Hue Imperial City Walking Tour: Citadel & Forbidden City
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
This Hue walking tour begins at the meeting point in front of Ngo Mon Gate. We will spend approximately 2.5 hours exploring the inner sanctums of the Hue Imperial City and the Forbidden City Hue.
* Thai Hoa Palace: The heart of the Imperial City, where major ceremonies and the Emperor's coronation took place.
* The Mieu Temple & Hien Lam Cac Pavilion: A solemn area dedicated to the worship of the Nguyen Emperors, offering a glimpse into spiritual traditions.
* Forbidden City Hue (Tu Cam Thanh): We move into the private residence of the Royal family.
* Kien Trung Palace: one of the highlights of the tour, showcasing the unique blend of European and Asian architecture, recently accessible to visitors.
* Thai Binh Lau & Royal Garden: Visit the Emperor's private reading pavilion and enjoy the tranquility of the royal gardens before concluding the tour.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We do not include entry fee as you may want to buy COMBO TICKET with better value for Citadel and Tombs.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
The Noon Gate (Cua Ngo Mon)
Meet your tour guide at the meeting point, Walk to Ngo Mon gate to discover the symbolic significance of Ngo Mon—the grand gateway used for royal ceremonies and major events during the Nguyen Dynasty.
Thai Hoa Palace
Step inside the most important hall of the Imperial City, where emperors held grand court sessions and coronations. Admire its elegant architecture and learn about royal rituals.
What‘s Included
Imperial City entrance ticket (Applied for Private tour option only)
Imperial City entrance fee: 200,000 VND/person (Applied for Group tour Option)
Meals not mention in the option
Tips for guide (optional)
Options
Private Imperial City Tour
1: 1a
2.Private Tour: *Meet you at the meeting point
*Entrance fee includes
*No hidden fees
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
3.Main sites at Imperial City: *See your guide at the meeting point
4.Walking (No Vehicle)
5: 5a
Imperial City Sunrise/Sunset
Tea or coffee Experience: Enjoy tea or traditional Hue coffee inside the Imperial City
Private guided sunrise/sunset : *Enjoy coffee or Tea inside Imperial City
*Avoid the heat and crowd
*Included entrance fee
*No hidden fees
Duration: 3 hours
Main site: Imperial City: *See your guide at the meeting point
Walking (No Vehicle)
Imperial City + Royal Cuisine
Royal cuisine lunch or dinner : Enjoy the royal cuisine (Menu will be confirmed after Booking)
Private Tour: The ticket and meal are included
No hidden fees
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Royal cuisine: Lunch or Dinner
Imperial city and Meal
Walking and Taxi: *See your guide at the meeting point
*Taking a Taxi to the restaurant after the Imperial walking tour
Group Walking Tour
Group Tour: Small group guided walking tour (Max 8 people)
Entrance fee NOT included
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Imperial and Forbidden City: *Main sites in Hue Imperial City & Forbidden Purple City
*See your guide at the meeting point
Walking (No vehicle)
Private Imperial City & Pagoda
Imperial city & Boat trip: Taking a Taxi to go to Thien Mu Pagoda after Imperial City, enjoy the boat trip on Perfume River back to the center.
Private Tour
Imperial City, Pagoda : Imperial City, then moving to Thien Mu pagoda and going back city center by dragon boat.
Boat and Taxi
Reviews
326 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An excellent guide
A9929KOmarianal,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Choose this tour for a complete experience in the Citadel and save time. A guided tour by Mrs. Minh Tâm, an excellent guide. I recommend
Very good.
elsacK1746UB,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tam is very kind and I really enjoyed the tour. I recommend it ! Thanks Tam 😊
Thorough & informative tour guide!
Elizabeth B,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Hung speaks very good English and paced the tour well with a lot of information about each Emperor and their different styles of rule. Highly recommend!
Lovely place and incredible beautiful👍 and Au our guide was great and fun
Euis B,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful place , great history and good walking too the weather was perfect for walking not to hot I was lucky yesterday 😊
Private Imperial City, Pagoda and River Cruise
DominicPaul,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well informed and interesting tour. Good insight from the Nhi the guide who spoke very good English and managed the tour very professionally.
Fun and Informative Visit of Imperial City in Hue
Mattinmn,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great small group tour of the Imperial City with our friendly and knowledgeable guide Nhien! We learned a lot and she was sure to give us time to look around and take photos. She also offered up recommended restaurants in town and helped us with travel arrangements! The restored complex is very impressive, we knew little about the era and Hue’s history going in but left with a much better understanding. All in all a great morning with a great guide, highly recommend!
What a fantastic tour!
Shanna M,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I absolutely recommend this tour. My tour guide Niehn was so informative and provided a wonderful experience. She was so warm and very knowledgeable of both the history and also from a cultural perspective which made it so interesting.
Guided tour of Imperial City.
OddlaugM,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fi was an excellent guide who was knowledgeable and very nice. Highly recommended. Good in English 😊
Casual, informative and fun
Stephen D,Mar 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00You get a truly Royal Escorl on this casual, informative tour. Loved the small group and not having to find my own way around this awesome place.
:)
V2011WJoscarr,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very good guide!!!! Recommend
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Operated by Vietnam Legacy Tours