Hue Garden House & Craft Village Tour: An Hien Garden House, Kim Long, Thien Mu Pagoda & Thuy Xuan Incense Village
Day tour
City Tour
Cultural tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Hue, Vietnam
Hue
1N (Participation Duration)
Car,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/10
0 booked
Tour description
Hue is famous for its Imperial City and royal tombs, and most tours take visitors between these sites. But the Hue that local people truly cherish can be found in its garden houses—tree-shaded compounds enclosed by walls, with screens, lotus ponds, fruit gardens, and wooden houses arranged around ancestral altars—where mandarins, members of the royal family, and learned scholars retreated after leaving official life.
This tour will take you to discover such a tranquil, contemplative side of Hue. We begin at An Hien, the city’s most famous garden house, located on the banks of the Perfume River in Kim Long, then stroll through the ancient village where the Nguyen lords chose to establish their first capital in the 17th century and which later became home to many mandarin families. Continuing along the river, we visit Thien Mu Pagoda, whose seven-story tower has become a symbol of Hue.
Our final stop is Thuy Xuan, a village on the road leading to the royal tombs, where generations of local residents have preserved the traditional incense-making craft. Along the roadside, colorful bundles of incense sticks are fanned out like flowers basking in the sunlight; here, the guide will explain how incense is made and the significance of incense sticks in the enduring ceremonial traditions of the former imperial capital.
Since January 1, 2025, Hue has been a centrally governed municipality; from July 2025, Kim Long and Thuy Xuan have been wards of the city.
This tour will take you to discover such a tranquil, contemplative side of Hue. We begin at An Hien, the city’s most famous garden house, located on the banks of the Perfume River in Kim Long, then stroll through the ancient village where the Nguyen lords chose to establish their first capital in the 17th century and which later became home to many mandarin families. Continuing along the river, we visit Thien Mu Pagoda, whose seven-story tower has become a symbol of Hue.
Our final stop is Thuy Xuan, a village on the road leading to the royal tombs, where generations of local residents have preserved the traditional incense-making craft. Along the roadside, colorful bundles of incense sticks are fanned out like flowers basking in the sunlight; here, the guide will explain how incense is made and the significance of incense sticks in the enduring ceremonial traditions of the former imperial capital.
Since January 1, 2025, Hue has been a centrally governed municipality; from July 2025, Kim Long and Thuy Xuan have been wards of the city.
Meeting point:
View on map
An Hien Garden House, 58 Nguyen Phuc Nguyen Street, Kim Long ward, Hue
Hotel pick-up in central Hue is included - send your hotel name after booking.
Detailed itinerary
Stop 1 - An Hien garden house (08:00): A classic Hue nha vuon from the late 19th century - screen wall, lotus pond, fruit garden and the wooden three-bay house around the ancestor altar. Entrance included.
Stop 2 - Kim Long village walk (approx. 09:00): The lanes of the old mandarin village on the Perfume River, its garden walls and family temples, with your guide on the Nguyen lords who first settled here.
Stop 3 - Thien Mu Pagoda (approx. 10:00): The 1601 pagoda and its seven-storey Phuoc Duyen tower above the river.
Stop 4 - Thuy Xuan incense village (approx. 11:15): Watch incense being rolled and dried, and learn what the colours and scents are used for.
Finish (12:30): Drop-off at your hotel.
Stop 2 - Kim Long village walk (approx. 09:00): The lanes of the old mandarin village on the Perfume River, its garden walls and family temples, with your guide on the Nguyen lords who first settled here.
Stop 3 - Thien Mu Pagoda (approx. 10:00): The 1601 pagoda and its seven-storey Phuoc Duyen tower above the river.
Stop 4 - Thuy Xuan incense village (approx. 11:15): Watch incense being rolled and dried, and learn what the colours and scents are used for.
Finish (12:30): Drop-off at your hotel.
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local guide
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off in central Hue
• Entrance ticket to An Hien Garden House
• Bottled water
• Taxes and service charges
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off in central Hue
• Entrance ticket to An Hien Garden House
• Bottled water
• Taxes and service charges
Tour price excludes
• Shopping expenses at the incense village (entirely optional)
• Food and drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance
• Food and drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. In the event of a storm warning or an official closure notice due to bad weather, we will reschedule the itinerary or provide a 100% refund.
Other notes
An Hien is a private residence operated as a heritage site; opening hours are determined by the owner and may change when private events are held. If the site is closed, the group will visit another garden house in Kim Long instead.
Thien Mu Pagoda is a tranquil place of worship: please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, and maintain silence in the shrine halls.
The incense stalls in Thuy Xuan are family-run businesses; visitors are not required to shop, although some families would greatly appreciate your support through a small purchase or a modest tip when taking photos.
September to December is the rainy season in Hue; the tour will still depart in rainy weather.
Thien Mu Pagoda is a tranquil place of worship: please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, and maintain silence in the shrine halls.
The incense stalls in Thuy Xuan are family-run businesses; visitors are not required to shop, although some families would greatly appreciate your support through a small purchase or a modest tip when taking photos.
September to December is the rainy season in Hue; the tour will still depart in rainy weather.
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $45 |
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