Perfume River
Sông Hương
The 'mother river' of Hue, flowing through the city. Ride a dragon boat upstream to Thien Mu Pagoda and the royal tombs, or hear Hue royal court folk songs on a boat at night.
The Perfume River rises in the Truong Son Range before flowing through the city of Hue to the sea. Legend says it got its name from the faint fragrance of flower petals and leaves that drifted into the river from upstream. The river flows gently. The north bank holds the Citadel and the Imperial City, while the south bank has old streets and hotel districts from the French colonial era. The two banks are linked by bridges, including Truong Tien Bridge, built in 1899 and lit with colourful lights at night. The classic experience is a dragon boat with a painted dragon's head. During the day, boats leave from the city-centre pier and travel about 30 minutes upstream to Thien Mu Pagoda. They can continue to the area near Minh Mang Tomb. A half-day trip takes 2 to 4 hours, and fares can be negotiated or you can charter a boat. In the evening, a 'song boat' lets you hear Hue royal court folk songs, which are listed as Vietnam's national intangible cultural heritage. The trip ends with releasing a lotus lantern while making a wish, and takes about an hour in total. The riverside park on the south bank is ideal for a sunset stroll, where you can watch fishermen casting nets. At night, the pedestrian street and night market near Truong Tien Bridge offer street food. Note: during the rainy season (October and November) the water rises, and boat trips may be suspended.
Opening hours
Open all day (singing boats approx. 7:00–9:00 pm)
Nearby sights
- Truong Tien Bridge
- Dong Ba Market
- Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities
- Imperial City of Hue
- An Dinh Palace
- Nam Giao Esplanade
- Tu Hieu Pagoda
- Ho Quyen Tiger Arena