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Hue Imperial City: Explore Historic Palaces
4.8
129 Ratings
Thành phố Huế
Experience the grandeur of Hue Imperial City on a 3-hour walking tour. Learn about the history of the palace complex and immerse yourself in the stories of emperors, concubines, and eunuchs.
Experience the grandeur of Hue Imperial City on a 3-hour walking tour. Learn about the history of the palace complex and immerse yourself in the stories of emperors, concubines, and eunuchs.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Nine Holy Cannons - Crafted by Hue artisans in the second year of Gia Long’s reign (1803), these nine cannons are esteemed as some of the most significant bronze artworks. Originally positioned at the base of the Imperial Citadel, near the Ngo Mon Gate entrance to Hue’s imperial city, they were moved to their current location during King Khai…
- Nine Holy Cannons - Crafted by Hue artisans in the second year of Gia Long’s reign (1803), these nine cannons are esteemed as some of the most significant bronze artworks. Originally positioned at the base of the Imperial Citadel, near the Ngo Mon Gate entrance to Hue’s imperial city, they were moved to their current location during King Khai Dinh’s rule.
- The Noon Gate (Cua Ngo Mon) - Constructed in 1833 in the traditional Vietnamese architectural style under King Minh Mang, this gate was utilized by the Kings for military movements and ceremonial purposes.
- The Flag Tower - This architectural landmark of the Nguyen Dynasty is situated centrally on the southern face of Hue citadel within the Nam Chanh fortress, serving as the site for displaying the royal court’s flag.
- Thai Hoa Palace - Located within the Imperial City area of Hue citadel, this palace served as the coronation site for 13 Nguyen kings, from Gia Long to Bao Dai. It was regarded as the nation’s center during the feudal era.
- Nine Dynastic Urns - These nine bronze urns are positioned in front of The Mieu Temple in the Hue Imperial Citadel. Commissioned by Emperor Minh Mang in the winter of 1835, they were inaugurated on March 1, 1837.
- The Mieu Temple - Also known as The To Mieu, this temple was built in 1821 by the second king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Minh Mang, to honor 10 Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty.
- Hue Royal Palace - This section showcases the residence of the Emperor’s mother, the Royal Library, the Royal Lake, the Royal Garden, and the Royal Theater.
- Hue Historic Citadel - The Forbidden Purple City is part of the ancient capital complex of Hue, serving as the daily living center for the Kings, their Queens, Minor Wives, and Concubines of the Nguyen Emperors. Situated behind the Thai Hoa Palace, it was initially constructed by King Gia Long in 1804. In the third year of Minh Mang’s reign (1822), the name was changed to the Forbidden Purple City.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Excellent English-speaking guide
- Bottled water
- Excellent English-speaking guide
What's Not Included
- Entrance Fee
- Personal Expense
- Entrance Fee
- Personal Expense
Additional Information
If you’re planning a visit to Hue City but are short on time, the Hue Imperial City Walking Tour is perfect for experiencing the city’s most stunning palace.
Spend 3 hours exploring the Hue Imperial Citadel complex, which includes the Hue Citadel, Hue Royal City, and Forbidden City. With the guidance of our expert tour guide, you’ll be transported back…
If you’re planning a visit to Hue City but are short on time, the Hue Imperial City Walking Tour is perfect for experiencing the city’s most stunning palace.
Spend 3 hours exploring the Hue Imperial Citadel complex, which includes the Hue Citadel, Hue Royal City, and Forbidden City. With the guidance of our expert tour guide, you’ll be transported back in time, uncovering the fascinating stories and mysterious history of 13 Emperors, concubines, and eunuchs.
Opt for either a small group or a private tour for a more personalized experience. Our small group tours provide a leisurely stroll through the main attractions, allowing ample time for photos and to absorb the rich history.
If you require a French-speaking guide, please feel free to contact us. There is an additional charge of 10 USD per person for a French-speaking tour guide.
Location
Nine Holy Cannons
At booking time, you will meet our local guide Cửu vị Thần công
This is the meeting point. See you soon!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(129 Ratings)
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Francettaaa
Feb 12, 2026
Amazing tour! Don't wait just book it - We really enjoyed our first tour with Bem, so we booked again with her for a tour of the Imperial City. It was an incredible experience to be able to tour the grounds. Bem is very friendly and she knew so much about the royal history of Vietnam. It is a little overwhelming how much information there is and I don't know how she remembers all of it. She made sure we had enough time to take photos and videos, which is great because there is so much detail in all of the architecture. The lunch was also very delicious.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
60s-explorers
Feb 9, 2026
Exceptional Tour and Guide - We had such a lovely day exploring the ancient capital. Our guide was full of information on the history and significance of buildings and grounds. It gave us an insight of what life would have been like.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S354pvmiriamh
Jan 28, 2026
Perfect - Bam was my Queen!!!
Everything was soooo perfect.
The Meetingpoint, the Walk, the very good explaining of the History and finally the lunch.
You have to do this Tour with her and maybe others while touring in Vietnam.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W8791cspatriciac
Jan 27, 2026
Wonderful! - Wonderful tour with Bem who explained everything and answered all the questions she is super nice and you can tell she knows about Hue’s history as she’s a local
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Celinelh9907ha
Jan 7, 2026
Blown away by Bem! - My partner and I were completely blown away by our tour guide Bem, her friendliness and detailed knowledge about Vietnam history. Honestly the highlight of our Hue visit. I can 10000% recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T3994ampaoloc
Jan 6, 2026
Fantastic Imperial City of Hue Tour with Bem - We had a wonderful experience visiting the Imperial City of Hue, thanks to our excellent guide, Bem.
From the very beginning, Bem made us feel welcome and immediately introduced us to the local culture by offering a traditional Vietnamese coffee. She then took the time to explain the ancient history of Vietnam and its origins, clearly emphasizing the historical, social, political, and military importance of Hue throughout different periods of history.
The tour was very well organized and flowed smoothly through all the main areas of the Imperial Palace. Bem provided detailed explanations, shared fascinating stories and anecdotes, and made the visit truly engaging. We had plenty of time to explore the palaces and gardens and to ask questions, all of which were answered with great knowledge and enthusiasm.
Bem is extremely professional and well-prepared, and her English is excellent—clear, fluent, and easy to understand. She also has a friendly and cheerful personality, and the relaxed atmosphere allowed for jokes, conversations, and exchanges of opinions, making the tour even more enjoyable.
I highly recommend Bem to anyone visiting Hue and looking for an informative, fun, and memorable experience.
Thank you, Bem! Hope to see you again soon.
Paolo
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lalalucenav
Jan 5, 2026
Great experience - It was a great experience! Antônio was a great and helpfull guide, we could learn a lot with him! The lunch was amazinng!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Silvia
Jan 4, 2026
Passion and dedication in this tour! - Ben was our excellent guide showing us the imperial
City with a lot of passion and dedication. Impressive also the social purpose venture that Bem has set up and is leading. The food venue at the end of the tour was a true gem. Thank you Bem!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tour323008
Dec 31, 2025
Hue-Just about the best tour ever!! - Wow, wow, wow! Our family has travelled the world is this was hands down the best tour we have ever been on! Bem’s enthusiasm as she told us the history of the Imperial city and the royal family captured each of us-no easy feat with two adults and a 10 and 17 year old. We loved every minute of it and our children will take the information she shared back to Canada when they share what they have learned. The restaurant at the end was absolutely excellent, taking dietary concerns into consideration and was so fun and delicious! If you visit Hue-this is the tour you want! Thank you again Bem for such an excellent experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ambr0isi3
Dec 29, 2025
A visit not to be missed! - We spent an excellent morning with Bem for our tour of the Imperial City. She has passed on her passion for the history of the Nguyen dynasty and we are delighted to have learned so much about the city. I highly recommend that you take the tour with her, as many buildings have been destroyed, the use of a guide is valuable to appreciate the visit.
Thank you, Bem!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
