Hue City Tour by Private Car – 1 Day with a Local Driver
Visit Hue Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, Khai Dinh Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb and Thuy Xuan Incense Village with your own car and a local driver who speaks basic English. Walk around each site, take photos and let Hura Cars arrange an optional Hue local-specialty lunch at a selected restaurant if you wish. This is a car-and-driver service for guests who want to explore independently.
- Duration
- 6-8 hours
- Tour type
- Private car transfer
- Language
- Basic-English speaking driver
- Transport
- Car - Boat
- Pick-up / Drop-off
- Hue hotel center
- Guide
- Optional
- Tickets & Meals
- Optional
Hue City Tour by Private Car takes you to Hue’s main sights with your own car and local driver. Walk around the Imperial City, visit two royal tombs and stop for photos at Thuy Xuan Incense Village. Your driver handles the travel between stops, so you do not need to find a taxi after each visit.
This trip is a good choice if you want to explore Hue at your own pace with your partner, family or friends. You can spend time taking photos, walking around the sights or enjoying a lunch break. Tell us what you enjoy, and we will help you plan a route that fits your day. You explore each site independently while we take care of the transport.
Tour Highlights
- Travel in a private air-conditioned car with a local driver.
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda and enjoy views of the Perfume River.
- Walk through the gates, courtyards and palace buildings of Hue Imperial City.
- See the detailed decorations at Khai Dinh Tomb and the lake and gardens at Tu Duc Tomb.
- Stop for photos and watch incense making at Thuy Xuan when the makers are at work.
- Explore at your own pace, with the option to add a Hue specialty lunch arranged by Hura Cars (additional charge).
- Optional paper-flower making inside the Imperial City, with your own handmade souvenir (activity fee separate).
Suggested Hue City Itinerary by Private Car
Route: Hotel → Thien Mu Pagoda → Hue Imperial City → lunch stop → Khai Dinh Tomb → Tu Duc Tomb → Thuy Xuan Incense Village → hotel.
Your driver picks you up at your hotel in central Hue at the agreed time. Let us know before the trip if you want to change any stops. For planning tips, read our One Day in Hue itinerary. For a breakdown of the day’s expenses, see our Hue City Tour cost guide.
1. Take a Dragon Boat along the Perfume River — Optional
An optional 30-minute dragon boat ride on the Perfume River can be arranged before reaching Thien Mu Pagoda. The boat charge shown for this option is 250,000 VND per boat for up to 10 guests. If you prefer to skip the boat, your driver takes you directly to Thien Mu Pagoda by car.
2. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda and Enjoy the River Views
Walk up the steps to see the seven-storey Phuoc Duyen Tower, then follow the paths through the temple grounds. From the front of the pagoda, you can look out over the Perfume River and take photos of the river and boats below. There is time to walk around before continuing to the Imperial City.
3. Explore the Palaces and Courtyards of Hue Imperial City
Explore the former home of the Nguyen emperors. Walk through large gates and open courtyards, visit palace buildings and look at the dragons, painted woodwork and tiled roofs. You can follow the main walking route or spend more time on the areas that interest you. If you enjoy taking photos, the gates and covered corridors offer plenty of details to look for.
Optional Experience: Make a Paper Flower inside the Imperial City
Want to add a hands-on activity to your Hue City Tour? During your Imperial City visit, you can choose to join a paper-flower making experience offered daily to visitors. Watch a demonstration, shape colourful paper petals and assemble your own flower to take home as a souvenir of Hue. This optional activity is not included in your private-car price. Tell us before your trip if you would like to join; any participation fee is paid separately. Your driver takes care of transport while you explore and join the activity independently.
Enjoy Hue Local Food – Optional Lunch Arranged by Hura Cars
Take a break to enjoy Hue’s local food before continuing to the royal tombs. If you would like a meal arranged for you, choose our optional Hue Special Food Lunch: Hura Cars selects and coordinates the restaurant, confirms the menu and dietary needs with you, and arranges the lunch stop as part of your trip. You can enjoy a selection of local specialties such as bánh bèo, bánh nậm, bánh lọc, bánh khoái and nem lụi, according to the confirmed menu. Lunch is not included in the private-car price and is charged separately when requested. Please mention it in the booking notes so our team can confirm the menu and price before your trip. You can also choose not to add lunch and make your own meal arrangements. For more about the dishes, see our guide to traditional Hue specialties.
4. See the Ceramic Art at Khai Dinh Tomb
Climb the steps to the courtyard, where you can see rows of stone officials and animals. Inside Thien Dinh Palace, look closely at the colorful ceramic decorations on the walls. The small pieces form flowers, dragons and other detailed patterns.
The surrounding hills and streams were part of the tomb’s feng shui design—the traditional practice of placing buildings in relation to the landscape. Take a look at the hillside setting as well as the buildings.
5. Walk by the Lake and Gardens at Tu Duc Tomb
Walk beside Luu Khiem Lake, stop at the lakeside pavilions and follow the paths through the pine trees and temple courtyards. Compared with Khai Dinh Tomb, this site has more open space and feels more like a large garden. You can take photos by the lake and enjoy a slower walk through the grounds.
The landscape was also important in the tomb’s feng shui. Nearby hills were chosen to act as symbolic protection around the site. The setting is part of the design, not just a background to the buildings.
6. Stop for Colorful Photos at Thuy Xuan Incense Village
Stop to see the colorful bundles of incense sticks and take photos of the displays. When the makers are working, you can watch how incense is rolled by hand. Have a look around the small shops, and ask before using their displays for photos.
Relax on the Drive Back to Your Hotel
After the last stop, your driver takes you back to your hotel in central Hue. The return time depends on your pickup time and how long you spend at each stop.
Private Car Prices
Choose the vehicle that fits your group. Prices are per vehicle, not per person.
| Sedan (1-3 pax) | SUV (1-5 pax) | VAN (5-12 pax) |
 |  |  |
| 750.000 vnd ~ 29USD | 900.000 vnd ~ 35 USD | 1.250.000 vnd ~ 49 USD |
Other Ways to Explore Hue
- Want a private guide to help you understand Hue’s history? Choose our Hue Private Guided Tour for guided visits inside the monuments.
- Enjoy meeting other travelers? Join our Hue Small Group Tour and share the day with a small group.
- Want to focus on the royal tombs? Choose our Hue Royal Tombs Tour to explore the tombs of the Nguyen emperors.
What Is Included?
Include
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and local driver
- Fuel, road tolls and parking fees
- Agreed hotel pickup and drop-off in Hue
- Bottled water
Optional experience: Paper-flower making inside the Imperial City can be requested, but is not part of the included private-car service. Any activity fee is paid separately.
Exclude
- Monument entrance tickets
- Optional Hue specialty lunch and drinks (unless expressly added and confirmed by Hura Cars)
- Tour guide
- Optional dragon boat trip
- Optional paper-flower making experience inside the Imperial City and any participation fee
- Personal purchases and gratuities
Good to Know
- Your driver speaks basic English and helps with transport and practical arrangements. You explore the attractions independently. For details, read our private driver and tour guide comparison.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing suitable for temple visits, and bring sun or rain protection as needed.
- Khai Dinh Tomb involves steps, and the Imperial City covers a large area. Tell us before booking if anyone in your group has difficulty walking so we can discuss suitable stops.
- Route changes should be agreed within the booked service time and a practical driving route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a private trip for my group?
Yes. The vehicle is reserved for your booking, and you will not share it with other travelers.
Can we spend longer at the places we enjoy?
You can discuss spending longer at a preferred stop and shortening or skipping another. Adjustments must fit the agreed service time and driving route; major changes should be arranged before departure.
Do we have to take the dragon boat?
No. The boat ride is optional. If you prefer to skip it, your driver takes you directly to Thien Mu Pagoda by car.
Are entrance tickets and lunch included?
No. The basic private-car price covers the vehicle and driver, not monument tickets or meals. You can request a Hue Special Food Lunch arranged by Hura Cars at a selected restaurant for an additional, separately confirmed price. Optional paper-flower making and boat trips also cost extra unless your booking states otherwise.
Will someone guide us inside the monuments?
This service includes a private car and driver. You visit the attractions independently; historical guiding inside the monuments is not included.
Is this suitable for a family or travelers who prefer less walking?
A private car makes the journeys between sights more comfortable, but walking is still required inside the attractions and Khai Dinh Tomb has steps. Tell us about your group’s needs before booking so we can discuss a more suitable selection of stops.
Emil Stoimenov –
Booked city tour around Hue city and make some stop as the tombs , the pagoda and the forbidden city.
A/C , clean in the car and our driver mr. Hung very friendly and helpful. All well done for good trips. Just the weather here too hot for this time. Make call to the gods haha…
Martin –
I had the best experience in Hue with Pho the driver. He was so friendly and enthusiastic! He was on time and very good in showing me around the city as he drove and tried to talk and created a friendly vibe! He was on time and punctual. Very professional! If I come back here someday I will definitely contact him!
Ofilia Landa
Robert Lonsdale –
In November this year we visited Vietnam for the first time, we organised for Hura Cars to pick us up at the airport and show us around the area. I would like to thank Hura Cars and our fantastic driver Lyn for the best experience we could have asked for. The driver spoke excellent English and went far and beyond to make us feel welcome and show us the best places in and around Hue. It was by far the best part of our trip, the car was a very modern clean and always clean and tidy with fresh water to drink every day. We not only visited the tourist areas but our driver then showed us other cultural areas you would not normally see including taking us to a coffee shop for traditional Vietnamese coffee which was fantastic. I would have no hesitation in recommending this company to anyone visiting Hue and again thank them for their kindness and helpfulness and will be coming back and using this company again.
Wendy Group
Alexander Orliczek –
The daily tour of an ancient city of Hue was one of the highlights of our three weeks visit to Vietnam. Perfectly organised, the guide was fluent in English, didn’t overwhelm us with too many details, just right. The group was 8 people, not too much not too little. The set up menu lunch was excellent and actually one of the best dishes we enjoyed during our trip.
We also used the company for private transfers between Hue and Hoi An, and Hoi An to Da Nang airport. Very punctual and reliable.
Rudhras –
Discover Hue city tour the best company i have ever seen, places we visited was just fantastic, especial Khai Dinh tomb and boat trip. Everything went perfectly we won’t suffer any problem, prices was reasonable. All of us contributed and enjoyed, culture & landscape made our trip unforgettable. 100 % recommendable to all of you