The Imperial City of Hue, located in the heart of Hue City, is the centerpiece of the Complex of Hue Monuments and a symbol of the Nguyen Dynasty—the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam. Constructed in the early 19th century, the Imperial City includes the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, which once served as the political, cultural, and religious center of the nation. Today, let’s take a tour of the Imperial City of Hue through the photos I’ve captured!
Address of the Complex of Hue Monuments (Hue Imperial City): Google Map
The entrance fee for visiting the Hue Imperial City (Complex of Hue Monuments) is 200,000 VND per adult. To save time waiting in line to buy tickets, you can purchase them online in advance. The ticket price will be cheaper if you choose a combo that includes other famous attractions in Hue, such as Minh Mang Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Khai Dinh Tomb, and more. You can find the online ticket purchase link HERE for easy access.
Enter 8 hours daily, at the Ngo Mon Gate of the Imperial Citadel, there will be a changing of the guard ceremony. If you want to witness this event, please come early 😉
Photo of Ngo Mon Gate of Hue Imperial City in 1924 and in 2024.
From the second floor of Ngo Mon Gate, you can capture stunning overhead views of Thai Hoa Palace. This historic site served as the venue for imperial ceremonies, royal coronations, and receptions for Nguyen Dynasty envoys.
Thai Hoa Palace is not only the venue for significant ceremonies such as coronations, longevity celebrations for the emperor, and royal court sessions held on the 1st and 15th days of every lunar month, but it also stands as a symbol of the emperor's supreme power within the Nguyen Dynasty. This sacred space exudes grandeur and serves as the gathering place where mandarins convene to meet the emperor and deliberate on national affairs.
"The front of Ngo Mon Gate offers many stunning photo opportunities—be sure not to miss them."
After capturing photos at Ngo Mon Gate, I explored the Hue Imperial Palace following the suggested tour route outlined below:
The To Temple (世祖廟), commonly known as The Temple (世廟), is situated in the southwest corner of the Hue Imperial Citadel and serves as a sacred site dedicated to honoring the Nguyen Dynasty kings. It was here that the royal court performed ceremonies to pay homage to the departed emperors. Notably, women of the court, including the queen, were traditionally prohibited from attending these solemn rituals.
From here, I headed to Kien Trung Palace, as Can Chanh Palace was undergoing restoration. Along the way, I passed through numerous gardens and small mausoleums, each showcasing unique architectural styles. Here are some photos I captured during my journey to Kien Trung Palace:
I captured a photo of two close friends dressed in traditional Vietnamese attire. You can also easily rent these costumes from shops around the Hue Imperial Citadel for just 100,000 VND.
If you haven’t found a suitable shop to rent an Ao Dai or traditional Vietnamese attire, you can check out the store I rented from HERE.
After about 30 minutes of walking through gardens and small mausoleums, I finally arrived at Kien Trung Palace. This palace was constructed by King Khai Dinh between 1921 and 1923, coinciding with the construction of his mausoleum, and served as the king's living quarters within the royal complex.
Inside Kien Trung Palace, there is currently a wide array of artifacts used by the kings, along with photos and historical documentaries about the palace. Visiting in person is highly recommended for the best experience.
"You can purchase tickets online for the Hue Imperial City in advance to avoid long queues. Get your tickets HERE."
After fully exploring Kien Trung Palace, I headed to Co Ha Garden, which was also the final stop in my journey to explore the Hue Imperial City.
On the way from Kien Trung Palace to Co Ha Garden, I passed by a small temple and noticed a few picturesque spots. I decided to stop and take some photos—though I’m not sure if they turned out as beautiful as I had imagined.
After exploring the inside, it turned out to be exactly as I had imagined. The small dome overlooking the fish pond creates a perfectly balanced and harmonious photo frame. The lighting here is also ideal for photography.
After capturing some photos here, I proceeded directly to Co Ha Garden.
The ancient Vietnamese word “Co Ha” Garden means peace and leisure in all matters. With this name, the Nguyen Dynasty kings built the garden mainly for the purpose of resting, walking and enjoying the scenery in the royal palace after the hard work and busyness in the court of gossip.
This garden is truly expansive and adorned with a variety of ornamental plants, creating an incredibly comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. It is also one of my favorite spots in the Hue Imperial Citadel.
At the far end of the garden, there’s a small shop offering a variety of souvenirs from the ancient capital of Hue. Don’t forget to pick up a few small gifts for your friends or relatives. By purchasing items here, you’re also contributing in a small way to the restoration and preservation of the Hue Imperial Citadel!
And this marks the end of my journey exploring the Hue Imperial Citadel. The Imperial Citadel is an extensive complex, requiring a considerable amount of walking between palaces, with the total distance ranging from 5 to 10 km. If you're unable to cover such a distance on foot but still wish to fully explore the citadel, you can opt to rent an electric car available inside.
"Thank you for reading all the way to the end of this article. I hope it will be helpful for your journey to explore Hue."
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A useful article, with a lot of investment in images and information about Hue!