The Imperial City is arguably the biggest reason to visit Hue. It is part of the city’s UNESCO Complex of Hue Monuments and is the centerpiece attraction. I recently spent some time in Hue doing research for this article and a series of other articles I’ll be writing about Hue.
There is a lot of interesting history in Hue. I suggest spending a bit of time reading about the Nguyen dynasty to familiarize yourself with some of the emperors. It will help tie things together when you visit their palaces and tombs.
Quick note: if you’re doing trip research, Hue Imperial City will also be called Imperial Palace, the Hue Historic Citadel, or any variation thereof.
There are a lot of different sites to visit in Hue. Combo tickets are available at the booths, which grant access to multiple sites and offer savings. I personally bought a 4-site combo ticket from the booth outside the Imperial City. This included the Imperial City and the tombs of emperors Khai Dinh, Minh Mang, and Tu Duc. These are all outside the city in different locations. You have two full days to use the combo ticket.
Important note: the ticket booths at Hue Imperial City only accept cash!
If you’re headed to Hue, don’t forget my guides to more things to do and where to stay.
Hue Imperial City Visitor Info
| Location* | Google Maps (site) / Google Maps (main entrance) |
| Hours | 6:30 AM to 6 PM (summer) / 7 AM to 5:30 PM (winter) |
| Cost (cash only) | 200.000 VND (Adults) / 40.000 VND (Ages 7 to 12) |
| Walking tours | Hue Imperial City tours |
| Audio tours | Available on-site for 100.000 VND |
| Accessibility | Not for people with mobility issues |
| What to wear | Dress appropriately, modest clothing (no sleeveless) |
| How much time | Plan to spend at least two hours |
| Best time to visit | February, March, April (morning or late afternoon) |
| Official website | https://hueworldheritage.org.vn/en-us/ |
Notes and Tips on Hue Imperial City
The Imperial City is north of the Perfume River in Hue. If you’re staying in the city center, like around the TTC Imperial Hotel (Agoda / Booking), you can walk to the Imperial City over the Truong Tien Bridge or the Phu Xuan Bridge. If you want to save your energy (a good idea), then booking a Grab taxi is very easy and convenient (download Grab here).
You’ll know you’re getting close when you see the large Vietnamese flag tower called Ky Dai. This is outside the main entrance to the Imperial City. You can then approach the Meridian Gate from two different sides. Look for the ticket booths outside.
I spent at least two to three hours wandering around the Imperial City, doing somewhere around 12,000 steps. It was much bigger than I anticipated: about 520 hectares (1,285 acres). The citadel walls are a big square, and inside are pockets of things to see (palaces, temples, gardens, the Forbidden Purple City), with very long paths between locations.
The picture below shows you how big the entire citadel grounds are. This is a miniature model that is inside one of the exhibits. The Meridian Gate (main entrance) is at the bottom middle.
Important note: There are electric golf cart chauffeurs inside the citadel walls. These can take you around the entire grounds from location to location. This service isn’t advertised outside at the ticket booths, but is inside after entering. At the time of writing, this costs 400.000 VND (total) for one hour for up to seven people. If I were with a group, I would 100% use this service.
There are bathrooms scattered around the grounds. There are vending machines with cold drinks outside and some vendors inside with drinks, too. There are no traditional restaurants or places to get a large meal inside. So I would eat before coming to the palace. I had lunch (bun bo Hue) at N. Cafe & Food, which is just outside the citadel walls. I would recommend it.
I visited Hue Imperial City at around 1 PM. Weather-wise, it was very hot during midday. The buildings themselves provide shade cover, but between attractions, there is a lot of sun exposure. There is no air conditioning anywhere on the grounds, and only some of the buildings/exhibits have fans.
It also rained during my visit, and a bunch of us were stuck in Kien Trung Palace for a while. So if you see a chance of rain during your planned visit, pack a couple of ponchos just in case.
My favorite part of Hue Imperial City was the area around the Truong Sanh Palace (northwest corner, located here). This specific palace was built between 1821 and 1822 during Emperor Minh Mang’s reign. The area itself is what I liked, as it was different than other areas inside the citadel. There is a lake/moat surrounding the island containing the palace, with some small bridges over the water.
And here’s a video I filmed from the same location at Truong Sanh Palace.
