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How much does the Hue dinner cruise on the Huong River?

The dinner cruise on the Huong River in Hue isn’t some crazy luxury splurge, but it’s not exactly backpacker-budget cheap either. Depends on how you book and what kind of boat you go for — but here’s the deal based on what I paid and what I saw others pay around me in late 2024.

See more details >>> Dinner Cruise on the Dragon Boat with Hue Folk Songs on the Perfume River

Click to book via WhatsApp ›

If you go through a local tour company or book directly at the riverside kiosks near Toa Kham Wharf (just across from the Trang Tien Bridge), prices usually range from 600,000 VND to 750,000 VND per person (around 15 to 20 USD). That typically covers a simple Hue set menu dinner

1. Stir the fig with shrimp and pork crackers
2. Spring rolls
3. Mixed soup
4. Hue cakes
5. Steamed chicken
6. Stewed beef with legume – bread
7. Sticky rice with fried shrimp paste
8. Mixed sweet soup

Plus a live Ca Huế performance — those traditional chamber music vibes that feel like you’re eavesdropping on royal entertainment from the Nguyen Dynasty.

Now, there are more premium options too. Like if you book a full Hue dinner on a dragon boat experience through hotels or tour platforms, especially ones that throw in a sunset ride or a private table setup, it can hit 800,000 to over 1 million VND per person (roughly 32 to 40+ USD). That one usually includes better food — hotpot, maybe some Hue specialties like bánh bột lọc, bún bò Huế, and a dessert course.

I went for the mid-range option — 650,000 VND, booked at a local travel agency via phone. Click to book via WhatsApp +916528884 ›. The boat left at around 6:30 PM, just before sunset, and we cruised for about an hour and a half. The stage was modest, nothing flashy. Just some traditional instruments, ao dai singers, a candle-lit lotus release ceremony, and soft lights flickering across the water. Felt authentic. Quiet even.

You can also just hop on a music cruise without food — that’ll cost less, around 100,000 to 150,000 VND — but honestly, the food, even if simple, adds to the whole slow-dinner-on-the-river vibe.

If you’re someone who gets fussy about sound quality or expects a fancy dining setup with table service and chilled wine, this might feel a bit rustic. But if you’re into slow travel, like letting the city breathe while a đàn tranh hums in the background and incense smoke curls off the temples nearby — this hits different.

Best part? It’s right in the center of Hue. You don’t have to take a Grab or a taxi far. Just walk over from most hotels near the Perfume River, Toa Kham Wharf, and you’re there.

Oh, and tip: Avoid the rainy months (October through early December). The boats still run, but the mood’s just not the same when the river’s grey and choppy.

So yeah — it’s not about the price tag. It’s about how the lights bounce off the water, the music lingers in the warm air, and dinner just floats by without a rush.