From Da Nang: Hue’s Imperial City and Citrus Villages with Lunch

Meeting your tour guide, your journey begins with a scenic drive north toward Huế, following one of Vietnam’s most beautiful coastal routes.

After meeting your group in Da Nang, depart early and travel north along one of Vietnam’s most scenic coastal routes. Pause at the Hai Van Pass for panoramic views before continuing toward Huế.

Arriving in the late morning, you’ll begin with Huế’s most iconic landmark: the Huế Imperial City. Step through imposing gates into a vast fortified complex of palaces, ceremonial courtyards, and gardens that once formed the political and cultural heart of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty. Explore highlights such as the Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Royal Theatre, while your guide brings to life stories of emperors, mandarins, royal rituals, and daily court life inside the Forbidden Purple City.

After your Imperial City visit, leave the citadel behind and head into Huế’s peaceful outskirts. Stop at Thuy Xuan Incense Village, where colourful bundles of hand-rolled incense create one of the city’s most photogenic scenes. Continue to the historic Tiger Arena, where your guide explains how tigers and elephants were once pitted against each other in dramatic royal spectacles staged for the Nguyễn court.

Next, arrive in Thuy Bieu, a charming riverside village surrounded by pomelo and grapefruit orchards. Enjoy a home-style lunch in a traditional communal house, then set off on a short, gentle cycling experience through quiet lanes lined with fruit trees, garden houses, and the unhurried rhythm of local life.

In the afternoon, swap your bike for the river. Board a traditional boat and cruise along the Perfume River, a waterway that has shaped Huế’s story for centuries.

The journey brings you to Thien Mu Pagoda, Huế’s most famous Buddhist temple, where its seven-storey tower looks out over the river. Wander the courtyards as your guide shares the legends, spiritual traditions, and cultural significance connected to this beloved landmark.

Finally, begin the comfortable return journey to Da Nang, arriving back in the city centre in the early evening.