Imperial City of Hue
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port
Da Nang (Hue), Vietnam
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activityLevel
Moderate Activity
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excursionType
All
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$190
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 9 hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals included
Complex of Hué Monuments
Established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802, Hué was not only the political but also the cultural and religious centre under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945. The Perfume River winds its way through the Capital City, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Inner City, giving this unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty.An early departure takes you north of Da Nang through the Hai Van tunnel and on towards Hue. With sweeping panoramic views, the winding road stretches toward the historic boundary between Vietnam and the old Kingdom of Champa.
An early departure takes you north of Da Nang through the Hai Van tunnel and on towards Hue. With sweeping panoramic views, the winding road stretches toward the historic boundary between Vietnam and the old Kingdom of Champa.Upon arrival in Hue, explore the Royal Citadel built by Emperor Gia Long in 1804. The Palace of Supreme Peace has been restored to its original grandeur with regal red and gold columns and lavish furnishings. The emperor's official functions were carried out in the Imperial Enclosure—essentially a citadel inside a citadel. Within, the Forbidden Purple City was reserved for the private life of the emperor.
See the historically significant Thien Mu Pagoda—symbol of the city and one of the most famous places in all of Vietnam. Founded in 1601, the seven-tiered pagoda was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960s. Today, it is a serene place where novices tend the bonsai garden and monks deliver incantations in the main temple.
A traditional Vietnamese lunch is served at a local hotel. You will experience the formality of a Royal meal—one of the most popular activities in Hue city. Two guests will be asked to be the King and Queen of the group. The full royal treatment normally afforded a Hue royal family will be demonstrated, including a group of people welcoming the guests. A traditional royal band goes first, followed by the King and Queen, wearing a royal costume and shaded by umbrellas. Hue music accompanies the delivery of the food by waitstaff in traditional dress.
After lunch, continue to the Nguyen Dynasty Tu Duc Tomb, located in a narrow valley south of Hue. Emperor Tu Duc ordered the construction of his tomb to be a fairyland with poetical features, making it a lifetime dream and a world for his eternal life after death. The complex consists of 50 buildings spread over 30 acres of lush pine forest.
Please note: Travel time to Hue is approximately two and a half hours each way, or longer depending on traffic conditions.