Imperial City of Hue

Imperial City of Hue

Hue, Vietnam

The imperial city of Hue encloses the citadel of what used to be the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty. It was built in 1803, and although many buildings were destroyed during the war, you can still see palaces, shrines, small lakes, gardens and ancient buildings. In 1993, it was integrated in the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of the Complex of Hué Monuments.

It’s located in the center of Hue. The main entrance is through this bridge, which is very popular by the way. If you have a scooter, you can leave it before crossing the bridge, on the side of the road. Be aware that many locals will offer you the possibility to leave the scooter in front of their shops for 10.000 VND, it’s up to you. If you keep walking after the bridge, you will reach the ticket office.

The individual entrance fee for the citadel is 250.000 VND. However, there are interesting packages that encompass some other monuments such as the Khai Dinh Mausoleum and Minh Mang tombs for 420.000 VND. Depending on how many days you want to spend in Hue you can get the one that suits you better.
Bear in mind that they only accept cash as a payment method. There are audio guides available in case you want to get a more extensive explanation about the history of the place for 100.000 VND. You also have the possibility of getting a private guide directly on-site.

Depending on your pace and the itinerary you choose, you could spend from 1 hour to a half day. Be careful with the floor as it is made of tiles. If it's wet it might get very slippery.

There are actuations of music and dance at certain hours. If you are interested you have to ask at the entrance. They have an additional price and a minimum number of bookings is needed.

The citadel is the most popular spot of Hue, so chances are it will be crowded. If you want to have some quietness, we strongly recommend you to avoid the central hours of the day.

It’s a very popular spot so be aware of the crowds. The audio guide is quite interesting as there is not a lot of information there.