What you are visiting
From 1802 to 1945 Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty, and the Imperial City was its seat of power. The complex of Hue monuments has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1993. People say Citadel, Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City as if they were one place. They are separate historic areas, one inside the other.
The ticket you buy is for the Dai Noi, the imperial enclosure. It does not cover every street inside the outer citadel wall, which you can walk through freely. The guide below covers the ticket, the combos, the hours, the restoration work and a few practical rules. For the full list of sights, see our things to do in Hue.
Ticket prices and combos for 2026
Adult and child prices in Vietnamese dong (VND). Check the current price at the counter.
| Ticket | Adult | Child | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial City only | VND 200,000 | VND 40,000 | – |
| Imperial City plus any two of Minh Mang, Tu Duc, Khai Dinh | VND 420,000 | VND 80,000 | – |
| Imperial City plus all three tombs | VND 530,000 | VND 100,000 | Up to 2 days |
| All monuments | VND 600,000 | VND 120,000 | Up to 5 days |
The adult prices are the ones listed by the local tourism office. The child prices of the combos and the all-monuments ticket come from a legal text of 25 December 2025, in force from 4 January 2026, reproduced by a private legal database. That text sets children from 7 to 12 years as paying and younger children as free. It also lists a 50 percent reduction for some groups, such as residents and older people. Whether foreign seniors or students qualify is not clear, so ask at the counter. The validity runs from the start of your first visit. Ask whether you can re-enter before you rely on it.
Our picks: Imperial City tours
A guided walk or a day tour that adds a dragon boat and the royal tombs.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Imperial City, dragon boat and royal tombs tour
Air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking guide, water and hotel pickup in the centre. The dragon boat is part of the morning and full-day options only.
Check availability →Hue Citadel and royal tombs by bus and dragon boat
Full-day or half-day tour with hotel pickup within 3 km of the centre, an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide, a dragon boat ride, water and insurance. Entry fees and lunch depend on the option you choose.
Check availability →
Walking tour of the Imperial City with a local guide
About two and a half hours on foot with a local guide. Tips are voluntary and not included.
Check availability →Imperial City and Hue tours
Guided visits of the Imperial City and the tombs, boat trips and day trips from Hue, with live prices and availability.
Opening hours
A tour operator's timetable update of 2 October 2026. It is a secondary source, so confirm on the day.
| Season | Dates | Open | Ticket office until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 16 March to 15 October | 06:30–18:00 | 17:30 |
| Winter | 16 October to 15 March | 07:00–17:30 | 17:00 |
The same source lists every day of the week, including public holidays, subject to special announcements. No regular closing day is listed. Evening visits are tied to events. A free evening program called Hoang cung Huyen ao was announced for 25 to 28 April 2026 from 20:00. That is a one-off festival, not a daily opening. Another source gives evening hours of 18:00–21:30 for 30 April to 1 May 2026 as an example, so ask at the site before you plan around an evening visit.
How to buy tickets
You can buy tickets at the site or on the heritage ticket website (the address is eticket.hueworldheritage.org.vn). Nothing says you must buy online. The online guide describes four steps: choose the site and the ticket type, enter your details and the number of tickets, pay by scanning the QR code, and receive a confirmation. Tickets that are already paid cannot be refunded under that guide. A fixed time slot, a booking deadline or an extra online fee is not described, so read the screen carefully before you pay.
Free days announced for 19 August and 2 September 2026 applied to Vietnamese citizens. There is no general free entry for foreign visitors.
What to look for inside
Four stops that most visits include.
The Ngo Mon gate
Ngo Mon is the gate at the front of the Imperial City, and the one in most photos. Parking areas lie near Ngo Mon and Hien Nhon, along the street 23 Thang 8. Parking fees are not listed, so ask.
Thai Hoa Palace
The palace faces a courtyard. Inside, the lacquered columns and the throne are the main sight.
Corridors and courtyards
Covered corridors link the buildings, and the courtyards between them are open to the sun. Carry water.
The Flag Tower
The Flag Tower is a landmark of the Hue citadel.
Restoration and rules
The Can Chanh Palace is being rebuilt. It was built in 1804–1805 and destroyed in 1947. The project began in April 2025, with an investment of about VND 200 billion and an expected completion in 2029, according to a March 2026 report. Do not expect it as a finished sight in 2026. Other parts of the grounds are open.
A tour operator's page lists the visitor rules. Dress respectfully, especially in worship areas. Do not smoke, damage anything or touch the artifacts. Treat them as sensible house rules.
Heavy rain can interrupt a visit. On 3 November 2025 the Ministry of Culture suspended visits to all monuments of the Hue complex because of flooding, after earlier closures on 27 to 30 October. Floods hit Hue again in early October 2026, so check before you go.
Combine it with other sights
The most common pairing is the Imperial City and the tombs. Our royal tombs guide lists each tomb. In the evening, a dragon boat on the river is an option, described in our Perfume River guide. For a pagoda, see Thien Mu Pagoda. If you continue south, Hoi An is about 130 km (81 mi) away by road.
Hue Imperial City: frequently asked questions
How much is a ticket for the Imperial City?
An adult ticket costs VND 200,000 and a child ticket VND 40,000 in 2026. Combos with the tombs cost VND 420,000 and VND 530,000 for adults.
What are the opening hours?
A tour operator's update of 2 October 2026 lists 07:00–17:30 in winter, from 16 October to 15 March, with the ticket office closing at 17:00. In summer the hours are 06:30–18:00. Confirm on the day.
Is the Imperial City the same as the Citadel?
No. The Citadel, the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City are separate historic areas, one inside the other. The paid Dai Noi does not include every street inside the outer wall.
Can I visit at night?
Only during events. A free evening program was announced for 25 to 28 April 2026 from 20:00. There is no daily night opening.
Do I have to buy tickets online?
No. You can buy at the site or on the heritage ticket website. Paid online tickets are not refundable under the online guide.
Is the Can Chanh Palace open?
No. It is being rebuilt, with completion expected in 2029.