The Imperial City, Hoang Thanh or Dai Noi in Vietnamese, is the second ring of walls inside Hue's citadel. It guarded the court's main palaces, the Nguyen family's ancestral temples and the Forbidden City, which was kept for the emperor and his household. Building started in 1804, and the full set of palaces, about 147 structures, was finished in 1833 under Emperor Minh Mang.
The enclosure is close to square, roughly 600 m on each side, with brick walls and a moat around them. There are four gates. Ngo Mon, on the south side, is the main one; the court held military parades there and read out the names of new doctoral graduates. Vietnam Tourism sums up the visit as the palaces, pavilions and theatres of what survives from the dynasty's rule.
Inside, Thai Hoa Palace and the courtyard in front of it held the biggest court ceremonies: coronations, the emperor's birthday and the grand audiences on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month. The Forbidden City sits behind it. Buildings on either side of the central axis follow strict rules of placement, with ponds, gardens and stone bridges set between them.
Getting there
The Imperial City is about 1.4 km in a straight line from Hue railway station, close enough for a short taxi ride. Phu Bai airport (HUI) is about 15.5 km away in a straight line; the road is longer. The Hanoi to Hue train article covers arriving by rail.
Hours and fees
The heritage center publishes one schedule for all its sites. These are the hours when tickets are on sale; the gates close 60 minutes after sales stop.
| Season | Ticket sales | Gates close |
|---|---|---|
| Summer, 16 March to 15 October | 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| Winter, 16 October to 15 March | 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Ticket | Adult | Child aged 7 to 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial City only | VND 200,000 | VND 40,000 |
| Imperial City plus two tombs | VND 420,000 | VND 80,000 |
| Imperial City plus three tombs | VND 530,000 | VND 100,000 |
| All sites | VND 600,000 | VND 120,000 |
The single-site price applies from 2 June 2026. The two-tomb route can pair the Imperial City with Minh Mang and Khai Dinh, or swap either for Tu Duc. You can buy online and scan the ticket code at the gate, or pay cash or card at a counter. The Hue Imperial City ticket article walks through the e-ticket steps and when each route saves money.
Vietnam Tourism warns that heavy rain and typhoons can hit Hue from September to November, so check the forecast if you visit then.
Nearby
- Khai Dinh Tomb: about 8 km in a straight line.
- Minh Mang Tomb: about 9 km in a straight line.
Questions travelers ask
Can you go back in if you leave early? A traveler posted on r/VietNam that they had missed the main attraction at the Imperial City. Two replies:
"Unfortunately the ticket is single entry only. That's why they scan the QR code at the entrance."
u/cassowary-18 on r/VietNam
"You cannot re-enter, but I guess you can try explaining the guard your situation, maybe you'll get lucky and enter again."
u/InfinityObsidian on r/VietNam
