Hue Imperial City Walking Tour: Citadel, Forbidden Purple City & Kien Trung Palace
by Vietnam Legacy Tours
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$52Overview
Hue’s Imperial City was the former seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and includes the royal residence and ceremonial buildings. This walking tour lasts about two and a half hours and covers key sections of the citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. The tour starts at Ngo Mon Gate, the main entrance used for royal ceremonies. From there, it moves to Thai Hoa Palace, the largest hall where the emperors held court and coronations took place. Next, the tour visits the Mieu Temple and Hien Lam Cac Pavilion, an area dedicated to honoring the Nguyen emperors. Visitors will see the bronze urns symbolizing the dynasty’s legacy and learn about their significance. The group also passes by Chuong Duc Gate, one of four gates reserved for women. The Forbidden Purple City, the royal family’s private residence, is the next focus. Inside this enclosure, the tour visits several structures including the recently restored Kien Trung Palace, which showcases a mix of European and Asian architectural styles. The itinerary continues to Thai Binh Lau, the emperor’s reading pavilion, and Thieu Phuong Garden, the restored royal garden where family members spent time outdoors. The walking tour concludes at Hien Nhon Gate, once the entrance for mandarins, marking the end of the visit to the last royal dynasty’s seat in Vietnam. The Imperial City entrance ticket is included only for private tour options. Group tour participants must pay the entrance fee separately.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
The Noon Gate (Cua Ngo Mon)
Meet the guide at the starting point and walk to Ngo Mon Gate, the main ceremonial entrance to the Imperial City used during the Nguyen Dynasty for royal events.
10 min
Thai Hoa Palace
Enter the largest hall in the Imperial City where emperors conducted court sessions and coronations. Observe its architecture and learn about imperial rituals performed here.
25 min
Hien Lam Cac Pavilion
Visit the pavilion built over 200 years ago to honor Nguyen emperors. The guide explains its historical and cultural importance and how much of the original design remains.
10 min
Bronze Urns
View the large bronze urns representing the power and legacy of the nine Nguyen emperors and listen to the meaning behind these symbols.
10 min
The Mieu Temple
Stop at the ancestral temple dedicated to past Nguyen kings and learn how royal traditions are maintained in this sacred space.
10 min
Chuong Duc Gate
See one of the four gates of the Imperial City that was reserved exclusively for women.
10 min
Hue Royal Palace
Enter the Forbidden Purple City, the private residence area for the royal family including the king’s wives and children, containing various functional buildings.
20 min
Kien Trung Palace
Tour the recently restored Kien Trung Palace, a highlight featuring a mix of European and Asian architectural styles, reopened after careful reconstruction.
20 min
Thai Binh Lau
Visit the Peaceful Palace where the emperor read and enjoyed the surrounding scenery; the structure is noted for its beauty.
10 min
Thieu Phuong Garden
Walk through the restored Royal Garden, a place for the emperor and his family to stroll and appreciate the landscaped area.
10 min
Hien Nhon Gate
Conclude the tour at the gate used by mandarins, providing a final view of the last Vietnamese royal dynasty’s domain.
10 min
Meeting point
There is a ticket booth in front of the Meridian gate. I will wait for you here
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Hue Imperial City Walking Tour: Citadel, Forbidden Purple City & Kien Trung Palace
by Vietnam Legacy Tours
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$52Overview
Hue’s Imperial City was the former seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and includes the royal residence and ceremonial buildings. This walking tour lasts about two and a half hours and covers key sections of the citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. The tour starts at Ngo Mon Gate, the main entrance used for royal ceremonies. From there, it moves to Thai Hoa Palace, the largest hall where the emperors held court and coronations took place. Next, the tour visits the Mieu Temple and Hien Lam Cac Pavilion, an area dedicated to honoring the Nguyen emperors. Visitors will see the bronze urns symbolizing the dynasty’s legacy and learn about their significance. The group also passes by Chuong Duc Gate, one of four gates reserved for women. The Forbidden Purple City, the royal family’s private residence, is the next focus. Inside this enclosure, the tour visits several structures including the recently restored Kien Trung Palace, which showcases a mix of European and Asian architectural styles. The itinerary continues to Thai Binh Lau, the emperor’s reading pavilion, and Thieu Phuong Garden, the restored royal garden where family members spent time outdoors. The walking tour concludes at Hien Nhon Gate, once the entrance for mandarins, marking the end of the visit to the last royal dynasty’s seat in Vietnam. The Imperial City entrance ticket is included only for private tour options. Group tour participants must pay the entrance fee separately.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
The Noon Gate (Cua Ngo Mon)
Meet the guide at the starting point and walk to Ngo Mon Gate, the main ceremonial entrance to the Imperial City used during the Nguyen Dynasty for royal events.
10 min
Thai Hoa Palace
Enter the largest hall in the Imperial City where emperors conducted court sessions and coronations. Observe its architecture and learn about imperial rituals performed here.
25 min
Hien Lam Cac Pavilion
Visit the pavilion built over 200 years ago to honor Nguyen emperors. The guide explains its historical and cultural importance and how much of the original design remains.
10 min
Bronze Urns
View the large bronze urns representing the power and legacy of the nine Nguyen emperors and listen to the meaning behind these symbols.
10 min
The Mieu Temple
Stop at the ancestral temple dedicated to past Nguyen kings and learn how royal traditions are maintained in this sacred space.
10 min
Chuong Duc Gate
See one of the four gates of the Imperial City that was reserved exclusively for women.
10 min
Hue Royal Palace
Enter the Forbidden Purple City, the private residence area for the royal family including the king’s wives and children, containing various functional buildings.
20 min
Kien Trung Palace
Tour the recently restored Kien Trung Palace, a highlight featuring a mix of European and Asian architectural styles, reopened after careful reconstruction.
20 min
Thai Binh Lau
Visit the Peaceful Palace where the emperor read and enjoyed the surrounding scenery; the structure is noted for its beauty.
10 min
Thieu Phuong Garden
Walk through the restored Royal Garden, a place for the emperor and his family to stroll and appreciate the landscaped area.
10 min
Hien Nhon Gate
Conclude the tour at the gate used by mandarins, providing a final view of the last Vietnamese royal dynasty’s domain.
10 min
Meeting point
There is a ticket booth in front of the Meridian gate. I will wait for you here
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.