The Imperial City in Hue: tickets, hours and a tour from Da Nang

The Imperial City in Hue (Đại Nội, Hoàng Thành, Hue Imperial Citadel) was the residence of the Nguyen dynasty, the last to rule Vietnam. The capital was here from 1802 to 1945, and the complex of monuments of Hue was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1993. It is searched for with queries such as “Hue Imperial City ticket”, “Hue from Da Nang in one day”, “Ngo Mon” and “the Purple Forbidden City”.

The ticket, hours and how to avoid queues

A ticket to the Imperial City costs about 200,000 ₫ for adults, and children below a set height enter free or at a reduced rate. The imperial tombs are sold with separate tickets: Khai Dinh, Minh Mang and Tu Duc, so on the day of the trip think through what exactly you will have time for. In the catalogue below you can book a group tour from Da Nang or Hoi An in Russian with entry to the complex and pay for it by Russian card in roubles.

The opening hours depend on the season: in summer the complex opens at about 6:30 and closes nearer 18:00, and in winter it works slightly shorter. Queues form at the ticket offices by the Ngo Mon gate from 9 to 11 in the morning, when the bus groups arrive. Come at opening or after 14:00, when the heat subsides.

How to get there from Da Nang and Hoi An

• By car or on a tour. From Da Nang it is about 100 km, 2–2.5 hours via the Hai Van tunnel. A group tour leaves at 7–8 in the morning and returns by evening.
• By train. The road along the coast takes about 2.5–3 hours, and it is one of the most beautiful sections of the Vietnamese railway. Tickets are taken in advance, especially for weekends.
• By bus. Da Nang — Hue buses run from the morning, and the timetable changes.
• From Hoi An. About 3 hours one way, so a tour is simpler than going on your own.

What to see inside the citadel

Entry to the Imperial City is through the Ngo Mon gate (the Meridian Gate), from whose balcony emperors announced decrees. Next comes the square and the Thai Hoa palace, where coronations and receptions took place. Behind it began the Purple Forbidden City (Tử Cấm Thành), where the emperor’s family lived; most of the buildings were destroyed during the Tet Offensive of 1968, and some have been restored and are being restored. The The Mieu temple, the Hien Lam pavilion and the nine bronze Cuu Dinh urns have survived. Nearby you can order a photo shoot in imperial costumes, and at the Duyet Thi Duong theatre performances of court music are sometimes held.

After the complex many people go to the Perfume River to the Thien Mu pagoda with its seven-storey tower: on the way they look into an incense village, which the article the Thuy Xuan incense village describes. For details on the complex see a big guide to the Imperial City in Hue.

Which tickets and tours there are

Prices are as of 10 October 2026. Check the contents, language and conditions on the page of the offer you choose.

What else

All offers: excursions in Da Nang and Hoi An.

Restrictions and tips

• Clothing and shoes. The grounds are large with little shade, so you need comfortable shoes, a hat and water. At the Thien Mu pagoda and the tombs knees and shoulders must be covered.
• Weather. The best time is February to April. In summer the heat is above 35 degrees, and from September to December the rains pour and the river floods.
• Passport. A passport is needed for booking the tour and the train, and at the entrance it is usually not asked for.
• Photos and drones. Drones over the citadel are banned, and tripods are not allowed everywhere.
• If you cannot manage in a day. If you are travelling alone and want to see the tombs, stay overnight in Hue. A group tour from Da Nang manages the citadel and one pagoda.

The description is based on Trip.com cards; opening hours and the contents of offers may change.