the length before booking if you have other port activities planned. A full day is needed to move unhurried between the Citadel, both tombs, the pagoda and the river cruise without rushing any of them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is inside the Hue Citadel that I'll actually see?

The Citadel is a walled fortress and palace complex covering 520 hectares, built as the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty starting in 1805. Your guide shows you the grandeur of the architecture and explains how it was constructed over 27 years with thousands of workers and millions of cubic meters of stone: the most massive structure built in modern Vietnam's history.

How does the dragon boat cruise work on this tour?

The Perfume River cruise is a traditional dragon boat ride that lets you see the city and its historical sites from the water. It's a scenic journey along the river that connects to visits at Thien Mu Pagoda and offers views of the landscape that shaped the imperial city.

Which royal tomb will I visit, and what makes it different from the others?

You visit two tombs: Tu Duc's, which is the most romantic and imposing of all royal mausoleums in Vietnam because Emperor Tu Duc was devoted to art and poetry; and Khai Dinh Tomb, built between 1920 and 1931 on a hillside 10 kilometers away, which blends Eastern and Western architecture and is the smallest but most costly of the Nguyen royal tombs.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?

Vietnamese traditional lunch is included in the tour, served during the day as part of the full itinerary.

What does the price cover?

The tour includes a private English-speaking guide, all entrance fees to the sites, Vietnamese traditional lunch, bottled water, the dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River, and private vehicle pickup and drop-off at the cruise port.